niversally respected. Through the signs of
nagging fear, sorrow, and ill-health, printed clearly on the face before
him, Muller's keen eyes looked down into the soul of a man who might
be overbearing, pitiless even, if occasion demanded, but who would not
murder--at least not for the sake of gain. This last possibility Muller
had dismissed from his mind, even before he saw the prisoner. The man's
reputation was sufficient to make the thought ridiculous. But he had
not made up his mind whether it might not be a case of a murder after
a quarrel. Now he began to doubt even this when he looked into the
intelligent, harsh-featured face of the man in the cell. But Muller had
the gift of putting aside his own convictions, when he wanted his mind
clear to consider evidence before him.

Graumann had risen from his sitting position when he saw a stranger.
His heavy brows drew down over his, eyes, but he waited for the other to
speak.

"I am Detective Joseph Muller, from Vienna," began the newcomer, when he
had seen that the prisoner did not intend to start the conversation.

"Have you come to question me again?" asked Graumann wearily. "I can
say no more than I have already said to the Police Commissioner. And no
amount of cross-examination can make me confess a crime of which I
am not guilty--no matter what evidence there may be against me."
The prisoner's voice was hard and determined in spite of its note of
physical and mental weariness.

"I have not come to extort a confession from you, Mr. Graumann," Muller
replied gently, "but to help you establish your innocence, if it be
possible."

A wave of colour flooded the prisoner's cheek. He gasped, pressed his
hand to his heart, and dropped down on his cot. "Pardon me," he said
finally, hesitating like a man who is fighting for breath. "My heart is
weak; any excitement upsets me. You mean that the authorities are not
convinced of my guilt, in spite of the evidence? You mean that they will
give me the benefit of the doubt--that they will give me a chance for
life?"

"Yes, that is the reason for my coming here. I am to take this case in
hand. If you will talk freely to me, Mr. Graumann, I may be able to help
you. I have seen too many mistakes of justice because of circumstantial
evidence to lay any too great stress upon it. I have waited to hear your
side of the story from yourself. I did not want to hear it from others.
Will you tell it to me now? No, do not move, I will get