LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1644, 28 May 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE WOUNDED HAND. Prom a German Detective's Note Book. [From the " Argosy."! ( Concluded.) I lost no time in going in the same direction. An old troe, which forked at the top, and carried a boll in that division, stood on a height near tho shore. Here those who wantod to be ferried over the river must stop and ring for the boatman, whose house stood in a sheltered nook at hand. I shirked preliminaries, and made at once for the dwelling. Here [ found a gigantio person, who declared herself tho daughter of the ferryman, and tho customary rower when, as now, her father was absent. I sought to gain the confidence of this damsel. ' A friend of mine went over here, I think, not long since,' I said. 'He was in great haste, being on his way to Holland, in order to escape serving hero in tho army.' The popular antipathy to tho enforced military training loosed her tongue at once ' es, yes,' she replied. 'A young man in great haste did surely go over a little time baok,'

' He wore a blue blouse and black hose ?' 1 Maybe; but it seems to me he had others with him, or of his party.' ' Very probably. Two others, I suppose ?' ' This was how it was. One man came to me in the early dawning. I put him across. An hour or so later there came a second, and asked anxiously about the first. When I told him he was beyond he seemed content enough, and followed. The third, your ftiend with the blouse, asked if he were the first who had wanted mo that day. He asked me particularly about the two, I had already rowed over, and then seemed right gay, and jumped into the boat himself.' 'Ah I One of the three carried a tin box 1 ' I said, slipping a coin into my new acquaintance's palm. • I never noticed,' answered the girl, ' But I saw that the third man carried a round bundle or parcel wrapped in a red handkerchief under his arm.' 'Did he give you a good reward for taking him over ?' 'Nothing more than all the world—ten pfennigs:' «With his right hand ?' ' Why not V

* Wasn't his right hand tied up P' ' Not tbat I saw. I only know he kept one hand in his pocket, whether the right or left I couldn't say now.' I could have embraced the tall ferrywoman, in spite of her forty summers and her uncertainty upon minor points. It was plr.in that the three ruffians, for better security, had separated, and that the Blast comer was the leader in and the chief benefitter by the crime which had been committed. During his confab with the doctor no doubt he had hidden the spoils in some hedge. I was upon his track now. Bat I had soon to cry "lost!" It; was a grevious disappointment to me. Beyond Ems the clue was nowhere to be followed. I laboured in vain in this neighborhood for days. I made friends with all sorts of people, letter carriers, porters, waiters, and walked many a weary mile in the hot sun, but all to no purpose. I was baffled and wholly at fault, as much as though I. never had had a hint at all to follow. Nine days had gone by since I had come to T. I turned into a beer garden in the neighborhood of the town one evening, and sat down near a well lighted bowling alley, in which about ten gentlemen were busy at a game. My seat was rather in the shade. I paid little attention to the players, but leaned my head upon my hand, and reviewed the defeat I had sustained, and the small estimation in which I should be held for sake of it by colleagues and chief at homo ; feeling altogether extremely out of humour. Suddenly an ill-thrown ball rolled almost to my feet.

'Amiss—a miss,' shouted several voices voices together, while one cried : " Why, Bottcher, is your hand not even yet re' covered? You are not complaining of it still ?" I felt like a huntsman in a forest who seea the game at hiq gun's end. I was on the alert that second. I lost no time in finding out all Herr Bottoher's antecedents. He was a merchant, one of Frau Friodow'a connections, and an occasional visitor at her house. He was a continual guest at this placo of entertainment. I brought the doctor here next evening and set hira to work stealthily considering my gan e. My discomfiture was great when he flatly refused to identify Herr Bottcher and his patient as one and the same person. They might be one, ho confessed ; but then ■ ■ they might not.

