The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-09-03

Yung's state of alarm. The features OF
Cornelius Van Heuvel were perfectly calm
and placid. but life had fed and the blood
which flowed from a small circular orifice
in the neck had formed a eoagulated patch |
of gore upon his breast.
A doctor at once pronounced that the
old man had expired from bullet-wound,
and that death, which must have been al
most instantaneous, had occurred some eight
or nine hours before The Blumen strasse
was an essentially quiet street, and the IN
habitants seldom left it. A shot fired IN
so peaceful a locality would have been GER
| tain to have attracted attention, and yet no
one recollected any such sound. There
were no signs of a struggle, and the only
appearance of any intruder having entered
the room was that the drawers of the ebony
cabinet were half opened and heap OF
glittering stones were scattered upon the
| floor beneath. Gluckstein, one OF the most
celebrated detective attached to the Police
Bureau of Heidelberg, who had hurried to
the spot upon hearing of the tragedy, stoop-
ed and picked up several of these shining
fragments, and as he gazed upon them with
his practical eye he uttered half-sup-
pressed exclamation Of astonishment, for
instead of precious gems he held quantity
of counterfeit stones in the palm Of his
hand. A small piece of folded paper in
one of the drawers solved the mystery. 1t
was the receipted bill Of a Partisan firm
celebrated for their skill in manufacturing
limitations of precious gems, and 1t was ev-
ident that the old curiosity dealer, when he
placed his genuine diamonds in a place Of
security, had exact limitations of them
made, so that he might feast his eyes upon
them and to a certain extent keep count Of
his wealth.
But where is the poor old mans neph-
ew? Where is Giuseppe Voltoni?" asked
Professor Wagentriber
All those in the room glanced across the
street at the window Of the room occupied
by the murdered mans nephew. Contrary
to the usual custom, it was firmly closed
and what was more, faded crimson cur
tain was drawn half way across it.
81 will go and call him" remarked Herr
Ruprecht. "The poor yopngis man doubt
less asleep and is unaware of the terrible
deed which has been committed" The aged
man took step or two across the room,
but before he reached the door the hand OF
Gluckstein gently arrested his further pro,
gress.
: ''Pardon me, mein Herr" said he; "but
l with your permission l will go and break
the news to Herr Voltoni." With quiet
, and noiseless steps the detective descended
the stairs and, crossing the street, made
his way to the room occupied by the dead
: mans nephew.
l "This is no time for ceremony" NUT
tered he as he reached the landing, and
: turning the handle he entered Giuseppe
4 Voltoni's room. He crossed the room and
4 drawing the curtain let in a flood Of daz-
5 zIing light.
s The room was unoccupied. Quaint
images of Egyptian gods scowled at him
, from their glass-cases. A mummified cal
or so seemed to grin at him with malig-
: nant derision, while the sarcophagus OF
King Rameses stood in its accustomed
1 place in the centre of the room. There
S was, however, no sign of Giuseppe Vol
toni, and glance at the little pallet-bed
c which stood in one corner, showed that il
had not been occupied during the past
3 night. II thought so, murmured Gluck-
r stein
, Zach Himmel, he need only have waited
: for few months, for | do not think the
old man would have lasted much longer.
What mad fools the criminals are.
His keen eyes swept over the room, not
| missing single portion in the rapid survey.
[ There was no appearance of any hurried
| departure. The little chest of drawers
5 filled to overfowing with clothes and linen,
| while half-smoked-out pipe and glass with
about a tea spoonful of Assmanshauser still
remaining in it stood upon the table. "He
has not gone far, said Gluckstein softly to
himself, "if he has taken the road, and if
: he has gone by the early train, why the
, telegraph travels quicker than any express
, train. Giuseppe Voltoni, your shrift will
be short one
, The detective was about to leave the
room, well satisfied with the result of his
, visit when his eye was attracted by the
half-open door of cupboard in one corner
, of the room. He threw it open to its full
est extent and glanced intently at the con-
tents These were not of very interesting
character, consisting simply of few car
penter's tools used by Voltoni in opening
and closing his packing cases. Gluckstein
took them out one by one, and stepping
up to the window examined them with the
utmost attention. After close scrutiny
he replaced all in their former receptacle,
with the exception of two, a diminutive
screw-driver and large ripping chisel,
which he laid upon the sarcophagus; then
drawing magnifying-glass from his pocket
he subjected both those instruments to the
most minute examination. "Strange," he
muttered, "these tools have evidently been
handled by a murderer fresh from his
work, but what in the name of all that's
wonderful can he have used them for"