Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 253, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1911 — Records OF MICHAEL DANEVITCH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Records OF MICHAEL DANEVITCH

True Tales sf Russian Secret Service xEM by GEORGB T. PARDY J

(Copyright by W. G. Chapman)

t The Murder oft? Colonel Anton Qn a bitter night in December, some years ago, a young man and woman stood at the corner of the street called Devyataya Rota In St Petersburg, They were both well -dressed, and it was obvious that they belonged to the better class of society. They had been in earnest conversation for some time, and at last the young woman said: :J “Paul, I must go now. lam afraid as it is that I have been missed and will be questioned.” He bent forward and kissed her. “Let me accompany you as far as the door,” he said. “It will at least give me a few minutes more of your dear company.” “No, no, Paul,” she cried nervously. "Someone" might see us, and It would lead to my being sent away from St Petersburg." “Perhaps yob are right” he assented, with a sigh. “Well, adieu for the present love. You will contrive to send me a few Unes, will you not and arrange to see me at the earliest opportunity?" ?• “Ye%” she said softly. “And now, good-bye, for the present Paul.” Their lips met' again. Then she left him, and making hqr way to a large gray house in the next square, rang the bell and was admitted by an old man-serv-ant. The young man stood looking after her until she had turned the corner and passed out of sight. Thetf he proceeded in the opposite direction, but had scarcely gone ten yards before he was accosted by a man who exclaimed fiercely: "I was a witness of your meeting. Now you can take this as a final warning. If you do not cease your attentions to my cousin, I will kill you, as sure as there is a Heaven above us.” The man addressed laughed contemptously. "Keep your melodrama for those weak enough to be affected by it, Contantin Mandt,” he retorted coolly. “If I do not resent your threats as perhaps I ought, 4t Is for Natasha’s sake. Your attempts to coerce your cousin are in vain.” "We shall see,” responded Mandt furiously. “I was not disliked by Natasha before you, Paul Ursoff, appeared upon the scene. Her father has forbidden her to encourage you in any way, and favors my suit. Meanwhile, take my warning to heart, if you are wise. My vengeance will not be long delayed." Ursbff was a young medical man whose devotion to science had earned him a high place in the estimation of the leaders of his profession. Colonel Anton, the father of the young physician’s love, was a retired military officer, a hero of the Crimean campalgq, knd a widower. He was a man of ample means, but lived a secluded life which was shared by his daughter. The colonel’s great hobby was the study of astronomy. At the top of his house he had erected a small observatory, where he spent most of his time. Natasha, who was nineteen years of age, was noted for her remarkable beauty, but her life was a rather monotonous one, for her father was averse to society, and kept no company himself. \ Among the few vtsltoi-s to Colonel Anton's house was cousin— Constantin- Mandt. The latter had been educated for the profession of an analytical Chemist, but he was idle apd dissolute, and had already squandered a handsome fortune. Yet' his uncle, the Colonel, who was blind to Mandt’s faults,, intended him for his son-in-law. Natasha did not agree with her father’s views, but the colonel who was an extremely hot-tempered obstinate man, would brook no opposition to his plans in this respect. He vowed that Natasha should become Contantin's wife as soon as she was twenty-one. He would give her a handsome dowry, and in the event of his dying before the marriage all his money would pass to her on the sole condition of her marrying her cousin. If she failed to comply with her father’s wishes, the money would be distributed among charitable institutions. Much as Natasha resented this calm disposition of her future life, she could see no avenue of escape opening before her. She therefore resigned heft self to her fate until she met with Paul Ursoff. Then she became defiant, and wben'she had carried on a secret courtship with her new lover for two months, she boldly took him •to her father’s house and Introduced him as the man she intended to marry. As might have been expected from /* man of Colonel Anton’s dogmatic type, this move produced a terrific explosion of rage on the veteran’s part Natasha, however, stood firm, inspite of her father's 'rage. . In order that the incidents which foUow should be clearly understood, it will be necessary to describe Colonel Anton’s house. The lower door opened from the street into a broad passage, and it was tn charge of the old army pensioner, Peter Svalon. He occw pied a small room on the left side,

