. There was a
lamp in the last window of the second story, a lamp with a red shade.
That lamp went out all at once."

"Was the window open?"

"Yes."

"There was a strong wind that night, might not the wind have blown the
lamp out?"

"No, that wasn't it," said Knoll, rising hastily.

"Well, how was it?" asked Muller calmly.

"A hand put out the lamp."

"Whose hand?"

"I couldn't see that. The light was so low on account of the shade that
I couldn't see the person who stood there."

"And you don't know whether it was a man or a woman?"

"No, I just saw a hand, more like a shadow it was."

"Well, it doesn't matter much anyway. It was after nine o'clock and many
people go to bed about that time," said Muller, who did not see much
value in this incident.

But Knoll shook his head. "The person who put out that light didn't go
to bed, at least not right away," he said eagerly. "I looked over after
a while to the place where the red light was and I saw something else."

"Well, what was it you saw?"

"The window had been closed."

"Who closed it? Didn't you see the person that time? The moonlight lay
full on the house."

"Yes, when there weren't any clouds. But there was a heavy cloud over
the moon just then and when it came out again the window was shut and
there was a white curtain drawn in front of it."

"How could you see that?"

"I could see it when the lamp was lit again."

"Then the lamp was lit again?"

"Yes, I could see the red light behind the curtain."

"And what happened then?"

"Nothing more then, except that the man went through the garden."

Muller rose now and took up his hat. He was evidently excited and Knoll
looked at him uneasily. "You're goin' already?" he asked.

"Yes, I have a great deal to do to-day," replied the detective and
nodded to the prisoner as he knocked on the door. "I am glad you
remembered that," he added, "it will be of use to us, I think."

The warder opened the door, let Muller out, and the heavy iron portal
clanged again between Knoll and freedom.

Muller was quite satisfied with the result of his visit to the accused.
He hurried to the nearest cab stand and entered one of the carriages
waiting there. He gave the driver Mrs. Klingmayer's address. It was
about two o'clock in the afternoon now and Muller had had nothing to eat
yet. But he was quite unaware of the fact as his mind was so busy that
no mere physical sensation could divert his attention for a m