the lamp that went out-第8部分

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intoxication；　the　customer　had　not　noticed　the　shopkeeper's　start
of　alarm。　　But　he　appeared　anxious　and　impatient　to　regain
possession　of　his　purse。

〃Haven't　you　found　it　yet？〃　　he　exclaimed。

Goldstamm　hastened　to　give　it　back。　　The　tramp　put　the　purse　in　his
pocket　with　a　sigh　of　relief。　　Goldstamm　had　regained　his　calm　and
his　mind　was　working　eagerly。　　He　put　several　pairs　of　shoes　before
his　customer；　with　the　remark：　〃You　must　try　them　on。　　We'll　find
something　to　suit　you。　　And　meanwhile　I　will　bring　in　several
pairs　of　trousers　from　those　outside。　　I　have　some　fine　coats　to
show　you　too。〃

Goldstamm　went　out　to　the　door；　almost　colliding　there　with　his
assistant　who　was　coming　in　with　his　arm　full　of　garments。　　The　old
man　motioned　to　the　boy；　who　retreated　until　they　were　both　hidden
from　the　view　of　the　man　within　the　store。

〃Give　me　those　blue　trousers　there；〃　　said　Goldstamm　in　a　loud　voice。
Then　in　a　whisper　he　said　to　the　boy：　〃Run　to　the　police　station。
The　man　with　the　watch　and　the　purse　is　in　there。〃

The　boy　understood　and　set　off　at　once　at　a　fast　pace；　while　the
old　man　returned　to　his　store　with　a　heavy　heart。　　He　wondered
whether　he　would　be　able　to　keep　the　murderer　there　until　the
police　could　come。　　And　he　also　wondered　what　it　might　cost　him；
an　old　and　feeble　man；　who　would　be　as　a　weak　reed　in　the　hands　of
the　strong　tramp　in　there。　　But　he　knew　it　was　his　duty　to　do
whatever　he　could　to　help　in　the　arrest　of　one　who　had　just　taken
the　life　of　a　fellow　creature。　　The　realisation　of　this　gave　the
old　man　strength　and　calmness。

〃A　nice　sort　of　an　eye　for　size　you　have；〃　　cried　the　tramp　as　the
old　man　came　up　to　him。　　〃I　suppose　you've　brought　me　in　a　boy's
suit？　　What　do　you　take　me　for？　　Any　girl　could　go　to　a　ball　in　the
shoes　you　brought　me　to　try　on　here。〃

〃Are　they　so　much　too　small？〃　　asked　the　dealer　in　an　innocent　tone。
〃Well；　there's　plenty　more　there。　　And　perhaps　you　had　better　be
trying　on　this　suit　behind　the　curtain　here　while　I'm　hunting　up　the
shoes。〃

This　suggestion　seemed　to　please　the　stranger；　as　he　was　evidently
in　a　hurry。　　He　passed　in　behind　the　curtain　and　began　to　undress。
Goldstamm's　keen　eyes　watched　him　through　a　crack。　　There　was　not
much　to　be　seen　except　that　the　tramp　seemed　anxious　to　keep　his
overcoat　within　reach　of　his　hand。　　He　had　carefully　put　the　purse
in　one　of　its
pockets。

We'll　get　the　things　all　together　pretty　soon；〃　said　the　dealer。
〃I've　found　a　pair　of　boots　here；　fine　boots　of　good　quality；　and
sure　to　fit。〃

〃Stop　your　talk；〃　　growled　the　other；　〃and　come　here　and　help　me
so　that　I　can　get　away。〃

Goldstamm　came　forward；　and　though　his　heart　was　very　heavy　within
him；　he　aided　this　man；　this　man　about　whom　so　many　hundreds　were
now　thinking　in　terror；　as　calmly　as　he　had　aided　his　other　poor
but　honest　customers。

With　hands　that　did　not　tremble；　the　dealer　busied　himself　about
his　customer；　listening　all　the　while　to　sounds　in　the　street　in
the　hope　that　his　tete…e…tete　with　the　murderer　would　soon　be　over。
But　in　spite　of　all　his　natural　anxiety；　the　old　man's　sharp　eyes
took　cognizance　of　various　things；　one　of　which　was　that　the　man
whom　he　was　helping　to　dress　in　his　new　clothes　did　not　have　the
watch　which　was　described　in　the　police　notice。　　This　fact；　however；
did　not　make　the　old　man's　heart　any　lighter；　for　the　purse　mended
with　yellow　thread　was　too　clearly　the　one　stolen　from　the　murdered
man　found　in　the　quiet　street　in　Hietzing。

〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　you're　so　slow？　　I　can　get　along
better　myself；〃　　growled　the　tramp；　pushing　the　old　man　away　from
him。　　Goldstamm　had　really　begun　to　tremble　now　in　spite　of　his
control；　in　the　fear　that　the　man　would　get　away　from　him　before　the
police　came。

The　tramp　was　already　dressed　in　the　new　suit；　into　a　pocket　of
which　he　put　the　old　purse。

〃There；　now　the　boots　and　then　we're　finished；〃　said　the　dealer
with　an　attempt　at　a　smile。　　In　his　heart　he　prayed　that　the　pair
he　now　held　in　his　hand　might　not　fit；　that　he　might　gain　a　few
minutes　more。　　But　the　shoes　did　fit。　　A　little　pushing　and　stamping
and　the　man　was　ready　to　leave　the　store。　　He　was　evidently　in　a
hurry；　for　he　paid　what　was　asked　without　any　attempt　to　bargain。
Had　Goldstamm　not　known　whom　he　had　before　him　now；　he　would　have
been　very　much　astonished　at　this；　and　might　perhaps　have　been　sorry
that　he　had　not　named　a　higher　sum。　　But　under　the　circumstances　he
understood　only　too　well　the　man's　desire　to　get　away；　and　would
much　rather　have　had　some　talk　as　to　the　payment；　anything　that
would　keep　his　customer　a　little　longer　in　his　store。

〃There；　now　we're　ready。　　I'll　pack　up　your　old　things　for　you。　　Or
perhaps　we　can　make　a　deal　for　them。　　I　pay　the　highest　prices　in
the　city；〃　　said　Goldstamm；　with　an　apparent　eagerness　which　he　hoped
would　deceive　the　customer。

But　the　man　had　already　turned　towards　the　door；　and　called　hack
over　his　shoulder：　〃You　can　keep　the　old　things；　I　don't　want　them。〃

As　he　spoke　he　opened　the　door　of　the　store　and　stood　face　to　face
with　a　policeman　holding　a　revolver。　　He　turned；　with　a　curse；　back
into　the　room；　but　the　dealer　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　　David
Goldstamm　had　done　his　duty　to　the　public；　in　spite　of　his　fear。
Now；　seeing　that　the　police　had　arrived；　he　could　think　of　his　duty
to　his　family。　　This　duty　was　plainly　to　save　his　own　life；　and
when　the　tramp　turned　again　to　look　for　him；　he　had　disappeared　out
of　the　back　door。

〃Not　a　move　or　I　will　shoot；〃　　cried　the　policeman；　and　now　two
others　appeared　behind　him；　and　came　into　the　store。　　But　the
tramp　made　no　attempt　to　escape。　　He　stood　pale　and　trembling　while
they　put　the　handcuffs　on　him；　and　let　them　take　him　away　without
any　resistance。　　He　was　put　on　the　evening　express　for　Vienna；　and
taken　to　Police　Headquarters　in　that　city。　　He　made　no　protest　nor
any　attempt　to　escape；　but　he　refused　to　utter　a　word　on　the　entire
journey。




CHAPTER　VI

ALMOST　CONVICTED


The　evening　was　already　far　gone　when　Muller　entered　Riedau's　office。

〃You're　in　time；　the　man　isn't　here　yet。　　The　train　is　evidently
late；〃　　said　the　commissioner。　　〃We're　working　this　case　off
quickly。　　We　will　have　the　murderer　here　in　half　an　hour　at　the
latest。　　He　did　not　have　much　time　to　enjoy　the　stolen　property。　　He
was　here　in　Vienna　this　morning；　and　was　arrested　in　Pressburg　this
afternoon。　　Here　is　the　telegram；　read　it。〃

Dr。　von　Riedau　handed　Muller　the　message。　　The　commissioner　was
evidently　pleased　and　excited。　　The　telegram　read　as　follows：　〃Man
arrested　here　in　possession　of　described　purse　containing　four　ten
gulden　notes　and　four　guldens　in　silver。　　Arrested　in　store　of
second…hand　clothes　dealer　Goldstamm。　　Will　arrive　this　evening　in
Vienna　under　guard。〃

