Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-11

the purpose Of preventing her mar.
riage with NJ. Robert Darzac, he ono
day followed her and monsieur into
the department store There he got
possession Of the reticule which she
lost or left behind. In that retlculc
was key with brass head. He did
not know there was any value attach
cd to the key till the advertisement in
the newspapers revealed It. He then
wrote to madcmoiselle, as the adver-
tlscment requested. No doubt he ask
ed for n meeting, making known to her
that he was nlso the person who had
for some time pursued her with his
love. He received no answer. He
went to the postoffice and ascertained
that his letter was no longer there. He
had already taken complete stock OF
Nj. Darzac, and, having decided to 60
TO any lengths to gain Mile. Stanger-
son, he had planned that, whatever
might happen, NJ. Dnrzac, his hated
rival. should be the man to be sus.
pccted.
II do not think that Larsan had as
yet thought of numbering Mile. STAN
gerson; but. whatever he might do, he
made sure that NJ Darzac should suffer
for It. He was very nearly Of the same
height as NJ. Darzac and had almost
the same sized feet. 1t would not be
| difficult to take an impression Of NJ.
Darzac's footprints and have similar
boots made for himself. Such tricks
were mere chin's play for Larsan or
Ballmeyer.
"Receiving no reply to his letter, he
determined, since Nile. Stangerson
would not come to him. that be would
go to her His plan had long been
formed. lie had made himself master
Of the plans Of the chateau and the
| pavilion. so that one afternoon while
NJ. and Mile. Stangcrson were out for
a walk and while Daddy Jacques was
away he entered the latter by the
vestibule window. He was alone and.
! being in no hurry. he began examining
the furniture. One Of the pieces, re-
scmbiing a safe. had very small key
hole. That Interested him, He had
with him the little key with the brass
/ head and. asEociGting one with the
other, he tried the key IN the lock.
/ The door opened. He saw nothing but
papers. They must he very valuable to
| have been put away in a safe the key
/ to which he knew to be of so much i'm
! portance. Perhaps thought Of black
mail occurred to him rs a useful posi-
hility In helping him in his designs on
Mile Stangerson. He quickly made
a parcel of the papers and took it to
the lavatory in the vestihule. Between
the time Of his first examination Of
the pavilion and the night of the MUIR
der of the keeper I.arsan had had time
to find out what those papers con-
tanned. lie could do nothing with
them, and they were rather compro-
missing. That night he took them back
to the chateau. Perhaps he hoped
that by returning the papers he might
obtain some gratitude from Nile STAN
gerson. But whatever may have been
his reasons. he took the papers back
and so rid Himself Of an incumbrance."
Rouletabllle coughed. 1t was evil
dent to me that be was embarrassed.
He had arrived at a point where he
had to keep back his knowledge of
Larsans trus motive The explana-
ton he had given had evidently been
unsatisfactory. Eo.le". billie was QUICK
enough to note tie bad impression he
had made, for. turning to the presi.
dent. he said. and now We come to
the explanation o: the mystery Of the
yellow room"
,1,a;r 10
with a rustling Of dresses and an en-
crgctic whispering OF Hush showed
the curiosity that had been aroused.
ut seems to me-" said the president.
that the mystery Of the yellow room.
NJ. Rou!etabille is wholly explained ny
your hypothesis. Frederic Larsan Is
the explanation. We have merely to
substitute him for NJ. Robert Darzac.
Evidently the door :: the yellow room
was open at the time NJ. Stangerson
was alone and that he allowed the
man who was coming out of his daugh-
ter's chamber to pass without arrest
ing him-perhaps at her entreaty to
avoid all scandal"
mo. NJ. President" protested the
Young man. "You forget that. stunned
By the attack made on her. Mile. Stan
gerson was not in condition to have
made such an appeal. Nor could she
have locked and bolted herself IN her
room. You must also remember hat
NJ. Stangerson has sworn that the door
was not open"
THAT. however Is the only way IN
which 1t can be explained. The yell
low room was as closely shut rs an
iron safe 70 use your own express
sion, It was impossible for the mur-
dcrer TO make his escape either natu-
rally or supernaturally. When the room
was broken into ne was not there. he
must. therefore, have escaped"
THAT does not follow"
what do you mean?"
"Thcre was no need for him to -
cape-if he was not there"
Not there!'
evidently not. He could not have
been there IL he were not found therc"
But what about the evidences OF Nh
presence?" asked the president.
"That. NJ. President is whefe Wa
have taken hold Of the wrong end.
From the time Mile. Standerson shut
herself in her room to the time her
door was burst open it was impossible