Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 256, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1911 — Records MICHAEL of DANEVITCH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Records MICHAEL of DANEVITCH

f True Tales F Russian Secret Service Edited by GEORGE T. PARDY

(Copyright by W. Q. Chapman)

-J: j Colonel Anton

On 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 hadbeen in earnest conversation for some , time, and at last the young woman said: ■,?. • “Paul, I must go now. I am afraid as it is that I have been missed and will be questioned." He bent forward and kissed hes. “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 you are right,” he assented, with a sigh. “Well, adieu for'the present, love. You will contrive to send me a few lines, will you not, and arrange to see me at the earliest opportunity?" 'r ' “Yes,” she said softly. “And now, good-bye, tor the present, Paul." Their lips met again. Then she left him, and making her . 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 Then he proceeded in the opposite direction, but had scarcely gone ten yards be- ( fore he was accosted by a man who exclaimed fiercely: “I was a witness of your meeting. Now you can take \his 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, it 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 wanting to hesfrt, if you are wise. My vengeance will not be long delayed.” - . k *• Ursoff a young medical man whose deyotion 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 campaign, andyk 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 ...xpost 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 visitors to Colonel Anton’s house was Natasha’s cousin— Constantin Mandt The latter had been educated for the profession of an analytical chemist, but he was idle and 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 flth 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 gll 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 bofore her. She therefore resigned herself to her fate until she met with Paul Ursoff. Then she became defiant, and When she had carried on a secret courtship with her new lover tor two monthß, she boldly took him to her fath sir’s house and Introduced him as the man she Intended to marAs might have been expected from a man of Colonel Anton’s dogmatic type, this move produced a terrific explosion of rage on the veteran’s part. Natasha, however, stood firm, in spite of her father's rage. In order that the incidents which follow should T>e 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 in charge of the old army pensioner, £eter Svmlon. Be occupied 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 give admit* tance to anyone seeking it, and from the window he could' observe yrho passed. At night-time a small reflector lamp was placed on the window ledge in such a positon that its light’ feH 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 stone steps turned to right and led up to another door, which was always kept on the latch, and could be opened with a latch-key. Natasha', her father, and the old housekeeper each had a Sfeto 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 bedroom. A story higher Colonel Anton had his dressingroom, a library, and a sitting-room; and on the upper story of all was his observatory.

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 spit, 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 fen you—that Ms death alone can give me the'happlness 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 We 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: “Come here on Ghristmas eve l between nine and ten —I expect to be alone. The porter will be absent, bnt the latch of the lower door will be left up, so that you can enteV, and I enclose a latch-key Whereby you can let yourself to. 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 tMs was mere fancy, and as for the key—-sbe, probably had some well-founded motive for sending it. I

On the night in question Ursoff left bis lodgings at half-past eight It was bitterly cold, and in spite of the heavy coat and muffler he wore, be 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 corri-. der was to darkness, bnt 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 ceiling. He paused and listened, but all was silent He had expected that Natasha would have been on the watch for him, but evidently she was not He waa acquainted from Ms former vteit with that part of the house, and so he made his way into the draw-ing-room, having first hung Ms hat on a' peg- on the bat-stand. A lamp burned on the cMmney-plece, but no one was to the room. He waited for at least ten minutes, but nobody came. The house was silent as death, save for the ticking of a marble t clock wMcb indicated that it was half-past nine. Paul grew uneasy. In the observatory above Colonel Anton'was studying the stars, utterly oblivions of everything else. Lying back on his cushioned platform, Ms eye riveted to the telescope, he heari nothing save his qwn breathing, 'and saw nothing except those worlds of dazzling lights. He was a star-gazer, and had no thought for anytMng else. While the Colonel remained lost to contemplation of thef heavenly bodies, toe glass panel that admitted light to the closet slid back silently, and in the aperture a man’s face, pale and flerco-looking appeared for an Instant R was swiftly withdrawn, and the panel waa partly closed again, an opening of about two inches being left At this opening there whs 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 bead fen baric and -rolled from side to side as if he were' In agony. Hie deeply lined and careworn face became livid aid ghastly, sad the eyes appeared to bulge out There were two or three convulsive throes of toe whole body, a spasmodic heaving of too broad chest. fplr