with a window that commanded a view of the passage. A cord at the head of his bed enabled him to pull the latch of the door back, and glve ; admittance to anyone seeking it, and from the window he could observe who passed. At night-time a small reflector lamp was placed on the window ledge in such a positon that its tight fell upon anyone entering the passage, either coming in from the street, or going out At the end of the corridor, which was short, a flight of etone steps turned to the right and led up to another door, which was always kept on the latch, and could be opened with a latch-key. Natasha, hpr father, and the old housekeeper each had a kew to this door, which gave access to the house proper, and on this flat was the kitchen, the drawing-room, Natasha's sitting and bed-room, and the old woman’s bpdroom. A story higher Colonel Anton had his dressingroom, a library, and a sitting-room; and on the upper Story of all was his observatory. V. ' / Several days had passed since the interview between Paul and Natasha, upon which Mandt had intruded. Not having heard from his beloved in that period, Ursoff grew anxious, knowing that his rival must certainly have reported their meeting to the Colonel. He resolved to risk a letter to her, and wrote an epistle which was eloquent In Its entreaty to be true to him. Alluding to her father’s objection to his suit, he wrote: "Is there no hope that during your father’s lifetime I can claim yoU for my own? Is there no way of removing his stubborn obstinacy? If not, then I must say—and I say it out of the excess of my affection for you—that his dedth alone can give me the happiness which would alone make life worth living to me. But still, for your beloved sake, I pray that he may be long spared to you. Sorrow and joy are ever woven together, and the loss of a, father would give you a devoted husband, who would worship the very ground you walk upon.” - - ? More than a week elapsed before a reply came to his letter. It was a short note, which said: , ’ .. . .• j “Come here on Christmas eve between nine and ten—l expect to be alone. will be absent, but the latch of the lower door will be left up, so that you can enter, and I enclose a latch-key whereby you can let yourself In. Be sure and burn this letter as a precautionary measure.” It struck Paul as being somewhat peculiar that Natasha should have sent him a latch-key; and it also seemed to him that the writing In the note was different in some respects from her usual style. But at last he persuaded himself that this was mere fancy, and as for the key—she probar bly had some well-founded motive for sending It. On the night In question Ursoff left his lodgings at half-past eight. It was bitterly cold, and in spite \>f the heavy coat and muffler he wore, he felt halffrozen by the time he reached Colonel Anton’s residence.'He found the outer door unlatched, as the letter had stated. He entered, closed the door after him, and latched It The consider was in darkness, but he groped his way along, crept cautiously up the stairs, and let himself in with the latch-key. The passage of the house was Illuminated by an octagonal lamp of red glass, suspended from the celling. He paused and listened, but all was silent. He had expected that Natasha would have been' on the watch for him, but evidently siiewaa not. He was acquainted from his former visit with that part> of the house, and so he made his way Into the draw-ing-room, having first hung his hat on a peg on the hat-stand. A lamp burned on the chimney-piece, but no one was in the room. Hb waited for at least ten minutes, but nobody came. The house was silent as death, save fog .the ticking of a marble clock wftch Indicated that it was half-past nine. Paul grew uneasy. In the observatory above Colonel Anton was studying the stars, utterly Oblivious of everything else. Lying back on his cushioned platform, his eye riveted to the telescope, he heard nothing save his own breathing, and saw nothing except those worlds of dazzling lights. He was a stargazer, and had no thought for anything else. While the Colonel, remained lost in cohtemplation of the heavenly bodies, the glass panel that admitted light to the closet slid back silently, and tn the aperture a man’s face, pale and florce-looking appeared for an instant It was swiftly withdrawn, and the panel was partly dosed again, an opening of about two inches being left At this opening there was thrust forth what seemed to be a brass tap, from which issued a slight hissing sound. In a few seconds the star-gazer’s hand, which was on the adjusting screw of the telescope, dropped suddenly like a lump of lead. His head fell back and rolled from aide to side as if he were in agony. Hie deeply lined and careworn face became livid and ghastly, and the eyes appeared to bulge out There were two or three convulsive mojic Boa Ting or tM broad cuest, ux-

