Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-01-27
The Mystery of
 the Yellow Room
By GASTON LEROUX
CHAPTER xxvI-(cont'd d

v He could give no otheer answer than
 the one he has now given by his
 flight. 7
 "We cannot believe that Larsan has
 fed. There was no reason for his do-
 ing so. Did he know you'd make this charge?"
 "He did. told him I would" "Do you mean to say that knowing
 Larsan was the murderer you gave him the opportunity to escapew Yes. M. President. I did" replied
 RouIetabille proudly. "I am not po- liceman; l am journalist. and my
 business is not to arrest people. My
 business is in the service of truth and
 Is not that of an executioner. If you are just, monsieur, you will see that I am right. You can now understand why l refrained until thls hour to |divulge the name. gave Larsan time to catch the Ar train for Paris, where he would know where to hide himself and leave no traces. You wli not
 and Frederic Larsan,' declared Roule- tabille. fixing his eyes on NJ. Robert Darzac. He Is too cunning. He is a
 man who has always escaped you and
 whom you have long searched for fin vain. If he did not succeed in out. witting me he can yet easily outwit any police. This man, who four years ago introduced himself to the police and became celebrated as Frederic I.arsan, is notorious under another name-a name well known to crime. Frederic Larssn, NJ. President. is Ba1- meyer"
 "Ballneyerl" cried the president.
 "Ballmeyerw exclaimed Robert Dar-
 sac. springing to his feet "BalImeyer!
 It was true. then.'
 "Ah. Nj. Darzac. you don't think I am mad now" cried Rouletabllle.
 BaIlmeyer! Ballmeyer. No other word could be heard in the courtroom. The president adjourned the hearing.
 Those of my readers who may not have heard of Ballmeyer will wonder at the excitement the name caused. And yet the doings of this remarkable criminal form the subject matter of the most dramatic narratives of the newspapers and criminal records of the past twenty years. It had been report ed that he was dead and thus had eluded the police as he had, eluded them throughout the whole of his ca- reer.
 BaIlmeyer was the best specimen of the high class gentleman swindier." He was an adept at sleight of hand tricks, and no bolder or more ruthless crook ever lived. He was received in the best society and was member of some of the most exclusive clubs. On many of his depredatory expeditions he had not hesitated to use the knife and the mutton bone. No difficulty stopped him. and no operation" was too dangerous. He had been caught, but escaped on the very morning of his trial by throwing pepper into the eyes of the guards who were conduct ing him to court
 He left France later to work" Amer lea. The police there succeeded in once capturing him. but the extraordinary man escaped the next day. It would need a volume to recount the adven- lures of this master criminal. And yet this was the man Rouletabille had al- lowed to get away! Knowing all about him and who he was. he afforded the criminal an opportunity for another laugh at the society he had defied! I could not help admiring the bold stroke of the young journalist. because I felt certain his motive had been to protect both Mile. Stangerson and rid Darzac of an enemy at the same time.
 The crowd had barely recovered from the effect of the astonishing rev elatlon when the hearing was resumed. The question in everybody's mind | was, Admitting that Larsan was the how did he get out of the yellow room?
 Rouletabille was immediately called | to the bar and his examination con Iinued.
 You have told us," said the presi- i, lent, that 1t was impossible to es- ape from the end of the court. Since Larsan was leaning out of his window. ne had left the court. How did he do .hatw
 He escaped by a most unusual way. He climed the wall. sprang on to the errace and while we were engaged with the keepers body reached the ,allery by the window. He then had little else to do than to open the win low, get in and call out to us, as if he lad just come from his own room. To man of Ballmeyer's strength all hat was mere child's play. And here. monsieur, is the proof of what I say"
 R0uletabille drew from his pocket a mall packet from which he produced
 strong iron peg.
 This, monsieur" he said, Ifs pike which perfectly fits hole still o be seen in the cornice supporting he terrace. Larsan. who thought and repared for everything in case of any mergency. had fixed this spike into he cornice. All he had to do to make is escape good was to plant one foot n stone which is placed at the cor CT of the chateau, another on this uDDOrt one hand on the cOrnice of