Yellowstone monitor. [volume] (Glendive, Mont.) 1905-1928, 1909-04-15
zzlzzss CHAPTER XII szEsssa
Frederic Larsan's Cane.

- n was not till 6 o'clock that left
4 l the chateau, taking with me
the article hastily written by
=. my friend in the little sitting
room which M. Robert Darzae had
placed at our disposal. The reporter
was to sleep at the chateau, taking adj
vantage Of the to me inexplicable hos
pitality offered him by A6rRobert OAR
gac, to whom nj. stangerson in that
sad time left the care Of all his do
nestle affairs. Nevertheless he insist
ed on accompanying me TO the station
Oft Epinay. In crossing the park ne
said to me:
"Frederic is really very clever and
has not belied his reputation. Do you
know how he came to find Daddy
Jacques boots? Near the spot where
we noticed the traces OF the neat boots
and the disappearance Of the rough
ones there was a square hole, freshly
made in the moist ground, where a
stone had evidently been removed.
Iarsan searched for that stone with
out finding it and at once imagined
that it had been used by the murderer
with which to sink the boots In the
lake. Fred's calculation was an excel
lent one, as the success or his search
proves. That escaped me. but my
| mind was turned In another direction
by the large number Of false tndica-
lions of his track which the murderer
left and by the measure Of the black
footmarks corresponding with that Of
Daddy jacques boots, which had es-
tablished without his suspecting 1t, on
the floor Of the yellow room. All
which was a proof, In my eyes, that
the murderer had sought to turn sus-
picion on to the old servant. Up to
that point Larsan and are in &C.
cord, but no further. Tt is going to be
terrible matter, for tell you he is
working on wrong lines, and II must
| fight him with nothing!"
| At that moment we passed by the
| back Of the chateau. Night had come
Z window on the first floor was partly
open. A feeble light came from It az
well as some sounds which drew ou1
attention. We approached until We
hal reached the side OF door thai
was situated just under the window
Rouletabille in low tone made me
| understand that this was the window
| OF Mile Stangerson's chamber. Tns
sounds which had attracted our atten
| ton ceased, then were renewed for {
moment. and then we heard sti6e(
sobs. We were only able TO catcl
these words, which reached It's dis
tinctly, MY poor Robertp Rouleta
bile whispered in my ear:
stIf we only knew what was being
said in that chamber my inquiry woul(
soon be finished"
| He looked about him. The darkness
OF the evening enveloped us. We coult
not see much beyond the narrow patti
bordered by trees which ran behint
the chateau. The sobs had ceased.
IF we can't hear we may at leas
try to see" said Rouletabille.
/ And, making a sign TO me TO deadel
the sound Of my steps. he led NJ
across the path to the trunk Of tai
beech tree, the white bo1e OF which
was visible In the darkness. Thi
tree grew exactly In front OF the win
dow In which we were SO much inter
ested, its lower branches being on :
level with the first floor OF the cha
teau. From the height OF fhos
branches one might certainly see VIVA
was passing in Mile. stangerson,
chamber. Evidently that was VIVA
Rouletabille thought, for, enjoining n
TO remain hidden, he clasped the trunl
with his vigorous arms and c1tmbel
up. / soon lost sight Of him amid til
branches, and then followed dee
silence.
In front of me the open window
remained lighted, and saw no shadoy
move across II. / listened, and pres
entity from above me these word
reached my ears:
tsAfter you!"
after You, prayp'
/ Somebody was overhead, speaking
exchanging courtesies. What was n,
establishment TO see on the slippery col
umn OF the tree two human forms az
pear and quietly slip down TO tn
ground. Rouletabille had mountee
alone and had returned with another.
Good evening, NJ. safnelafr!''
It was Frederic Larsan. The detec
tive had already occupied the post o
| observation when MY young friend ha,
thought TO reach It alone. Neither nc