Meanwhile Paul Ursoff was still waiting Ip the room below. The hands of the clock pointed to halfpast 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 recognising 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 some, friends, and- will not return before midnight” Paul gazed 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/mattered 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 to the sky, when four sternfaced officers of the law apprqpched the house where Paul Ursoff dwelt. Two of them remained outside, while the others mounted the stall's to the young physician’s bedroom, and hav-

tog awakened him from & deep slumber placed Mm under arrest on a charge of suspected murder. Tie mysterious death of Colonel Anton excited unusual Interest to St Petersburg, for he was well known as an officer Who had rendered brilliant service to his country during toe 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 eve, Natasha Anton, to company with her cousin, Constantin Mandt went out early ‘to the house of some riflative to take, part to certain festivities to connefc-tion-with a Christmas tree. The housekeeper And her husband, Peter Svalon, had also been absent for a* couple of hours visiting friends. The Colonel, who seldom paid visits; had been left alone to Ms observatory engaged to Ms favorite pursuit, the night being exceptionally brilliant housekeeper returned at half-p%st ten, and on going upstairs -was amend to find a man to (he bouse. Bhd tecognissd him as an acquaintance of her mistress. He seemed much confused on seeing her, and stammered out something about having dome to see Natasha Anton. The housekeeper knowing that Jhe young lady had been ont all the evening, in ' accordance with an engagement made days before, was aware that his statement was false, and as soon as he had gone, she began to suspect that Ms motive had been robbery. She first of all descended to her husband, who bad been no leas surprised to see as man, whom he recognised, taking his departure. Making known her fears to him, they both proceeded to toe observatory, believing that It waa tootr .. * :-• * Vi t ' ■ *Yi'

1 ' •• “ ■?*. . / ' •• , duty to inform tfieColonel of the occurrence. Repeated knocking at toe door brought no response,, and becoming alarmed they entered the room. Colonel Anton was lying motionless on on his sloping platform, where he was wont to recline when watching the stars. They could ijot arouse him, and wqnt after Doctor Zvorsky, who resided close by. The doctor came at once, and pronounced the Colonel dead. At flfstthe medical man was inclined to attribute toe 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-case on toe 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 toe. purpose a letter addressed to Natasha Anton.* This was opened and read. It was from Paul Ursoff and contained the following passage to allusion to her father: “His death alone win give me happiness.” The police took possession of'the Tetter, and Ursoff, (o whom suspicion pointed ip toe 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, and Mandt was also greatly affected. The latter at once stated it as his belief that Ursoff was the guilty man, Und asserted that the dead man looked upon .Paul as an intruder in his household. The case was taken up by Michael

Dapevitch 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 to turn. Despite the girtfs affection for her lover her faith Iff him had been sorely shaken by the nature iff the evidence against v him. The passage in the letter he had written her An reference to her father took on a new and sinister meaning in her eyes, and seemed to stamp Paul as A heartless criminal.. Mandt was outspoken to his denunciation of Ursoff, but Danevitch, wise in the ways of mankind, attributed much of tMs bitterness to the fact, which was no secret, of the two young men having been rivals for the girl’s band. From the outset he had been rAther favorably impressed by toe prisoner’s demeanor. Also he 'knew something of L’raoff’s honorable, career, and the youthful scientist did net appear to him to be formed at the stuff of which assassins are made. His opinion of fcfandt was not so favorable. The latter’s evident anxiety to fasten the crime upon Ursoff was but thinly disguised, and Danevitch set Mm down to his mental noto-Bbok as a crafty to-, dividual with a good deal of venom in his composition, who would stop at nothing to acMeve a desired object The verdict of the physicians who performed/ the poet mortem on the Colonel’s body wai that death had been caused by dhe inhalation of some prisonous gas. In the observatory a tsmall coke-stove was used to warm toe place, which waa lighted with an oil lamp. Danevttob found this stove to be In perfect order, and giving off no fumes, while toe lamp contained colza oil. Besides, he refected. toe large aperture to toe roof

through which toe telescope protruded would have rendered suffocation by toe coke almost impossible, as the gas would have escaped too rapidly. Danevitch went over all toe premises with peculiar care to search of evidence, and made ah 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 whs rewarded by discovering traces of carbonlc 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 toe strength of coke or any other suffocating poison, jmd 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 jit was just toe idea to appeal to a man of scientific knowledge. With the bag in his possession Danevitch 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 “Yon stated to the officers who first arrested you that you went to Colonel Anton’s house to response to a letter received from his daughter,” remarked Danetitch. “Where is 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 cell. He had already questioned Natasha regarding the letter referred to, and toe girl had dented

