Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-07

1 diAcI tuIcW uOb NA'
town of Buda-Pesth, but the whole of Hun
gary into terrible state of excitement, anC
even of terror. Vague dangers seemed tt
hang over the head of every man. Iher'
were SO many resemblances between thu
cases of Won Hopstein and of Schiller tha
no one could doubt that there existed con
nection between the two. The absence O.
object and of robbery, the utter want of any
clew to the assassin, and, lastly, the ghastly
nature of the wounds, evidently inflicted BY
the same or a similar weapon, all pointed
in one direction. Things were II
this state when the incidents which
I am now about to relate oc
CURED, and in order to make them intel
ligible 1 must lead up to them from fresh
point of departure.
Otto Won Schlegel was younger son Of
the old Silesian family of that name. Hi:
father had originally destined him tor the
army, but at the advice of his teachers, who
saw the surprising talent of the youth, had
sent him to the University of Buda-Pesth
to be educated in medicine. Here young
Schlegel carried everything before him.
Though hard reader, he was an active,
powerful young fellow, full of animal
| spirits and vivacity, and extremely popular
among his fellow-students.
The New Year examinations were
at hand, and Schlegel was work
ing hard-so hard that even the
strange murders in the town failed to turn
his thoughts from his studies. Upon
Christmas Eve he refused all of the many
invitations to registering suppers which
were show cred upon him, and went off with
his books under his arm to the rooms of
Leopold Strauss, to work with him into the
small hours of the morning.
Strauss and Schlegel were bosom friends.
Their affection had become proverbial in
the university. Strauss was almost as dis
tinguished student as Schlegel, and there
had been many a tough struggle for aca-
demic honors between the two fellow coun-
trymen, which had only served to strengthen
their friendship.
The friends were still working together
when the deep-toned bell OF st. Gregory's
struck II.
"Hark to that p said Schlegel, swapping
up the book and stretching out his long legs
toward the CHEEKY fire "Why, it's Christ
mas morning, old friend May it not be
the last that we spend togetherl"
MAY we have passed all these confounded
examinations before another one comesl'
answered Strauss, and with smile on his
honest South German face, he pulled out
long-necked bottle of Rhenish from among
pile of books and bones in the corner.
SIT is night to be comfortable indoors"
said Otto Won Schlegel, looking out. Good
health, Leopoldp'
"Lebe hochl' replied his companion. "It
is a comfort indeed to forget sphenoid bones
and ethmoid bones.''
asked Strauss.
''They talk, believe, of nothing but the
murders. But have worked hard of late,
as you know, and hear but little of the
students gossip"
"Have you had time" inquired Strauss.
''to look over the books and the weapons
which our dear old professor was so
concerned about the very day he met his
death?"
II saw them to-day" said Schlegel, light
ing his pipe. "Reinmaul, the ianitor,
showed me over the store room, and helped
to label many of them from the original
catalogue of Graf Schulling. As far as we
can see, there is but one article missing of
all the collection"
Zone missing!" exclaimed Strauss.
THAT would grieve old Won Hopstein's
ghost. Is it of value?"
1T is described as an antique hatchet,
with head of steel and handle of chased
silver. We have applied to the railway
company, and no doubt it will be found"
Il trust so, echoed Strauss; and the con-
versatlon drifted off into other channels.
The tre was burning low and the bottle of
Rhenlsh was empty before the two friends
rose, and Won Schlegel prepared to de-
part.
ugh! It's bitter night!'' he said,
standing on the doorstep and folding his
cloak round him. "Why, Leopold, you
have your cap on. You are not coninp?'
Yes, am going with you, said Strauss.
The two students went down Stephen
Strasse together and across Julien Platz,
talking on variety of topics.
As they passed the corner of the Grand
Platz, however, where Schiller had been
found dead, the conversation turned natur-
ally upon the murder.
Heres where they found him, remarked
Otto.
Perhaps the murderer is near us now"
said Strauss.
They both turned to go, when Won
Schlegei gave sudden cry of pain and
stopped down.
Something has cut through my bootP' he
cried; and feeling about with his hand in
the snow, he pulled out small glistening
battle-ax, made apparently entirely of metal,
1t had been lying with the blade turned
slightly upward, so as to cut the foot of the
student
1.-THE weapon Of the murderer he eiac-
ulated.
"The silver hatchet from the museumP'
cried Strauss.
There could be no doubt that it was both
the one and the other There could not be |
two such curious weapons, and the eharac- |
0f ha dc ,ct Il
inflicted by a a similar instrument. The |
murderer had evidently thrown it aside |
after committing the dreadful deed. and it
had lain concealed in the snow some 20
metres from the spot ever since. 1t was ex-
traordinary. of all the people who had |
passed and repassed none had dis |
covered it; but the snow was deer.
and it was little off the beaten track.
"What are we to do withit? said Won
Schlegel. He shuddered as be noticed by
the light of the moon that the head of it was
all dabbled with dark-brown stains.
Take it to the Commissary of Police"
"He'll be in bed now. Still, think Won
are right But it is nearly o'clock. I
will wait until morning, and take it round
before breakfast. Meanwhile 1 must carry
it with me to my lodgings"
''That is the best plan," said his friend.
and the two walked on together talking OF
the remarkable find W ich they had made.
When they came to Schlegel's door, Strauss
said good-by, refusing an invitation to 90
in, and walked briskly down the street.
Schlegel was STOPPING down putting the
key into the lock. when a strange change
came over him. He trembled violently and
dropped the key from his quivering fingers.
His right hand closed convulsively round
The handle of the silver hatchet.
and his eye followed the retreating
figure of his friend with a yindictiye
glare. In spite of the coldness of the
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