Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-03-25

clerges-led me easily to think of
poaching. Now. as all the evidence
showed the concierges had not been in
bed at the time of the tragedy. why
we're they abroad that night? AS par
ucipants in the crime? was not dis
posed to think so. had already ar
rived at the conclusion. by steps of
which will tell you later-that the as
sassin had had no accomplice and that
the tragedy held a mystery between
Mile. Stangerson and the murderer. n
mystery with which the concierges
had nothing to do.
with that theory In my mind.
searched for proof In their lodge.
which. as you know. entered. l
found there under their bed some
springs and brass wire. .Ah,' /
thought, 'thess things explain why
they were out in the park at nightr
| was not surprised at the logged ST.
lence they maintained before the ex-
amining magistrate. even under the ac-
cusation so grave as that OF being ac-
con,plices In the crime. Poaching
would save them from the assize court,
but II would iose them their places.
and as they were perfectly sure of
their innocence Of the crime they
hoped 1t would soon be established.
and then their poaching might 90 on
as usual. They could always confess
later. !. however. FASTENED their con.
.ession by means of the document NJ.
Stangerson signed. They gave all the
necessary proofs were set at liberty
and have now a lively gratitude for
me. Why did not get them released
sooner? Because was not sure that
nothing more than poaching was
against them. ! wanted to study the
ground. As the days went by, my con-
yiction became more and more certain.
The days after the events of the mex
plicable gallery had need of help
could rely on. so l resolved to have
them released at once"
We reached the popjon inn aud en-
tered 1t.
This time we did not see the land
lord, but were received with pleas
ant smile by the charming hostess.
'How's Daddy MathieuY" asked
Rouletabille.
mot much better. not much better.
he is still confined to his bed"
His rheumatism still sticks to him.
then%
'Yes. Last night l was again
obliged to give him morphine, the only
drug that gives him any relief"
She spoke In q soft voice. Every
thing about her expressed gentleness.
She was. indeed, beautiful woman,
somewhat with an air of indolehce,
with great eyes seemingly black and
blue. amorous eyes. Was she happy
with her grabbed. rheumatic husband?
The scene at which we had once been
present did not lead US to believe that
she was. Yet there was something In
her bearing that was not suggestive
of despair She disappeared into the
kitchen to prepare our repast. leaving
on the table a bottle of excellent cider
Rpuletabille filled our earthenware
mugs. loaded his pipe and quietly ex-
planned to me his reason for asking
me to come to the Chandler with re-
volvers.
"Yes," be said contemplatively. look
ing at the clouds of smoke he was
putting out. yes, my dear boy, ex-
peet the assassin tonight"
A brief silence followed, which !
took care not to interrupt. and then
he went on
Last night just as was going to
bed NJ Robert Darzac knocked at my
room. When he came In be confided
to me that he was compelled to go to
Paris the pext day-that Is. this morn
Ing. The reason which made this jour-
ney necessary was at once peremptory
and mysterious. 1t was not possible
for him to explain its object to me. i
60. and yet he added. 4 would give
my life not to leave Mile. Stangersou
at this moment He did not try to
hide that he believed her to be once
more In danger III will not greatly
astonish me II something happens to-
morrow night he ayowed. 'and yet /
must be absent cannot be back at
tne Gianpler Defore the morning OF the
day after tomorrow
Il asked him to explain himself. and
this is all he would tell me. His antici-
patton Of coming danger had come to
him solely from the coincidence that
Mile. Stangerson had been twice at
tackled. and both times when he had
been absent Now a man so moved
vino should still go away must be act
ing under compuIsion- must be obey
ing will stronger than his own. That
was how reasoned. and told him So
He replied Perhaps, ! asked him II
Mile. Stangerson was compelling him.
He protested that she was not His de-
termination to go to Paris had been
taken without any conference with
Mile. Stangerson.
ITO cut the story short. he repeated
that his belief in the possibility of q
fresh attack was founded entirely on
the extraordinary coincidence. If any
thing happens to Mile. Stangerson.' he
said. 1t would be terrible for both Of
us--for her. because her life would be