Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-01-28
CHAPTER xxvI-(Cont d.

"But." asked the president "why should Larsan go to Mile. Stangerson's room at all? Why should be twice at tempt to murder herY
 "Because he loves her, M. President"
 "That is certainly a reason. but'-
 "It is the only reason. He was mad |ly fin love, and because of that and other things he was capable of com hitting any crime"
 Did Mile. Stangerson know thisT
 .'Yes, monsieur, but she was ignorant of the fact that the man who was pur- suing her was Frederic Larsan: other wise, of course. he would not have been allowed to be at the chateau. noticed when hA was in her room aft CT the incident in the gallery that he kept himself In the shadow and that he kept his head bent down. He was looking for the lost eyeglasses. Mile. Stangerson knew Larsan under anoth- CT name"
 ''M. Darzac," asked the president. "did Mile. Stsngerson In any way con- fide in you on this matter? How Is 1t that she has never spoken about 1t to any one? If you are innocent sbe would have wished to spare you the pain of being accused"
 Mile Stangerson told ne nothing" replied NJ. Darxac.
 . admire you for your silence" said Rouietabille. but if Mile. Stangerson knew of your danger she would release you from your oath. She would beg of you to tell all she has confided to you She would be here to defend you!7
 M. Darzac made no movement nor | uttered word. He looked at Rouleta- bile sadly.
 However" said the young report CT, "since mademoiselle is not here l must do 1t myself. But, believe me, NJ. Darzac, the only means to save Mile. Stangerson and restore her to | her reason is to secure your acquittal."
 What Is this secret motive that compels Mile Stangerson to hide her knowledge from her father" asked the president
 That, monsieur, I do not know" \ said Rouletabille. 1t is no business of mine.'
 The president, turning to NJ. Darzac, endeavored to induce him to tell what he knew.
 Do you still refuse, monsieur, to tell us how you employed your time during the attempts on the life of Mile. Stan gersonw
 "I cannot tell you anything. mon sieur"
 The president turned to Rouletabille as if appealing for an explanation. "We must assume. NJ. President, that NJ. Robert DarZac's absences are close l ly connected with Mile. Stangerson's | secret and that M. Darzac feels him. self in honor bound to remain silent. | It may be that Larsan,, who since his three attempts has had everything in ! training to cast suspicion on Nj. Dar- l zac, had fixed on just those occasions | for meeting with Nj. Darzac at a ! spot most compromising. Larsan is | cunning enough to have done that"
 The president seemed partly con vinced; but, still curious. he asked: i But what Is this secret of Mile | Stangersonw
 That l cannot tell you" said Roule- tabille. "I think, however. you know enough now to acquit NJ. Robert Dar- zac, unless Larsan should return, and I don't think he will" he added, with a laugh.
 "One question more,' said the presi- dent "Admitting your explanation we know that Larsan wished to turn suspicion on NJ. Robert Darzac. but | why should he throw suspicion on I Daddy Jacques also?" | There came in the professional de tective, monsieur, who proves himself an unraveler of mysteries. by annihi lating the very proofs he had accumu lated. He's very cunning man. and a similar trick had often enabled hin 1 to turn suspicion from himself. Ht l proved the innocence of one before ac cusing the other. You can easily be ! ie'cs hohSiSui, 'bdt So NohihiiNatcu q l scheme as this must have been long and carefully thought out in advance by Larsan. He found the opportunity to rob Daddy Jacques of pair of old
 boots and a castoff Basque cap. whicf
 the servant had tied up in handker
 chief with the intention of carrying I them to q friend, q charcoal burner or
 the road to Epinay. When the crim,
 was discovered Daddy Jacques hat
 immediately recognized these object!
 as his. They were extremely com
 promising. which explains his distress
 at the time when we. spoke to hin
 about them. Larsan confessed it all t' \ me"