The Raymer enterprise., 1911-07-27
Copyright by ". g. Chapnan)
went forth on the mysterious missior
from which he failed to return.


As no trace OF the note which sum.
moned the host away from his guests
was found in the house. It was evl.
dent that he had either taken 1t with
him or destroyed It. Danevitch con-
cluded from the Wallets account Of the
disfavor with which the count re-
ceived the communication that he
knew the writer and was annoyed at
being disturbed. Also. he did not 30
out willingly. consequently his errand
was disagreeable one. and could
hardly have been to keep love tryst.
Whoever the writer Of the letter was
he or she must have had some power.
full hold on Dashkoff to induce him to
leave the festival at his house and 80
out at two o'clock on cold winter
morning. 1t looked as though the
counts disappearance was due to con.
duct which had brought him in con-
tact with unscrupulous people into
whose power he had fallen. 1t was
clear that II he were still living he
was forcibly detained and was in such
a position that he could not communi.
cate with his friends. Danevitch ap-
piled to the young mans relatives In
Russia for permission to examine the
private papers which had been left
behind him. In response to his re-
quest Dashkoffs father came at once
to Paris and he and the detective
went through the papers together.
The result OF the examination was
rather disappointing. until small
diary was found In which were some
remarkable passages. 1t was not
record of doings and events from day
to day. but seemed to be the outpour.
ings Of the writer's feelings and emo.
tions. transcribed In ftful and irreg.
ular manner. The following passage
struck Danevitch as being significant:
as It seemed to contradict Eugene
Poems assertion that the count was
not involved In any serious love
affair.
Il have been weak. but am growing
strong again. Rosine must not be al.
lowed TO keep me bound down In the
gutter. was destined to walk on
greater heights. and since II Is impos'
sible for me to raise her. she must be
cut adriit. In few weeks | shall
send In my resignation and quit Paris
forever. This | have determined to
do. cost what II may have taken
Eugene Peon into my confidence He
will help me and satisfy the curious
when am gone"
1t was now clear to the detective
that there was surely woman In the
case. Also. he reflected. Eugene Peon
knew more Of the counts affairs than
he chose to reveal. Yet a second In.
terview with the latter gentleman left
Danevitch no wiser than before. Peon
insisted that the count had not con.
fded In him as the passage In the
diary would seem to indicate. and he
knew nothing OF the woman men.
toned. II seemed as II 1t was not the
counts money that was responsible
for his disappearance He kept
large banking account In Paris. but
this had not been drawn upon since
the week before he went away. But
at this stage curious incident was
brought to light which put new
complexion on the mystery.
Count Dashkoff also had kept con.
siderable account at the Moscow
branch Of the Bank Of Russia. He
owned good deal Of property In and
about Moscow. and his affairs In that
city were looked after by an agent
who had been connected with the
Dashkotf family for nearly half a cen.
tury. It was his duty to pay all money
he received into the bank without de.
lay. Consequently there was always
large balance standing to the
counts credit One day three.
months bill Of exchange. purporting
to be drawn on the count by Paul
Pavlovitch & Co.. hax merchants at
Riga. for one hundred thousand francs,
and accepted by the count and pay.
able at the bank In Moscow, was duly
presented by an individual who stated
that he was a member Of the Arm.
As all seemed right. the bill was paid
and a receipt given In the name OF
Peter Pavlovitch. who presented him.
self as the son Of Paul. A week later
the cancelled bill passed into the
hands Of the counts agent, and he at
once declared II to be forgery.
Pavlovitch 4 Co. were Immediately
communicated with and they denied
all knowledge OF the count, had. never
had any business transactions with
him and knew nothing Of the so.called
Peter Pavlovitch. This was a revela.
tion indeed. II appeared to Danevitch
that the person who forged the bill
knew good deal about the count
and II that person could be laid hold
Of the plot might be unmasked. II
was evident that the forger was &C.
quainted with the counts affairs aud
also with Russia.
Danevitch at once returned to Mos.
COW. deeming It probable that he
might there pick up some thread
which would lead him to a clew. The