The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-03-12
By CASTOR LEROUX

slight indisposition.
Bernier testified, instructed by Roule-
| tabille, that the keeper had ordered
him to meet him at spot near the oak
grove for the purpose of looking out
for poachers. Finding that the keeper
did not keep his appointment, he, Ber-
nier, had gone In search of him. He
had almost arrived at the donjon when
he saw a figure running swiftly IN q
direction opposite to him, toward the
right wing Of the chateau. He heard
revolver shots from behind the figure
and saw Rouletabille at Gye of the gal
iery windows. He heard Rouletabille
call out to him to fire, and he had fired.
He believed be had killed the man I'M
til he learned, after Rouletabille had
uncovered the body, that the man had
died from a knife thrust. Who had
given it he could not imagine. Nobody
could have been near the spot without
my seeing him." When the examining
magistrate reminded him that the spot
where the body was found was very
dark and that he himself had not been
able to recognize the keeper before
firing, Daddy Bernier replied that nei-
Their had they seen the other-body, nor
had they found it. In the narrow
court, where FIVE people were standing.
it would have been strange if the
other body. had 1t been there. could
have escaped. The only door that
opened into the court was that-of the
keepers room and that door was clos
ed, and the key of it was found in tho
Keepers pocket
However that might be. the examin-~
ing magistrate did not pursue his in
quiry further I'm this direction. He
was evidently convinced that we had
missed the man we were chasing and
we had come upon the keepers body
in our chase. This matter Of the keep
or was another matter entirely. He
wanted to satisfy himself about that
without any further delay. Probapf.
it chimed in with the conclusions he
had already arrived at as to the keeper
and his intrigues with the wife Of
Matthew. the landlord of the Donjon
inn. This Matthew later in the after.
noon was arrested and taken 10 Cor
bell in spite Of his rheumatism. EIe
had been heard to threaten the hccDCl
and, though no evidence against il1
had been found at his inn, the Ell.
dence OF carriers, who had heard The
threats, was enough to Justify bis re
tention.
The examination had proceeded thus
far when, to our surprise, Frederic
Larsan returned to the chateau. lie
was accompanied by one OF the en-
ployees of the railway. At that mo-
ment Rance and / were in the vesti-
bule discussing Matthews guilt or in
nocence. while Rouletabille stood
apart, buried apparently In thought.
The examining magistrate and his reg
istrar were in the little green drawing
room, while DarZac was with the doc
tor and Stangerson i'm the 1ady's cham
Der. As Frederic Larsan entered the
vestibule with the railway employee
and / at once recognized
him by the small blond beard. We eX-
meaning glances. Larsan had
himself announced to the examining
by the gendarme and en-
tered with the railway servant as Dad |
iy Jacques came out. Some ten min
1tes went by, during which Rouleta- |
billie appeared extremely impatient. |
The door of the drawing room was |
hen opened, and we heard the magis- |
rate calling to the gendarme, who en- |
erred Presently he came out, mount
ID the stairs and, coming back short |
v, went in to the magistrate and said
"Monsieur. NJ. Robert DarZac will !
rot conner
"What! Not come" cried NJ. de Mar
luet.
"He says he cannot leave Mile. Stan
,erson In her present state"
Every WELL" said M. de Marquet.
Then well go to him."
M. de Marquet and the gendarmes
the stairs. He made a sign to
Larsan and the railway employee to
oIlow. Rouletabille and / went along
90.
On reaching the door Of Mile. Stan
.erson's chamber NJ. de Marquet
A chambermaid appeared. 1t
vas Sylvia, with her hair all in disor-
Ter and CONSERVATION showing on her
ace.
"Is NJ. Stapgerson within 2" asked the
magistrate.
Eyes, monsieur"
Tell him that ! wish to speak with
i'm"
Stangerson came out. His appear
nee was wretcbed in the extreme.
what do you want?" he demanded
Z the magistrate. MAY not be left
n peace. monsieurW
Monsieur" said the magistrate, at
absolutely necessary that should
ee NJ. Darzac at once. II you cannot
induce him to come l shall be COM
elled to use the help Of the law"
The professor made no reply. He /,
,oked at us all like man being led
D execution and then went back into
be room.
Almost Immediately after NJ. Robert I
)arzac came out. He was very pale.
lie looked at us, and, his eyes falling
D the railway servant, his features i,
Liffened, and he could hardly repress [
groan.
We were all much moved by the APP