The Raymer enterprise., 1911-09-21
Copyright BY ". q. ChspnAn)
The Vile. Of Madame
Dubois

zling rain was falling, and the yellow
lights OF the street lamps glowed
murkily through the heavy mist. MI
chael Danevitch. driving slowly along
the Strand, stared through the dirty
window panes Of hanson, and In
wardly commented on the depressing
influence Of the London atmosphere.
He had come to the British capital in
response 10 an urgent message dis
patched to st. Petersburg by the Rus
sian ambassador to the court OF st.
James, requesting the presence OF the
famous investigator at the earliest
possible moment. The detective had
lost no time in answering the sum.
mons. and Immediately on disembark.
ing from the steamer. hailed q han
Rom. and ordered the Jehu to take
HIM to the Russian embassy.
The ambassador at this time was
Count Borolosky. gentleman who
was not only distinguished as diplo.
matlst. but as a scholar. He was
widower. and one OF his attaches was
his eldest son. Ferdinand. The count
and his son were very popular
amongst all classes OF society, and be-
ing wealthy. they dispensed their hos
pitality In princely fashion. On ar.
riying at the embassy Danevitch was
shown to an elegantly furnished re-
ceptIon room. In the course OF few
minutes. a tall. handsome young fel.
low entered the room, and introduced
himself as Ferdinand, the counts son.
You haven't seen my father yet"
he remarked. II am sorry you have
to walt a little while. Mr.. Daneyitch.
but Just before you arrived the count
had to grant an audience to a cabinet
minister. don't think he will be
long. though. Did my father tell you
in his letter why you are wanted?'
only that It was an affair OF state
In which my assistance was required
responded the detective.
well. It's very important. and no
less mysterious" remarked Ferdinand.
But with your wonderful ability,
have no doubt that the problem will
be solved"
Danevitch glanced at the young fel-
low sharply. There seemed to him to
be the least suspicion of sneer nc.
companying the implied compliment
to his skill Before he could make u
suitable reply, the door opened and a
llyerIed footmnn entered. and an.
nounced that the count was ready to
receive his visitor. Danevitch rose
and followed the man. He was
ushered into large chamber, where
q tall, distinguished looking man with
iron-gray hair was seated before n
desk strewn with papers. In this
august parsonage Daneyltch recog.
nIzed Count Borolosky, who greeted
him cordially.
Il sent for you, Mr.. Danevltch."
said the count "In the hope that you
may prove OF service In recovering
for me some highly important docu.
ments which have mysteriously dis
appeared. | may at once tell you that
the papers are n secret draft treaty
between Russia and this country, and
from a political point OF view are OF
great value. They were to have been
transmitted to st. Petersburg by a
special courier two days hence. But
though saw them safely locked up on
the night OF their disappearance they
have vanished as utterly as though
they had been converted Into thin air.
I employed the best detective talent
that could be secured here. but up to
the present. not the slightest trace OF
the missing documents has been dis.
covered There Is no doubt whatever
as to the papers having been stolen
with a sinister object. The treaty Is
framed against Austria, and some one
In the pay OF the latter country has
carried them of. And the theft may
be the means OF causing serious com.
pllcations between Russia and her
neighbor. even II It does not ultimate.
ly lead TO war"
How long Is II since the papers
Disappeared" asked Danoyitch.
Nearly four weeks ago" replied
the count. "They were abstractcd
from my dlspatch.box between the
hours OF midnight and eight O'Clock In
the morning. So far. no use has been
made OF the Information thus OBJ
tained; that much | have been able to
make certain OF through my spies.
Austria would have acted at once had
the government Of that country be.
cOme aware Of the contents Of tho
treaty. This leads me to believe that
the thief is not In tho Austrian en-.
ploy. but secured the papers with the
intention OF specializing on a probable
reward from the parties Interested.
Evidently the person possessing them
has not yet received what he or she
considers fair financial offer for the
Information they contain"
'eWhere was the dlspatch.box kept'''
"fn my bed room. carried II there
myself. when I retired for tho night.
am absolutely certain that the pa.
pers we're in the box. had occasion
to open Il few minutes before re.
xs.s-. ~,rl nj uood Nvar Nhn nn0toukv