The Raymer enterprise., 1911-07-27
The Vanishing of
Stefan Dashkoff

SouuS OSchAu A0ouAOu WAS y yOuu6
man. member Of q very old and
wealthy Russian family who had In
their day welded great power. and
before the abolition Of serfdom took
place. had held sway over more serfs
than any other family In the empire.
After probationary course In the
diplomatic service at home he was
sent as an attache to the Russian
embassy in Paris. As might be sup.
posed. he took kindly to Partisan life.
being about eight.and-twenty. pos.
sessed Of good looks. sound health. q
cheerful disposition and plenty OF
money. His private residence In the
Champs Elysee was conspicuous for
the magniflcence OF Its appointments.
and was the rendezvous Of the elite OF
the younger generation Of Paris so
ciety. Two years had passed since
the count had established himself In
Paris. and then he suddenly and mys
teriOusly disappeared. and all efforts
OF the police failed to discover q trace
of him. The facts OF the case were
AZ follows:
In the course OF the month OF Jan.
uary Count Dashkon gave a grand
ball at his elegant hotel which was
largely attended by the gilded youth
of both sexes. About two In the
morning the host drew an intimate
friend Of his-a Monsieur Eugene
Peon-on one side and told him that
he wanted to slip away for an hour,
but did not wish 1t to be known that
he had gone out. A few minutes later
the concierge saw him leave the hall
He was attired In costly fur coat,
with cap to match, and although
the weather was bitterly cold and the
ground covered with snow, he wore
patent leather shoes. The concierge.
who was much surprised at the fact
Of his master leaving the house In the
midst Of the revels, asked him II he
wanted carriage. The count abrupt.
ly answered In the negative and
seemed annoyed at the question.
The night wore on and the guests
finally departed. but the host had not
returned. On the following afternoon
Eugene Peon called at his friends
hotel and ascertaining that he was
not at home. went down to the EN-.
bassy to inquire for him there. He
had not been seen by any OF the OIL.
cials. and when another whole day
passed without the count making his
appearance at home or at his usual
haunts, II was decided that the police
should be notified. But notwithstand.
ing the publicity given to the matter
and the efforts OF the authorities an.
other week passed and not trace or
sign OF the missing man had been OBJ.
tained.
Up to this point the counts rela.
tives In Russia had not been com.
municated with. for there were hopes
that the missing attache would turn
up all right. but the affair began to
look serious and a message was sent
asking II the count had returned
home. and almost simultaneously with
the despatch Of the message a courier
set out Tor Russia with the tidings
and details. AS. so far as was known
the missing man had not returned to
Russia, great CONSERVATION was
caused among his friends by the re.
port that reached them. No time
was lost In securing the services OF
Michael Danevitch. who was instruct
ed to leave at once for Paris and In.
slitutc independent Inquiries.
On the detectives arrival In the
French capital he found that by order
OF the Russian ambassador all the
counts possessions had been sealed
up and his house temporarily closed
Danevitch's preliminary Investigations
were directed to trying to discover II
there were any grounds for believing
that Dasbkon had committed suicide.
He could find no grounds to support
such a theory. however. and his next
step was to seek an interview with
Monsieur Eugene Peon. AS the latter
gentleman had been very intimate
with the count he was able to speak
with n good deal Of authority regard.
Ing the attaches mode Of life. He ad.
mltied that the count was very fond
Of female society but, as far as he
knew. had formed no serious attach.
ment TO any woman. Peon could sus.
gest no reason why Dashkoif should
have left his guests SO abruptly. un.
less Il was to keep an appointment.
Danevitch then resolved TO look UP
the counts former body servant. one
Auguste Chauzy. who informed him
that on the night Of the ball he had
obtained leave OF absence after dress.
Ing his master. He returned. how.
ever, shortly after midnight. and Just
as he was about to enter the house a
man approached him. thrust an en-.
yelope Into his hand and said: Give
that at once to your master. It Is a
matter OF life and death" The
stranger hastened away without await.
Ink a reply. From the glimpse Chauzy
had OF him he seemed to be well
drcssed. OF medium height and wore a
dark beard and mustache. It was some