The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-04-10
The Mystery of
The elbow Room
By GASTON LEROUx \, COPYRIGHT br i'Ss SsrnrANos
COPYRIGHT, leo3.
BY BRENTANO'S

expectation of hearing the truth at
last.
But the president was extremely in
censed.
$50 you are Joseph Rouletabille?"
he replied well. young man, I'll
teach you what comes of making Il
farce of justice. By virtue of my dis
cretionary power l hold you at the
courts disposition. Take him away!
Maitre Henri Robert interviewed. He
began by apologizing for the young
man, who, he said. was moved only by
the best intentions. He made the pres
ident understand that the evidence of
a witness who had slept at the Clan
dier during the whole of that event
ful week could not be omitted. and the
present witness, moreover, had come
to name the real murderer.
"Are you going to tell us who the
murderer WASP" asked the president,
somewhat convinced, though still skep-
tical.
Il have come for that purpo-e, M
Presidentw replied Rouletabille.
An attempt at applause was silenced
by the usher.
Joseph Rouletabille." said Maitre
Henri Robert. has not been regularly
subpoenaed as witness, but l hope,
M. President, you will examine him In
virtue of your discretionary powers"
A pin drop could have been heard
Rouletabille stood silent, looking sym
pathetically at Darzac. who for the
first time since the opening of the trial
showed himself agitated
"Well," cried the president, 1--WE wait
for the name of the murderer"
Rouletabille. feeling in his waistcoat
| pocket, drew his watch and, looking at
it, said:
IN. President, | cannot name the
| murderer before half past o'clock!'
| Loud murmurs of disappointment
| filed the room Some of the lawyers
were heard to say, He's making fun
Of u.s."
The president In stern voice said:
| "This joke has gone far enough. You
may retire. monsieur, into the wit
nesses' room. l hold you at our dis
position"
Rouletabille protested.
81 assure you, M. President" h
cried In his sharp. clear voice, THAI
when do name the murderer you will
understand why | could not speak be
fore half past g. l assert this on my
honor. can. however, give you now
some explanation Of the murder of the
keeper. M. Frederic Larsan. who has
seen me at work at the Chandler. cal
tell you with what care studied this
case. l found myself compelled to diff
fer with him in arresting NJ. Rober
knows of my good faith and knows
that some importance may be attached
to my discoveries. which have Otter
corroborated his own"
Frederic Larsan said:
IN. President. 1t will be interesting
to hear NJ Joseph Rouletabille. espe
cially as he differs from me. We agree
that the murderer Of the keeper was
the assailant of Mile. Stangerson. bu
as we are not agreed as to how th'
murderer escaped am curious to hea
NJ. Rouletabille's explanation"
81 have no doubt you are" said m!
friend.
General laughter followed this re
: mark The president angrily declared
that If 1t was repeated he would hav'
the court cleared.
"Now, young man." said the presl
dent. "you have heard NJ. Frederi
Larsan. How did the murderer ge
, away from the court?"
Rouletabille looked at Nine. Matthew
who smiled back ut him sadly.
"Since Nine. Matthew" he said. "ha
freely admitted her affair with tn
I keeper
"why. it's the boyr' exclaimed Dad
0 dy Matthew
t Remove that man. ordered tn
: president.
Matthew was removed from tn
: court. Rouletabille went on:
r. "Since she has made this confessio
b ] am free to tell you that she efte
met the keeper ut night on the frs
i floor of the dOnjOn In the room whic
was once an oratory. Nine. Mathie
came to the chateau that night Ell
: veloped In "a large black shawl. whic
served also as disguise. This wa
the phantom that disturbed Dadd
Jacques. She knew how to imitat
the mewing of Mother Angenoux's ca
and she would make the cries to az
wise the keeper of her presence.
Previous to the tragedy In the coul
Nine. Matthew and the keeper left th
;. donjon together. learned these fact
n from my examination of the footmarl
Z In the court the next morning. Be
r. nier, the concierge, whom l had st,
Y toned behind the donjon-as he wi
n explain himself-could not see whi
e passed In the court. He did not reac
Y. the court until he heard the revolv'
d shots. and then he fired. When Il
!. woman parted from the man she wei
e toward the open gate Of the cour
n while he returned to his room.
le He had almost reached the do,
when the revolvers rang out. He hf
[. Just reached the corner when a sha
m ow bounded by. Meanwhile MN
y Matthew. surprised by the revolv
shots and by the entrance of peop
D. Into the court. crouched In the dar
N ness. The court Is large one, an
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