lowed by a choking sigh; and the Cob Meanwhfte Paul Ursoff was still watting to the room below. The hands of th© dock pointed to Bay* past ten, when his ears at last caught the sound of approaching footsteps. Natasha was coming, he thought, and he sprang to his feet to greet her. The door opened, and the old housekeeper appeared. Paul started back disappointed and surprised. The old woman screamed, but quickly recognizing him, asked: “What are you doing here!"-' "I came to see your mistress—Natasha—” he stammered confusedly. "Then you have had your trouble for nothing,” snapped the old woman angrily. “She has gone to spend the evening with M»ne friends, and will not return before midnight” Paul gased at her stupidly. He felt as though stunned by an unexpected blow. A deception had been practised on him—for what purpose he could not pause to inquire then, for he was” overwhelmed with shame and mortification. He stammered out some kind of an apology, wished the old woman good-night, and passed down the stairs. As he reached the lower door, the porter’s lamp was burning brightly, and Peter Svalon, aroused by the noise that the young man made in endeavoring to open the door, slid back his window, peered out, and exclaimed —"Who is there?" Paul muttered something about his having made a mistake. Christmas eve waned and merged Into Christmas morning. The first rosy streaks of the dawn were still lingering In the sky, when four sternfaced officers of the law approached the .house where Paul Ursoff dwelt. Two of them remained outside, while the others mounted the stairs to«the young physician’s bedroom, and hav-

Ing awakened him from a deep slumber placed him under arrest on a charge of suspected murder. The mysterious death of Colonel Anton excited unusual interest in St. Petersburg, for he was well known as an officer who had rendered brilliant service to his country during the terrible struggle in the Crimea, and he had also made a name for himself among scientific men as a well-in-formed student of astronomy. The particulars so far gathered showed that, being Christmas Ndtasha Anton, in company with her cousin, Constantin Mandt, went out early to the house of some relative to take part to certain festivities in connection with a Christmas tree. The housekeeper and her husband, Peter Bvalon, had also been absent for a couple of hours visiting friends. The Colonel, who seldom paid visits, had been left alone in his observatory engaged in his favorite pursuit, the night being exceptionally brilliant. The housekeeper returned at half-past ten, and on going upstairs was amazed to find a man in the house. She recognized him as an acquaintance of her mistress. He seemed much confused on seeing her, and stammered out something about having come to see Natasha Anton, the housekeeper knowing that the young lady had been out all the evening, in accordance with an engagement made days before, was aware that his statement was false, and aa soon as he had gone, she began to suspect that his motive had been robbery. She first of all descended to her husband, who bad been no less surprised to see a man, whom' he recognized, taking his departure. Making known her fears to him, they both proceeded to the observatory, believing that it was their

duty to Inform the Colonel of the occurrence. Repeated knocking at the. door brought no response, and becoming alarmed they entered the room. Colonel Anton was lying motionless bn on his sloping platform, where he was wont to recline when watching the stars. They could not arouse him,' and went after Doctor Zvorsky, who resided close by. The doctor came at once, and pronounced the Colonel dead. At first the medical man was Inclined to attribute the Colonel's death to apoplexy, but on making a more critical examination abandoned this theory. He summoned two colleagues, one of them being a Wellknown scientist, and the trio came to the conclusion that the deceased had not died a natural death. The police were communicated with, and made a cursory examination of the premises to ascertain If robbery had been committed. On going Into Natasha’s room the officers noticed a jewel-ease on tile table. It was not locked, and on examination they found it to contain a few odds and ends of jewelry of trifling value, and what was more to the purpose a letter addressed to Natasha Anton. This was opened and read. It was from Paul Ursoff and contained the following passage in allusion to her father: "His death alone will give me happiness." ( / The police took possession of the letter, and Ursoff, to whom suspicion pointed as the. criminal, was arrested. It was after one o’clock in the morning when Natasha returned home with her cousin, and they were informed of the tragedy. Natasha was prostrated by the news, apd Mandt was also greatly affected. The latter at once stated It as his belief that Ursoff was the guilty man, and asserted that the dead man looked upon' Paul as an intruder in his household. The case /was taken up by Michael

