The Raymer enterprise., 1911-08-03
(Copyrigh. By ". G. Chapman

some absurd mistake, ne said. why,
was with RiskofY yesterday"
"Yes. that fact is well known. Soon
after you had left his house he was
found dead In his library"
The judges assistants had produced
their notebooks. and while one wrote
the questions and replies In short
hand the other took them down In
long.hand.
You possessed a revolyer?" asked
the Judge.
Il did, replied Ivanoff. but lent
It to my friend Riskoff at his request.
He told me he was starting to visit
his estates, and as he was without
revolver mine would be useful to
him"
For what purpose did you take the
revolver TO Riskoff's house," asked
the Judge.
Il went TO my friend to entreat
him to lend me some money" faltered
the accused man. II took the reyol.
yer with me, determining to shoot
myself II he refused"
The Judge produced revolver.
Your friend was slain by bullet
from this weapon" he said coldly.
''Do you recognize it,"
Ivanoff bowed his head In assent.
Your name Is engraved upon IT,"
continued the Judge. 1T was picked
up on the floor OF his room. Riskoff
had been shot in the back OF the
head. The murderer. therefore. was
behind him. Let me see what money
you have In your possession"
lyanoff produced well-filled pocket.
book. The Judge took 1t and disclosed
a packet OF new notes. He examined
them carefully and consulted certain
memoranda he had made In his note.
book
Here We have damming evidence"
he said. "Riskor drew large sum
OF money in notes from his bankers
yesterday. These notes are part OF
those he received from the bank"
Mrs. Nanoff uttered low moan OF
agony. "Vassilo. what does this
mean?" she exclaimed
1T is some hideous mistake" he
answered
God grant It may be SO" she
sobbed But | remember RIskoTs
reply TO your application for a loan.
And now he Is dead. your revolver Is
found In his house and you are In
possession OF notes drawn BY him
from his bank"
so Riskoff wrote TO your" broke In
the judge.
Staring at the official like a man In
trance. lyanoff produced the letter
he had received from Riskotf, wherein
the latter had refused point.blank to
lend the money. and handed It to his
inqnisltor The judge perused the
mlssiye and turned to his men.
This piece Of evidence is final" he
said harshly. Il charge this man with
being the murderer OF RiskoT. Sc.
cure him and bring him along"
In accordance with the mode OF
procedure peculiar to Russia, the sus.
pected man was conducted to the OF.
flee OF the criminal prison. where he
was subjected to another cross exam.
nation He was then consigned to
secret cell, which meant that he
would be kept Isolated until the police
had worked up sufficient evidence 10
secure his conviction.
The case against IyanoT seemed
clear The public condemned him
from the first There was the letter
which Riskoif had written, refusing to
lend the money applied for. Yet
within thirty-six hours of that letter
being written Riskoff was discovered
dead in his own house. He had that
very morning drawn from his bank
large sum Of money. A portion OF
that money was found In the pris.
oner's possession. Riskoff had been
shot from behind. A bullet had en-.
tered the back part OF his head, pro,
ducing instant death. The weapon
was the property OF Ivanotf. On his
own confession the latter had visited
RisSotf. He knew that he was about
to set out on journey, He knew
also that Riskof would draw money
from the bank for the expenses OF his
journey. Therefore. having been re.
fused the loan he had asked for. he
went to the house with the deliberate
intention OF killing and robbing his
erstwhile friend
After the first shock OF her hus.
bands arrest had passed, Mrs. Ivan.
of rose to the occasion and startled
everyone she knew by declaring her
positive belief In the prisoners limo.
cence. She succeeded In obtaining
government order which granted her
a twenty.minutes' interview with
Vassilo. Thus husband and wife met
again, but II was In dismal jail. and
they were separated from each other
by an iron grill. Although little more
than a week had elapsed since the
night when the suspected man had
been arrested. a terrible change had
taken place In him. He looked ten
years older. and his face was hnggard
and ghastly. Ivanoff swore earnestly
nv all that 4 Russian holda uost