Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-10-16

NY2 at the Hotel Monte Rosa
NWH few hours after the
LWI(M Claibornes' departure
While he waited MIR
Armitage employed his time to advan
tage. He carefully scrutnized his
wardrobe, and after process of elimi-
nation and substitution he packed his
raiment In two trunks and was ready
to leave the inn at ten minutes notice
Between trains. when not engaged In
watching the incoming travellers. he
smoked a pipe over various packets of
papers and letters. and these he burned
with considerable care. All the French
and German newspaper accounts of
the murder of Count Won Stroebel he
read carefully, and even more particu-
larry he studied the condition of affairs
in Vienna consequent upon the great
statesman's death. Secret agents from
Vienna and detectives from Paris had
visited Geneva in their study of this
astounding crime and had made much
fuss and asked many questions. but
Mr. John Armitlge paid no heed to
them He had held the last CONVERSE.
ton of length that any one had en-
joyed with Count Ferdinand Won
Stroebel, but the fact of this interview
was known to no one unless to one or
two hotel servants, and these held a
very high opinion of Mr.. Armitages
character, based on his generosity in
the matter of gold coin, and there could
of course be no possible relationship be-
tween so shocking a tragedy and a
chance acquaintance between two tray
eers. Mr.. AImitage knew nothing that
he cared to impart to detectives and a
great deal that he had no intention Of
imparting to any one. He accumulated
1 remarkable assortment of time ia
bles and advertisements of transatlan-
| tic sailings against sudden need and
even engaged passage on three steam
ers sailing from English and French
ports within the week.
He expe<,d that the person for
whom he waited would go direct to
the Hotel Monte Rosa for the reason
| that Shirley Claiborne had been there,
and Armitage was not mistaken.
| When this person learned that the
| Claibornes had left he would doubt
| less hurry after them. This is the
conclusion that was reached by Mr.
Armitage. who at times was singularly
happy in his speculations as to the
mental processes of other people
Sometimes. however. he made mis-
takes, as will appear.
The gentleman for whom John Armi
tage had been waiting arrived alone
and was received as distinguished
guest by the landlord.
NJ. Chauvenet inquired for his friends
the ClaiborneS and was clearly annoy
ed to find that they had gone. and NJ
sooner had this intelligence been con
veyed to him than he, too. studied time
tables and consulted steamer adver
tiscments John Armitage in various
dircreet ways was observant of NJ
Chauvenet's activities. and bookings a
steamship offices interested MIN 81
greatly that he reserved passage oil
two additional steamers and ordered
the straps buckled about his trunks
for it had occurred to him that h
might find it necessary to leave Genevi
in hurry.
1t was not likely that NJ. Chauvenet
being now under his eyes. would escap
him. and John Armitage. making
leisurely dinner. learned from hi
waiter that NJ. Chauvenet. being wOr
from his travels, was dining alone Il
his rooms.
At about 8 O'clock, as Armitage turn
g ed the pages OF Figaro in the smokin
' room. Chauvenet appeared at the dool
scrutinized the group within and passe
on. Armitage had carried his coat. ha
and stick into the smoking room. TO b
ready for possible emergencies. an
when Chauvenet stepped out into tn
street he followed
1t was unusually cold for the season
: and a fine drizzle filled the air Chat