Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1908-12-19


up to the attic Roulctabille-to Whom
we seemed no longer to exist-entercd
the laboratory followed him I
was. ! confess. n state Of great ex-
element Robert Darzac lost none OF
my friends movements. AS for ME.
my eyes were drawn at once to the
door Of the yellow room. II was closed
and, as Immediately saw, partially
shattered and out Of commission.
My friend, who went about his work
methodicaIly, silently studied the room
in which we were. 1t was large and
well lighted. Two big windows-al-
most bays-were protected by strong
iron bars and looked out upon wide
extent Of country.
The whole Of one side Of the labora-
tory was taken up with large chin
ney, crucibles, ovens and such imple-
ments as are needed for chemical ex-
periments; tables loaded with vials
papers, reports, an electrical machine
Ian apparatus, as M. Darzac informed
me, employed by Professor Stangerson
to demonstrate the dissociation of mat
ter under the action of solar light
and other scientific implements.
Along the walls were cabinets, plain
or glass fronted, through which were
visible microscopes, special photo
graphic apparatus and large quanti-
ty of crystals.
Rouletabille, who was ferreting in
the chimney, put his fingers into one
of the crucibles, Suddenly he drew
himself up and held up piece of half
CONSUMED paper in his hand. He step
ped up to where we were talking by
one of the windows.
Keep that for us, M. Darzac," he
said
l bent over the piece of scorched
paper which NJ. Darzac took from the
hand of Rouletabille and read dis
tinctly the only words that remained
legible:
"Presbytery = lost nothing charm
nor the gar-its Brightness
Twice since the morning these same
meaningless words had struck me, and
for the second time l saw that they
produced on the Sorbonne professor
the same paralyzing effect. M. Oar
zac's first anxiety showed itself when
he turned his eyes in the direction of
Daddy jacques. But, occupied as he
was at another window, be had seen
nothing. Then, tremblingly opening
his pocketbook, he put the piece of pa
nor into a. cso,hknr, ttAEx, NoIf,
During this time ROuletabille had
mounted into the opening of the fire.
grate-that Is to say he had got upon
the bricks of a furnace-and was at
tentively examining the chimney,
which grew narrower toward the top,
the outlet from it being closed with
sheets of iron fastened into the brick
work, through which passed three
small chimneys.
impossible to get out that way" he
said, jumping back into the laboratory.
Besides, even if he had tried to do it.
he would have brought all that iron
work down to the ground No, no; it is
not on that side we have to search"
Rouletabille next examined the fur
niture and opened the doors OF the
cabinets. Then he came to the win
dows, through which, he declared, no
one could possibly have passed. At the
second window he found Daddy
Jacques in contemplation.
"Well, Daddy Jacques" he said,
''what are you looking at|
"That policeman who is always go
ing round and round the lake. Another
of those fellows who think they can
see better than anybody elser'
"You don't know Frederic Larsan,
Daddy Jacques, or you wouldn't speak
of him in that way" said Rouletabille
in a melancholy tone. IF there is any
one who will find the murderer it will
be he" And Rouletabille heaved a
deep sigh.