Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1908-12-19

1nrn1aEurs,nnnn
been committed. It was some time be-
fore the door was opened BY man
whom at once recognized as Daddy
Jacques.
He appeared to be well over sixty
rears Of age. He bad long white
beard and white hair. on which he
wore t1at Basque cap. He was dress.
ed in a complete suit of chestnut col.
ored velveteen, worn at the sides; sa-
bots We're on his feet He had rather
waspish looking face, the expression
of which lightened, however as soon
as he saw NJ Darzac.
Friends" said our guide. Nobody
in the pavilion, Daddy JacquesY'
Il ought not to allow anybody to en-
ter, M. Robert, but of course the order
does not apply to you. These gentle
men of justice have seen everything
there is to be seen and made enough
drawings and drawn up enough re-
ports''-
Excuse me, NJ. Jacques, one ques-
tion before anything else" said Roule-
tabille.
What is 1t, young manP If can
answer it,
"Did your mistress wear her hair IN
bands that evening? You know what
/ mean--over her forehead?"
mo, young man. Ny mistress never
wore her hair in the way you suggest.
neither on that day nor on any other.
She had her hair drawn up as usual
so that her beautiful forehead could be
seen, pure as that of an unborn childr'
Rouletabille grunted and set to work
examining the door, finding that 1t fas-
tened itself automatically. He salts
fed himself that it could never remain
open and needed a key to open it.
Then we entered the vestibule, small,
well lit room paved with square red
tiles.
"Ah, this is the window by which
the murderer escapedw said Roule-
tabille.
$50 they keep on saying, monsieur;
so they keep on saying. But If he had
gone off that way we should have been
sure to have seen him. We are not
blind, neither M. Stangerson nor / nor
the concierges who are in prison. Why
have they not put me in prison. too, on
account of my revolverr
Rouletabille had already opened the
window and was examining the shut
ters.
Were these closed at the time of the
crimeY'
"And fastened with the iron catch
inside" said Daddy Jacques, "and 1
am quite sure that the murderer did
not get out that way"
"Are there any blood stainsp'
"Yes-on the stones outside-but
blood of whatg'
"Ah," said Rouletabille, 'there are
footmarks visible on the path! The
ground was very moist. l will look
into that presently"
"Nonsensev said Daddy Jacques.
'The murderer did not go that way"
Which way did he go, thenY"
"How do l knowT
Rouletabille looked at everything,
smelled everything He went down on
his knees and rapidly examined every
one of the paving tiles. Daddy Jacques
went on:
"Ah. you can't find anything, mon
sieur Nothing has been found. And
now 1t is all dirty. Too many persons
have tramped over it. They wouldn't
let me wash 1t, but on the day of the
crime l had washed the floor thor
oughly, and If the murderer had cross
Ell it with his hobnailed boots should
not have failed to see where he had
been. He has left marks enough in
mademoiselle's chamber"
Rouletabille rose.
when was the last time you washed
these tiles?" he asked, and he fixed on
Daddy Jacques most searching look.
"Why-as / told you-on the day of
the crime, toward half past 5-while
mademoiselle and her father were TAX
ing a little walk before dinner here in
this room. They dined In the labora-
tory. The next day the examining
magistrate came and saw all the marks
there were on the floor as plainly as if
they had been made with ink on whit
paper. Well, neither in the laboratory
nor in the vestibule, which were both
as clean as a new pin, were there any
traces Of a mans footmarks. Since
they have been found near this VIM
dow outside, he must have made his
way through the ceiling of the yellow
room into the attic, then cut his way
through the roof and dropped to the
ground outside the vestibule window.
But there's no hole, neither in the cell
ing of the yellow room nor in the roof
Of my attic; that's absolutely certain.
SO, you see. we know nothing g-noth-
ing. And nothing will ever be known!
It's a mystery of the devils own max
ing"
Rouletabille went down upon his
knees again almost in front of small