The Meeker herald., 1922-07-29
True
Detective Stories
BELOW DEAD LINE

Copyright by The Whseier Syndicate. Inc
@ONTRARY to the general opinion,
u It was not Inspector Byrnes who
Instituted the famous imaginary
barrier known as the dead line
point beyond which crooks could
not penetrate except under peril of
Immediate arrest. even though no
charges were pending against them
at the moment. The device was orig
mated by William Melville. superln-
tendent OF Scotland Yard during the
reign of Queen Victoria.
But 1t was In connection with the
prevention of crime, rather than In
the solving of one. that Melville Ind
his most distinguished success, for II
he Ind not been able to capture Vrof,
the famous anarchist, II Is quite pos
sible that the czar OF Russia and pos
sIbly some OF the members OF the
reignIng family In England would have
been blown into eternity.
The affair In question occurred some
months after Melville Ind taken charge
Of Scotland Yard. The visit Of the
car had been widely heralded through
the press and every governmental op-
eratiye In Great Britain had been
pressed into service to secure the safe
ty Of the visiting ruler. The entire
island was combed for men who were
known to be hiding. and. as a final
resort, Melville Issued nm order that
any suspicious character found within
five square miles OF the line of march
from Buckingham pniace to the Man
sion house would be arrested on sight.
Three days before the arrival of
the czar. Melville's reports Indicated
that the city had been thoroughly
cleaped up.
But on the very day of the process
sion, only two hours before the roynl
families were scheduled to leave the
palace. Melville was informed that his
men had failed to npprehend the most
dangerous nihilist on the continent
a Young Russian by the name of Nron,
who hnd escaped from prison In st.
Petersburg and had entered England
In such Il roundabout manner TINT his
arrival had not been recorded. Ac-
cording to the word which reached
Melville. vrofr had secured employment
in wine merchants establishment
along the line which the procession
would follow. and had sworn to throw
a bomb under the cars carriage ms
II passed.
Melville realized that there wasn't
n moment to be lost. Also, II was
Job which he must handle alone.
As 1t happened, Melville knew the
establishment where Vroif worked, and
he also knew that certain vintage
of champagne was kept In the cellar.
whence 1t was produced only at spe-
cInl request. II was for this reason.
therefore. that he made his way to tile
wine shop and stated that he would
like to purchase half dozen bottles
of the champagne.
As he expected, the proprietor In
formed him that the vintage WINS In
the bin. but offered to have 1t brought
up Immediately.
Don't bother to do that" replied
the Scotland Yard man. I'll 60 down
with one OF your cellarmen and pick
out the bottles for myself. Possibly
III see something else that want nj
the same time. Send that man along
with me to point out the way" and
he indicated one Of the employees
whom he had recognized from the de-
criptlon as VroT.
As they reached the foot of the
stairs. the cellarman pointed to bin
nearby and stated that 1t contained
the champagne the customer asked for.
Realizing that he could not stage his
coup so close to a means of exit. Mel
VILE examined the bottles. offered some
objection to the age Of the wine ana
inquired what lny In the bnck OF the
cellar.
Burgundy" replied the other, com
mencIng to be u bit FESTIVE. for the
hour OF the approach of the process
sion was drawing rapidly nearer.
"FIne 7" said the Scotland Yard head.
81 think I'd prefer that, after all. Let
me see some of 1t, will your"
Grumbling bit under his breath.
yroff led the way back into the dim
recesses of the cellar, and as he bent
forward to secure a bottle, Melville
closed with him.
With a sidewise, eel-lIke slip, Vrofr
ducked out from under the detec-
lives arms. and. before Melville
knew what he was doing. he had
reached into bin In the center Of the
cellar and secured big, murderous
bomb. which he held high above his
head.
"Stop!" he commanded, as the Scot
land Yard operative started toward
him. zone more step and I'll blow
the whole place to hi and you with
It."
Melville, wise In the knowledge of
anurchial principles. realized that this
was bluff.
you've got me-" he admitted. "But
for Gods sake don't throw that thing
in here! We'd both be killed !"
~, ho rU infn thot fln0rway" dt.