The　message　was　signed　by　the　Chief　of　the　Pressburg　police。

Muller　laid　the　paper　on　the　desk　without　a　word。　　There　was　a　watch
on　this　desk　already；　it　was　a　heavy　gold　watch；　unusually　thick；
with　the　initials　L。　W。　on　the　cover。　　Just　as　Muller　laid　down　the
telegram；　a　door　outside　was　opened　and　the　commissioner　covered　the
watch　hastily。　　There　was　a　loud　knock　at　his　own　door　and　an
attendant　entered　to　announce　that　the　party　from　Pressburg　had
arrived　He　was　followed　by　one　of　the　Pressburg　police　force；　who
brought　the　official　report。

〃Did　you　have　any　difficulty　with　him？〃　　asked　the　commissioner。

〃Oh；　no；　sir；　it　was　a　very　easy　job。　　He　made　no　resistance　at　all；
and　he　seems　to　be　quite　sober　now。　　But　he　hasn't　said　a　word　since
we　arrested　him。〃

Then　followed　the　detailed　report　of　the　arrest；　and　the　delivery　of
the　described　pocketbook　to　the　commissioner。

〃Is　that　all？〃　　asked　Dr。　von　Riedau。

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Then　you　may　go　home　now；　we　will　take　charge　of　the　man。〃

The　policeman　bowed　and　left　the　room。　　A　few　moments　later　the
tramp　was　brought　in；　guarded　by　two　armed　roundsmen。　　His　guards
remained　at　the　door；　while　the　prisoner　himself　walked　forward　to
the　middle　of　the　room。　　Commissioner　von　Riedau　sat　at　his　desk；
his　clerk　beside　him　ready　to　take　down　the　evidence。　　Muller　sat
near　a　window　with　a　paper　on　his　lap；　looking　the　least　interested
of　anybody　in　the　proceedings。

For　a　moment　there　was　complete　silence　in　the　room；　which　was
broken　in　a　rather　unusual　manner。　　A　deep　voice；　more　like　a　growl；
although　it　had　a　queer　strain　of　comic　good…nature　in　it；　began　the
proceedings　with　the　remark：　〃Well　now；　say；　what　do　you　want　of　me；
anyway？〃

The　commissioner　looked　at　the　man　in　astonishment；　then　turned
aside　that　the　prisoner　might　not　notice　his　smile。　　But　he　might
have　spared　himself　the　trouble；　for　Muller；　the　clerk；　and　the　two
policemen　at　the　door　were　all　on　a　broad　grin。

Then　the　commissioner　pulled　himself　together　again；　and　began　with
his　usual　official　gravity：　〃It　is　I　who　ask　questions　here。　　Is　it
possible　that　you　do　not　know　this？　　You　look　to　me　as　if　you　had
had　experience　in　police　courts　before。〃　　The　commissioner　gazed　at
the　prisoner　with　eyes　that　were　not　altogether　friendly。　　The　tramp
seemed　to　feel　this；　and　his　own　eyes　dropped；　while　the　good…natured
impertinence　in　his　bearing　disappeared。　　It　was　evidently　the　last
remains　of　his　intoxication。　　He　was　now　quite　sober。

〃What　is　your　name？〃　　asked　the　commissioner。

〃Johann　Knoll。〃

〃Where　were　you　born？〃　　

〃Near　Brunn。〃

〃Your　age？〃

〃I'm　…　I'll　be　forty　next　Christmas。〃

〃Your　religion？〃

〃Well；　you　can　see　I'm　no　Jew；　can't　you？〃

〃You　will　please　answer　my　questions　in　a　proper　manner。　　This
impertinence　will　not　make　things　easier　for　you。〃

〃All　right；　sir；〃　　said　the　tramp　humbly。　　〃I　am　a　Catholic。〃

〃You　have　been　in　prison　before？〃　　This　was　scarcely　a　question。

〃No；　sir；〃　　said　Knoll　firmly。

〃What　is　your　business？〃

〃I　don't　know　what　to　say；　sir；〃　　answered　Knoll；　shrugging　his
shoulders。　　〃I've　done　a　lot　of　things　in　my　life。　　I'm　a　cattle
drover　and　a　lumber　man；　and　I　…〃

〃Did　you　learn　any　trade？〃

〃No；　sir；　I　never　learned　anything。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　that　without　having　learned　any　trade　you've