The World's Illusion, Volume 2 (of 2): RuthWassermann, Jakob
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The World's Illusion, Volume 2 (of 2): Ruth
Wassermann, Jakob
German fiction -- Translations into English
But there were four little words that he couldn’t get away from. “I
shall expect you.” And these words sounded into the jabbering and
slavering of the curs about him. “I shall expect you.” And how that man
had stood up in front of him! Niels Heinrich drew in his lips with his
teeth; and his own flesh disgusted him.
“‘I shall expect you.’ All right, old boy! You can go on expecting till
you’re blue in the face.
“‘I shall expect you.’ Aw, can’t a man get no rest? Keep still or I’ll
knock your teeth down your throat.
“‘I shall expect you.’ Yes, and you’ll meet me some day--in hell.
“‘I shall expect you.’”
New witnesses had appeared. In both Wisbyer and Stolpische Streets
there were people who had last seen Ruth Hofmann in the company of a
girl and of a huge butcher’s dog. All suspicious houses in Prenzlauer
Alley had been searched. There were dives in plenty, but the place
called “Adele’s Rest” attracted particular attention. In it was found a
dog like the one described--a masterless dog, to be sure. Some said the
dog had belonged to a Negro who worked in a circus; others that it had
come from the stock-yards.
In the cellar traces of the murder were discovered. A worm-eaten board
found behind a partition was black with blood. When the deed was
done it must have rested on two wooden frames that still remained
in the cellar. When the masterless dog was taken into the cellar, he
howled. Between fifteen and twenty persons, including the innkeeper,
the barmaid, frequenters of the inn, and dwellers in the house, were
subjected to rigorous cross-questioning. Among the latter Molly Gutkind
appeared highly suspicious by reason of her confused answers and
perturbed demeanour. She was arrested and held as a witness.
Niels Heinrich had been to see her the night before. His private
inquiries had confirmed the rumours that had previously come to him.
It was undoubtedly she who had given refuge to the unknown boy. He
determined to put on the thumbscrews. He was an expert at that.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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