Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-02-04
True
Detective Stories
BELOW DEAD LINE


Copyright by The Wheeler syndicate. Inc.
~ bNTRARY To the general opinion,
il was not Inspector ByrncS who
instituted the famous imaginary
barrier known rs 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 10y William Melville. superin-
tendent of Scotland Yard during the
reign Of Queen Victoria.
But il was In connection with the
prevention Of crime, rather than In
the solving of one. that Melville had
his most distinguished success. for II
he had not beer able to capture Vroff.
the famous anarchist. II is quite pos
sIble that the ear of Russia and pos
Sibly some Of the members Of the
reignlng family in England would have
heen blown into eternity.
The affair in question occurred some
months after Melville had taken charge
Of Scotland Yard. The visit Of the
car had been widely heralded through
the press and every governmental op-
erative in Great Britain had been
pressed into service 10 secure the safe
~ of the visiting ruler. The entire
island was comhed for men who were
known To he hiding. and. rs final
resort. Melville issued nm order that
any suspicious character found within
five square miles of the line Of march
from buckingham palace to the Man
sion house would be arrested on sight.
Three days before the arrival ~
the ear. Mclvllle's reports indicated
that the city had been thoroughly
cleaned up.
Hut on the very day Of the process.
zion. only two hours before the royal
families were scheduled 10 leave tho
palace Melville was informed that his
men had failed 10 apprehcnd the most
dangerous nihilist on the continent
young Russian by the name of Nroff.
who had escaped from prison in st.
Petersburg and had entered England
In such roundabout manner that his
arrival had not been recorded Ac-
cording 10 The word which reached
Melville. Vroff had secured employment
IN 4 wine merchants establishment
along the line which the procession
would follow. and had sworn 10 throw
a bomb under the ears carriage as
II passed
Melville realized that there wasn't
moment To be lost. Also. Il WAS a
sob which he must handle alone.
As it happened. Melville knew the
establishment whore Vroff worked and
he also knew thar certain vintage
81 champagne was kept in the cellar.
whence II was produced only NJ a spe-
cial request. II was for this reason,
therefore. that he made his way to the
wine shop and stated that he would
like to purchase half n dozen bottles
nF tho rhamnagn"
As he expected. the proprietor in
formed him that the vintage WAS In
the hin. but offered to have II brought
up Immediately.
Don't bother 10 do that" replied
the Scotland Yard man. I'll 90 down
with one az Your cellarmen and pick
out the bottles for myself Possibly
I'll 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 rs Vroff.
As they reached the foot ~ the
stairs. the cellarman pointed to bin
nearby and stated that il 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 hotties. offered some
objection to the age 81 the wine and
inquired what lay in the back Of the
cellar
burgundy" replied The other. com.
mencing 10 be- bit FESTIVE. for tho
hour 81 the approach 81 the process
sion was drawing rapidly nearer.
"Fine" said the Scotland Yard head
II think I'd prefer that. after all. Let
me see some Of H. will youf"
Grumhling biz under his breath
Vroff led the way back into the dim
receSses Of the cellar ana rs he bent
forward to secure bottle, Melyill,
closed with him.
With n sidcwise cel-llke slip, vron
duckcd ont from under the dctec
five's arms. and. before Melville
knew what he was doing he had
reached into "a bin in the center Of the
cellar and secured big, murderous
bomb. which he held high above his
head.
stop" he commanded, rs the Scot
land Yard operative started toward
him. zone more step and I'll blow
the whole place to HI and Won witt
H."
Melville. wise In the knowledge %
.,,.,,t.faf ,,ripefpio. ranffzad fhut fhf,