haring written it. Long experience with criminals had made Danevitch a remarkably good judge of the ralue of a prisoner’s protestations of innocence, and lie 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 enpmy that had not flinched at committing murder in order to bring about the young scientist's downfall? >s far as Danevitch had b4en>ble to discover, there was but one man who wag Imbued with sufficiently malignant feelings against Ursoff to go out of his way to lnjtnfe him., That man Was Constantin Mandt. Investigation had satisfied « ike ) detective that Mandfs 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 Danevitch set forth to endeavor to trace the place where it had been purcbqped. Fortune favored him so far that he discovered a manufacturer who made all sort of articles for chemical laboratories, one of whose salesmen remembered having sold, a fortnight previous, ah 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 purchaser as a tell 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 Danevitch, for it fitted Ursott’B person in every particular, and seemed to dear Mandt at any complicity in the crime. While walk-1 lng along the street, musing Wwjgkt-1

“Though as far as that goes,” remarked Natasha’s cousin, “you haven’t any reason for suspecting another p#? son than the fellow that’s under lock The cocksureness of Mandt’a accent, and the malignant expression of his face jarred upon toe detective, who gave him a sharp look. '>.;■? “No man is guilty until he is provepl to have committed a crime,” toiP Danevitch coldly. Mandt only grinned broader, end la ■' that instant the detective involute-. rfly remembered the Salesman’s re*>V. mark 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 bis hair and eyebrows were a fight j brown, and those of the man who pur-1 chased the bar were jet black, lit all other respects, however, he was not unlike Ursoff, being tall, broad* shouldered, and carrying himself jauntUy. Bidding Mandt a curt adieu the detective turned in at his office to the Buleau of Police, and alone to toe sanctum reserved for hifitself as head I of the department ruminated over tba events of the day. Presently a smile broke out on bis stern features, and he struck the desk to front of him with his clenched fist. "By Heaven, I still believe that young chap innocent,” he muttered, “and ril take a chance at proving it/* He touched a bell, and a policeman entered the room. “Take two men," ordered Danevitch, "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 like* 3 1 y 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 I was speaking this afternoon.” The policeman saluted, and left the room. Danevitch busied himself in making certain preparations for the reception of his expected visitors, and tsat done composed himself to await results. At the appointed time Constantin Mandt made his appearance, accompanied by three officers. His wonted smile was still to evidence, fear he deemed it likely that Danevitch wanted to learn Borne more particulars regarding the career of his rival, which he was prepared, to supply, with whatever coloring seemed needful. One of the officers approached and whispered to his superior’s ear, and Danevitch nodded. v * . | ‘/Let Bazhanov wait ip an outer room, until I want Mm'” he said. “I have sent for you to try a Httle experiment, Mr. Mandt,” sdid Danevitch. “As it is to 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 Danevitch’s hand, * but started again to his feet when one of the chiefs aids approached, and removing bis hat, placed a black wig oh Mandt’s head. “I will not submit to this, it is unnecessary, undignified/* ;he cried with lips from which all color bad fled. * “If hq protests again, gag him,” ordered Danevitch 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, bnt watched with.terror-stricken eyes, as the officers proceeded with his transformation. A heavy crayon pencil, neatly applied, changed Constantin’s eye-/ brows to a deep black. Then Danevitch produced a small botue containing a thick, golden liquid. Flaring some of the contents delicately on a camel’s hair brush, he held baric Mandt’s lips and cqgted the latter's teeth heavily with the liquid. •If will dry to a few seconds,” he remarked pleasantly, “and the effect wfil be surprising. You should have come .to us in the first place, my dear Mr. Mandt for a few-pointers In the art, of disguising one’s s«^." Assisting Ms victim to arise, Danevitch enveloped his shaking form to a,j :i fur overcoat, and wrapped a woolen muffler around his neck. "Now r caß in Bazhanov,” he ordered curtly. The salesman made his g and started back at the sight of Mandt’s trembling figure. “It is he/’ be cried. “Mr. Daaeritqh. there stands the man to whom I arid fainting into the riiair behind him. "Take him away; and lodge him a cell,” commanded Danevitch. “He is under arrest, with toe mue | Paul Ursoff was a tree man Mandt broke down before 'lpAtitgg brought,to trial,^ coafeaaed that B6DC6 hfld not excited fttiy conutioxit Ho waa sentenced to Siboiilk foe Ufa* Av Wlt» (UifivUVtJltU vvlvUCl an*