he Unknown Assassin

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

Lilliland was a very peaceful country and like its neighbor, Switzerland, it was neutral. Because of its neutrality, Lilliland did not go to war or take sides in a war. There were no guns in Lilliland, except for the police.

The Baron and his fiancée enjoyed the serene life of Lilliland and were often seen in public at various events and festivals. That is why he was surprised when a note came to him at the castle, on the first day of the month, stating that the Baron would be shot. Two more notes arrived on the first days of the following two months.

The first note blamed the Baron for the death of a tourist who fell from a ski lift. The second note said that the death was due to the careless and dangerous manner in which the ski lift was maintained.

The third note said that the Baron would be dead by the end of the year.

The Baron wanted to ignore the letters as being from a crank. But both the police and the Baron’s chief advisor, Professor Hamblin, felt that the person who wrote the letters meant to try to kill the Baron.

The Baron was asked to limit his participation in events to only indoor events within Lilliland Castle until the assassin was caught. Lady Angela of Alpine Castle agreed with the precautions.

The Professor was able to track the postage markings and type of paper on which the notes were written to a small town in France. A review of the hospital records and ski patrol reports came up with several names regarding ski lift accidents.

Finally a name was found and an address located in the old records of the Grand Lilliland Hotel. The Professor, in disguise, went to the address and found the brother of the man who had the accident on the ski lift.

The brother believed that the accident was caused by faulty maintenance on the ski lift. The reports that the Professor showed the brother said that the records were proper and there had been no cover up. Finally, the brother agreed to have a meeting with his cousin who knew about ski lifts. The cousin and the Professor returned to the Lilliland ski lift for an independent examination. It turned out that the brother who died had a drinking problem and was warned by his friends not to ski until he was sober.

Finally, another letter came to the castle for the Baron. It was from the brother who turned himself in to the French police and said he was sorry about the misunderstanding.

The Baron and Lady Angela were relieved that the incident was over.