Danevltch for investigation, and that famous detective at once went to the cell where the suspect was confined, and had a long talk with him. Following this Interview he visited Natasha and her cousin in turn. Despite the girl’s affection for her lover her faith in him bad been sorely shaken by the nature of the evidence against him. The passage in the letter he bad written her to her father took on a new and sinister meaning la her eyes, and seemed to stamp Paul as a heartless criminal. Mandt was outspoken in his dedunclation of Ursoff, but Danevitcb, wise in the ways pf mankind, attributed much of this bitterness to the fact, which was no ’secret, of the two young men having been rivals for the girl’s hand. From the outset he had been rather favorably impressed by the prisoner’s demeanor. Also he knew something of t Ursoff’a honorable, career, and the youthful scientist did not appear to him to be formed of the stuff of which assassins are made. His opinion of Mandt was not so favorable. The latter's evident anxiety to fasten the crime upon Ursoff was but thinly disguised, aad Danevltch set him down in his mental note-book as a crafty individual with a good deal of venom in bls composition, who would stop at nothing to achieve a desired object The verdict of the physicians who performed the post mortem on, the Colonel’s body, was that death had been caused by the inhalation of some poisonous gas. In the tory a small coke-stove was used to warm the place, wfilch was lighted with an oil lamrm Danevltch found this stove to be in perfect order, and giving off no fames, while the lamp contained colza oil. Besides, he refieoted, the large aperture in the roof

through which the telescope (protruded would have rendered suffocation by the coke almost impossible, a« the go' would have escaped too rapidly. Danevltch went over all the premises with peculiar care in search of evidence, and made an Important discovery In the lumber room adjoining the observatory. He found there a pearshaped rubber. collapsible bag, with a brass nozzle and tap. This he subjected to a critical test, and was rewarded by discovering traces of carbonic gas. The cause of the Colonel's demise was now plain to the detective’s mind. The bag had been filled with the deadly carbonic gas, the fumes of which possessed ten times the strength of coke or any other suffocating poison, and had been insidiously Introduced Into the observatory. One breath Of this gas would have been sufficient to produce unconsciousness, and a second inhalation death. To most people this would have appeared another piece of damming evidence against Ursoff. No ordinary criminal' would have dreamed of utilizing such an agent, but it was just the Idea to appeal to a man of scientific knowledge. With the bag in his possession Danevltch paid another visit to the unhappy prisoner, and exhibited it to him. Paul denied vehemently having ever seen the apparatus before, and again asserted his conviction that he was the victim of a plot “You stated to the officers who first arrested you that you went to Colonel Anton’s bouse in response to a letter received from his daughter," remarked Danevltch. “Where la that letter now?’’ "I burnt It, at her own request contained In It” was Paul’s reply. The detective made no further comment but left the celt He had already questioned Natasha regarding the letter referred to, and the girl had denied

having written it Long experience with criminals had made Danevltch a repiarkably good judge of the value ot a prisoner’s protestations of innocence, and he was Inclined to believe that Paul had been drawn into a trap, black as appearances were against him. The next question was, supposing this theory to be correct who was the enemy that had not flinched at committing murder in order to bring about the young scientist’s downfall? As far as Danevltch had been able to discover, there was but one man who Was imbued with sufficiently malignant feelings against Ursoff to go out oMris way to injure him. That man wab Constantin Mandt Investigation had satisfied the detective that Mandt’s career had not been a particularly clean one, although no actual crime had been charged against him. Whoever the murderer was, he had been foolish enough to leave a very tangible piece of evidence against him, in the shape of the rubber bag, and Danevltch set forth to endeavor tb trace the place where it had been purchased! Fortune favored him so far that he discovered a manufacturer who made all sort of articles far chemical laboratories, one of whose, salesmen remembered having sold, a fortnight previous, an India rubber bag with a brass nozzle and tap. The bag found in Colonel Anton’s house was produced and identified. The salesman described the pui chaser aa a tall young man with very black hair, and a constant smile, which exposed frequently a row of teeth plentifully filled with gold. This- description rather staggered Danevltch, for ft fitted Ursoff*s person in every particular, and seemed to clear Mandt of any complicity In th© crim©. While walk" i far alone the streeL menhir OrmrhK

