The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-02-26

p
ing so much as the chance Of NJ. STAN
gerson knowing that his daughter was
held by her assailant. l made NJ.
DarZac understand that he had ex-
planned himself sufficiently and that
he might refrain from telling me any
more than he had already told me.
promised him to watch through the
night He insisted that l should es-
tablish an absolutely impossible bar
rier about. Mile. Stangerson's cham
Der, around the boudoir where the
nurses were sleeping and around the
drawing room where since the affair
Of the inexplicable gallery NJ. Stanger-
son had slept. In short, l was to put
Gordon round the whole apartment.
From his insistence l gathered that
NJ. Darzac intended not only to make
it impossible for the expected man to
reach the chamber Of Mile. Stanger-
son, but to make that impossibilty so
visibly clear that, seeing himself ex-
pected. he would at once go away.
That was how 1 interpreted his final
words when we parted, You may men,
ton your own suspicious OF the expect
ed attack to M. Stangerson. to Daddy
Jacques, to Frederic Larsan anC to
anybody in the chateau
when he was gone began to think
that should Lave to useieven a great
er cunning than his so that IL the man
should come that night Ire might not
for a momept suspect that his coming
had been expected. Gertainly! I
would allow him to get In far enough,
SO that, dead or. alive, l might see his
face clearly. lie must be got rid Of.
Mile Stangerson mast. lie freed from
this continual impending danger"
The landlady reappeared at that mo-
ment, bringing in the traditional bacon
omelet. Rouletabille chaffed her lit
tie, and she took the chaff with the
most charming good humor.
"She is much jollier when Daddy
Matthew is in bed with his rheuma-
tism," Rouletabille said to me.
When he had finished his omelet
and we were again alone Rouletabille
continued the tale Of his condolences.
"When / sent you my telegram this
morning." he said. II had only the
word of NJ. Darzac that perhaps the
assassin would come tonight. can
now say that be will certainly come.
! expect him.
what has made you feel this GER
tainty?'
II have been sure since half past 10
o'clock this morning that he would
come. l knew that before we saw
Arthur Rance at the window i'm the
court
"Ah!" / said. But, again. what
made you SO sure? And why since
half past 10 this morning"
Because at half past 10 1 had proof
that Mile, Stangerson was making as
many efforts to permit of the murder
er's entrance as NJ. Robert Darzac had
taken precautions against it,"
as that possibler' / cried, Haven't
you told me that Mile. Stangerson
loves NJ. Robert DarZac?"
81 told you so because it is the
truth"
"Thcn do you see nothing strange
Everything in, this business is
strange. my friend; but take my word
for it, the strangeness you now feel is
nothing TO the strangeness that's TO
Gomez
1T must be admitted, then" | said,
that Mile. Stangerson and her muir
derer are in communication any
rate in writng?'
admit it. my friend; admit it! You
don't risk anything. | told you about
the letter left on her table on the
night Of the inexplicable gallery af-
fair-the letter that disappeared into
the pocket of Mile. Stangerson. Why
should it not have been n summons to
n meeting? Might he not, as soon as
he was sure Of Darzac's absence, APP
point the meeting for the coming
night?''
And my friend laughed silently
There are moments when ask myself
If he is not laughing ut me.
The door Of the inn opened. Roule-
tabille was OH his feet so suddenly
that one might have thought he had
received an electric shock.
Mr.. Arthur Rance!' he cried.
Mr. Arthur Rance stood before us
calmly bowling.