The Case of the Lamp That Went Out
bookkeeper and was very glad when she was left alone for a few minutes while Pokorny went in to see the commissioner. But as soon as his errand was known, both the bookkeeper and his companion were led into the office of Head Commissioner Dr. von Riedau, who had charge of the Hietzing murder case.     

       When Dr. von Riedau heard the reason of their coming, his interest was immediately aroused, and he pulled a chair to his side for the little thin man with whom he had been talking when the two strangers were ushered in.     

       “Then you believe you could identify the murdered man?” asked the commissioner.     

       “From the general description and the initials on his linen, I believe it must be Leopold Winkler,” answered Pokorny. “Mrs. Klingmayer has not seen him since Monday morning, nor has she had any message from him. He left the office Monday afternoon at 6 o’clock and that was the last time that we saw him. The only thing that makes me doubt his identity is that the paper reports that three hundred gulden were found in his pocket. Winkler never seemed to have money, and I do not understand how he should have been in possession of such a sum.”      

       “The money was found in the dead man’s pockets,” said the commissioner.       “And yet it may be Winkler, the man you know. Muller, will you order a cab, please?”      

       “I have a cab waiting for me. But it only holds two,” volunteered Pokorny.     

       “That doesn’t matter, I’ll sit on the box,” answered the man addressed as Muller.     

       “You are going with us?” asked Pokorny.     

       “Yes, he will accompany you,” replied the commissioner. “This is detective Muller, sir. By a mere chance, he happened to be on hand to take charge of this case and he will remain in charge, although it may be wasting his talents which we need for more difficult problems. If you or any one else have anything to tell us, it must be told only to me or to Muller. And before you leave to look at the body, I would like to know whether the dead man owned a watch, or rather whether he had it with him on the day of the murder.”      

       “Yes, sir; he did have a watch, a gold watch,” answered Mrs. 
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