Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-29

esteem, even affection, for M. Darzac
she felt It would be better If things
remained as they were"
THAT Is very strange" muttered NJ.
OAK.
"Strange" repeated M. de Marquet.
"Youll certainly not find the mo-
tive there, M. Dax," NJ. Stangerson
said, with a cold smile.
ain any case, the motive was not
theft" said the chief impatiently.
"Oh, we are quite convinced of
thatw exclaimed the examining magis.
trate.
At that moment the door Of the lab
oratory opened, and the officer in
charge of the gendarmes entered and
handed card to the examining magis-
trate. M. de Marquet read it and ut
tered half angry exclamation.
This is really too muchr' he cried
What is it," asked the chief.
"It's the card of young reporter
engaged on the Epoque, M. Joseph
RouIetabille. 1t has these words writ
ten on it, zone Of the motives of the
crime was robbery"
The chief smiled.
"Ab, young Rouletabille! I've heard
of him. He is considered rather clev-
er. Let him come in"
M. Joseph Rouletabille entered the
laboratory, bowed to us and waited
for M. de Marquet to ask him to ex-
plain his presence.
you pretend, monsieur, that you
know the motive for the crime and
that that motive--in the face Of all
the evidence that has been forthcom-
ing-was robbery"
mo, monsieur; do not pretend that
1 do not say that robbery was the mo-
tive for the crime, and don't believe
it was"
''Then what is the meaning of this
cardY
at means that robbery was one of
the motives for the crime"
what leads you to think thatT'
''If you will be good enough to ac-
company me will show you"
The young man asked us to follow
him into the vestibule, and we did. He
led us toward the lavatory and begged
M. de Marquet to kneel beside him.
This lavatory is Lit by the glass door,
and when the door was open the light
which penetrated was sufficient to
light 1t perfectly. M. de Marquet and
M. Joseph Rouletabille knelt down on
the threshold, and the young man
pointed to a spot on the pavement.
1.-THE stones of the lavatory have not
been washed by Daddy Jacques for
some time" he said. 'That can be
seen by the layer Of dust that covers
them. Now notice here the marks or
two large footprints and the black ash
they left where they have been. That
ash is nothing else than the charcoal
dust that covers the path along which
you must pass through the forest In
order to get directly from Epinay to
the Chandler You know there is a
little village Of charcoal burners at
that place who make large quantities
of charcoal What the murderer did
was to come here at midday, when
there was nobody at the pavilion. and
attempt his robbery"
"But what robbery? Where do you
see any signs of robbery? What proves
to you that robbery has been COM
mittedY' we all cried at once.
what put me on the trace of It,
continued the journalist.
"Was this" interrupted NJ. de Mar
quet, still on his knees.
Evidently" said Rouletabille.
And NJ de Marquet explained that
there were on the dust of the pave
ment marks of two footsteps as well
as the impression, freshly made, of a
heavy rectangular parcel, the marks
Of the cord with which it had been
fastened being easily distinguished.
You have been here, then, Nj. ROu-
letabille? / thought 1 had given or
aers to Daddy Jacques, who was left
in charge Of the pavilion. not to allow
anybody to enter"
Don't scold Daddy Jacques. Icame
here with M. Robert Darzac."
"Ah, indeedp' exclaimed M. de Mar
quet disagreeably. casting side
glance at NJ Darzac, who remained
perfectly silent.
when saw the mark of the parcel
by the side Of the footprints / had no
doubt as to the robbery" replied NJ.
Rouletabille. "The thief had not
brought parcel with him. He had
made one here-a parcel with the
stolen objects no doubt--and he put 1t
In this corner intending to take 1t
away when the moment came for him
to make his escape. He had also
placed his heavy boots beside the par
Gel, for, see, there are no marks Of
steps leading to the marks left by the
boots, which were placed side by side.
Tbat acoounts for the fact that fine