W on a the case he accrtsfpd hv Mandt 1 ress he was making. "Though as far as that goes,” ni marked Natasha’s cousin, "you haven't any reason for suspecting another person than the fellow that's under lock and key now.” The cocksureness of Mandt’s accent, and the malignant expression ot his face jarred upon the detective, who gave him a sharp look. "No man is guilty until he Is proved to have committed a crime,” said Danevltch coldly. Mandt only grinned broadly, and itt that instant the detective involuterily remembered the salesman’s remark about the purchaser’s constant smile. But Mandt’s teeth were large, white and even, and without a suspicion of gold on their surface. Also his hair and eyebrows were a light brown, and those of the man who purchased the bag were jet black. In all other respects, however, he was not unlike Ursoff, being tall, broadshouldered, and carrying himself jauntily. Bidding Mandt a curt adieu the detective turned in at his office In the Bureau of Police, and alone in the aahetum reserved for himself as head of the department ruminated over the events of the day. Presently a grim smile broke out on his stern features, and he struck the desk in front ot him with his clenched fist "By Heaven, I still believe that young chap innocent," he muttered, "and I’ll take a chance at proving it" He touched a bell, and a policeman entered the room. "Take two men,” ordered Danevltch, 'go to number 110 Sergievskaya street and ask for Constantin Mandt Tell him he Is wanted at police headquarters to give some Information in the case of Colonel Anton. He Is not likely to refuse to come, but if he does, bring him along anyhow. Have him here by nine o'clock tonight Also send a messenger to Savelyev and Company, the chemical manufacturers, and command the attendance here at the same time of a salesman named Bazhanov, with whom J was speaking this afternoon” The policeman saluted, and left the room. Danevltch busied himself in making certain preparations for the reception of his expected visitors, and that done composed himself to await results. At the appointed time Constantin Mandt made his appearance, accompanied by three officers. His wonted smile was still In evidence, for he deemed it likely that Danevltch wanted tp learn some more particulars regarding the cdeer of his rival, ' which he was prepared to supply, with whatever coloring seemed needful. One of the officers approached and whispered in his superior's ear, and Danevltch nodded. “Let Bazhanov wait in an outer room, until I want him,” he said. “I have sent for you to try a little experiment, Mr. Mandt,” said Danevltch. "As it is in the Interests of justice, I trust you will not object to humor us. If you do object—-well, it won’t make any difference.” Mandt stared blankly, but made no reply. He seated himself in obedience to a wave of Danevltch’s hand, but started again to his feet when one of the chiefs aids approached, and removing his hat, placed a black wig on Mandt’s head. - ■ / "I will not submit to this, it is unnecessary, undignified,” he cried with lips from which all color had fled. "If he protests again, gag him,” ordered Danevltch harshly. "No innocent man need fear the experiments of the law, Contantin Mandt. It is only the guilty who dread us.” Mandt said no more, but watched with terror-stricken eyes, as the officers proceeded with his transformation. A heavy crayon pencil, neatly applied, changed Constantin’s eyebrows to a deep black. Then Danevitch produced a small bottle containlng a thick, golden liouid. Placing some of the contents delicately on a camel’s hair brush, he held back Mandt’s Ups and coated the latter’s teeth heavily with the liquid. ‘lt will dry in a few seconds,” he remarked pleasantly, "and the effect will be surprising. You should have come to us in the first plaee, my dear Mr. Mandt for a few pointers in the art of disguising one’s self,” Assisting his victim to arise, Danevitch enveloped his shaking form in a fur overcoat, and wrapped a woolen muffler around his neck.. , “Now, call in Bazhanov,” he ordered curtly. The salesman made his and started back at the sight of Mandt’s trembling figure. "It is he,” he cried. "Mr. Danevltch, there stands the man to whom I sold the rubber bag." Mandt reeled backwards and fell fainting into the chair behind him. "Take him away, and lodge him to a cell," commanded Danevltch. "He is under arrest, charged with the murder of Colonel Anton.” Before another hour had passed Paul Ursoff was a tree man again. Mandt broke down before being brought to trial, and confessed that be had killed his uncle with carbonic acid gas. He had forged the letter to. his riyal, and cleverly Imitated his ennw wniie ursoii was in we doubb. the festivities* where his short al>