Yellowstone monitor. [volume] (Glendive, Mont.) 1905-1928, 1909-05-06
CHAPTER XIV.
The Trap.

o'clock in the morning. Was it sleep
lessness or noise without? The cry OF
the Bette du Bon Dieu rang out with
sinister loudness from the end Of the
park I rose and opened the window.
Cold wind and rain, opaque darkness,
silence. I reclosed my window. Again
the sound Of the cats weird cry in the
distance. I partly dressed in haste.
The weather was too bad for even a
cat to be turned out in 1t. What aiid 1t
mean, then-that initiating Of tie new
ing of Mother Angenoux's caG SO near
the chateau? / seized a. good sized
stick, the only weapon had, and with
out making any noise opened my door
ssTha gallery into which I went was
well lit by a lamp with renecIor. /
felt keen current of air and on turn
Ing found the window open at the ex-
IRENE end Of the gallery, which I call
the off turning gallery to distinguish
it from the right gallery, on to which
the apartment Of Mile. Stangerson
opened. These two galleries cross each
other at right angles. Who had left
that window open or who had come to
open IT? I went to the window and
leaned out Five feet below me there
was a sort Of terrace over the semi
circular projection of a room on the
ground floor. One could If one wanted
jump from the WffffdeTRe to the ter
race and allow oneself to drop from it
into the court Of the chateau. Who
ever had entered by this road had evil
IDENTITY not had key to the vestibule
door. But why should I be thinking Of
my previous nights attempt with the
ladder? Because Of the open window,
left open perhaps by the negligence Of
a servant? I reclosed it, smiling at the
ease with which / built a drama on the
mere suggestion Of an open window.
again the cry Of the Bette du Bon
Dieu and then silence. The rain ceased
to beat on the window All in the cha
teau slept | walked with infinite pre-
caution on the carpet Of the gallery.
On reaching the corner of the right
gallery ] peered round it cautiously.
There was ano ~ lamp there with
reflector which S-ite lit up the several
objects in It, three chairs and some
pictures hanging on the wall. What
was I doing there? Perfect silence
reigned throughout. Everything was
sunk in repose. What was the instinct
that urged me toward Mile. Stranger
sons chamber? Why did voice with.
In me cry, Go on to the chamber of
Mile. Stangersonr T cast my eyes
down upon the carpet on which | was
treading and saw that my steps were
being directed toward Mile. Stanger-
sons chamber by the marks OF steps
that had already been made there.
Yes, on the carpet were traces Of foot
steps stained with mud leading to the
chamber OF Mile stangerson. Horror,
horror! I recognized in those foot,
prints the impression Of the neat boots
OF the murderer. He had come, then,
from without in this wretched night.
IL you could descend from the gallery
by way Of the window, by means Of
the terrace, then you could get into the
chateau by the same means.
ssThe murderer was still in the cha
teau, for here were marks as of return
Ing footsteps. He had entered by the
open window at the extremity Of the
son turning gallery; he had passed
Frederic Larsan's door and mine, had
turned to the right and had entered
Nile. Stangerson's room. / am before
the door of her anteroom. It is open.
i push it without making the least
noise. Under the door OF the room it.
self see a streak of light I listen.
No sound, not even Of breathing. All,
IL I only knew what was passing in
the silence that is behind that door! I
find the door locked and the key turn
ed on the inner side. And the MUIR
derer is there perhaps. He must be
there. Will he escape this time? All
depends on me. ! must be calm, and
above all must make no false steps.
I must see into that room. can enter
it BY Mile. Stangerson's drawing room.
But to do that should have to cross
her boudoIr, and while am there the
murderer may escape by the gallery
door, the door in front Of which am
now standing.
81 am sure that no other crime is be-
Ing committed on this night, for there
ls complete silence In the boudoir.
where two nurses are taking care OF
Nile. stangerson until she is restored
to health.
AS n am almost sllra that fha ,,a,,r.