If the medico turned rusty, like this, it seemed to me utterly useless to bring hither the ferry woman on a like errand. I must trust to myself alone. We officials have two methods of doing business of this sort. We use the long or short line, according as either seems most likely to suit. I determined to try one after the other. In order to put Bottcher quite off the pcent, I went now to the host of this house of entertainment, and introduced myself to him as a Bambnrg agent for the forbidden lotteries. I beggod him to keep this close, but I saw, very plainly by his face, that ha intended doing nothing of the sort. Next morning, to my great contentm.eut, I found myself outwardly under tbo supervision of tho town police, and generally regarded by the public as a shabby individual. I, meantime, was as busy as ever, but it was little I discovered. Herr Bottcher was certainly not in good repute amongst his fellows. Nevertheless, I could hear of no particular difficulty into which he had fallen of late; although I did learn that he had, three weeks since, made a hasty journey. One little fact, however, seemed to me of great worth. Herr Bottcher these times slept badly, and was wont to rise often by night, and pace up and down through the garden. I lay larking for two entire nights under bushes i$ this same plot; during all those weary hours whoever did come to this place Herr Bottcher unfortunately did not, and in the garden I could find no trace of any hidden treasure, or likelihood of such. I fell into greater despair than before. What could Ido ? Upon ouo sido my absolute certainty of having tracked my man. On tho other, no earthly m ans of bringing home his gnilfc. If I only had even sufli, cient ground to demand a. through the rascal's hou«e! but I had not. Ono afternoon I waj walking up and down my roors considering, when the post brought mo a brief but concise and decisive despatch from my chief. ' Beturn immediately, unlets all matters are in train. Give up. Your presence here id necessary.' This order was like a thunderclap in my ears. My commanding officer was plainly displeased at my long delay. Should I simply throw tho cards down or veninrc all on one trick this same evening, so as to be ready to dopayt to-morrow, at furthest ? I decided for the last alternative. Twelve gentlemen sat in the town clubroom. My friend made one of them. To hi« qr oa t surprise. I sat down cW to him, and hoLjan to talk a little. Presently our nearest neighbour stood up and departed, to my great joy. I bent over to Bottcher now, and whispered that I had a weighty matter to talk over with him, 'What may it be?' ho inquired, calmly ' You believe I am hora as a lottery agent ? '• Ho oodded,

'I am not, however. I have been sent here on detective business, by the Prussian police office.' Herr Bottcher took this revelation significantly. On the instant he knew not how to compose his features. He first drew in his face as if wishing to look astonished, and then het'ied to smooth away all but supreme indifference. After a second or two, during which I had studied him as a serpent does its prey, be said in a constrained tone : 1 How does that conoern me, pray, good sir?' 'You have heard of a widow Friedow, from whom a large sum of money has been stolen. I have come here to hunt up the | thief. I have got on the right track. You, I know, are related to her, and concerned In the property she possesses as a probable heir.' While I spoke thus I looted him straight »nto the eyes. They sparkled like those of an angry cat making ready to spring. ' And you will arrest me,' I suppose ?' he gasped angrily. I should have loved to seize him by the throat then and there, shouting, ' In the name of the law.' To this day I wonder how I restrained myself, but I did 'How can you talk so!' I exclaimed, calmly. <I only mean that you must help me to bring the criminal to justice ; being, as you are, interested in the inheritance.' ' With all the pleasure in life,' he replied, heartily. ' I will do what I can. But—what is it you want of me ?' ' Early to-morrow I will oome to you to consult over the matter, and we can then decide on our proceedings " Bottcher drew a long breath. 'This is most unfortunate,' he exckimed. 'I have had an urgent summons, and must start from T. before daybreak. Perhaps I may even be obliged to leave this evening. I owe a heavy sum of money, and must appear personally to my creditor to demand further delay. I cannot wait.' I could scarce restrain my joy. The game had run his head right Into my lasso; only one pull now, and the knot was fast. ' Don't trouble,' I said, quietly. ' By-and-by will do for me. I shall be in T. for another week; when you come back will answer as well.' ' All right; I expect to return in a couple of days,' he exclaimed. 'But stay, one question 1 Is Dr. Miding mixed up in this affair?' ' Do you know him ?' ' By sight only ' ' He will help me to identify the criminal,' I said, coolly looking full again into my companion's face, which took a horrible tint and expression now. ' Can he do so ?' 'Certainly. He saw the man, dressed like a laborer, the morning after the robbery was effected.' ' Who was this ruffian V Bottcher asked breathlessly. 'His name is—Ebbing—l think,' I answered, at haphazard. 'I don't know him,' was the reply to this. • I daresay,' I said; •he only comes here at times.' I rose now, broke off our conversation with every appearance of confidence, and departed, having shaken Bottcher by the hand. I went stealthily to his house and waited. I had been here but about a quarter of an hour when a trap dashed up to the door. Bottcher sprang out of it, went inside for a few minutes, and then reappeared carrying something under his left arm. As he got upon one side of the vehicle I jumped upon the other, and seized hold of my game. He made not the least resistance, but sat like one enchanted