The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-01-13

lence-no doubt to calm the excitement
which visibly dominated him-and then
replied:
mo trap will be found. and the mys-
terry of the yellow room win become
more and more mysterious. That's
why it interests me. The examining
magistrate is right. Nothing stranger
than this crime has ever been known"
Have you any idea of the way by
which the murderer escaped?" l asked.
None" replied Rouletabille, none,
for the present. But I have an idea as
to the revolver. The murderer did not
use it."
Good heavens! By whom, then,
was it used"
why by Mile. Stangerson."
81 don't understand. or. rather. have
never understood" said
Rouletablle shrugged his shoulders.
SIS there nothing in this article in
the Matin by which you were particu-
larly struck?'
Nothing. have found the whole OF
the story it tells equally strange"
w Neils Dul-tue lOCkeu uOOT-W1CQ
the key on the insideY
That's the only perfectly natural
thing in the whole article"
Really! And the bolt?'
"The bolt?"
Yes the bolt also inside the room, a
still further protection against entry
Mile. Stangerson took quite extraor-
dinary precautions. 1t is clear to me
that she feared some one. That was
why she took such precautions-even
Daddy Jacques revolver-without tell
ing him Of it. No doubt she didn't
wish to alarm anybody and, least of
all, her father. What she dreaded
took place, and she defended herself.
There was a struggle, and she used
the revolver skillfully enough to wound
the assassin in the hand, which ex-
plains the impression on the wall and
on the door Of the large. blood stained
hand Of the man who was searching
for means of exit from the chamber.
But she didn't fire soon enough to
avoid the terrible blow on the right
temple"
"Then the wound on the temple was
not done with the revolver"
"The paper doesn't say it was, and
don't think it was, because logically
1t appears to me that the revolver was
used by Mile. Stapgerson against the
assassin. Now. what weapon did the
murderer use? The blow on the tenn
pie seems to show that the murderer
wished to stun Mile. Stangerson after
he had unsuccessfully tried to strangle
her. He must have known that the
attic was inhabited by Daddy Jacques
and that was one of the reasons,
think, why he must have used a quiet
weapon-a life preserver or a ham,
mer."
"All that doesn't explain how the
murderer got out of the yellow room"
/ observed
Evidently" replied Rouletabille, ris-
ing, "and that is what has to be ex-
planned. ! am going to the Chateau
du Chandler and have come to see
whether you will 60 with me-"
az"
'Yes, my boy, want you. The
Epoque has definitely intrusted this
case to me, and l must clear 1t up as
quickly as possible"
"But in what way can | be of any
use to your"
IN. Robert Darzac is at the Chateau
du Chandler"
"That's true. His despair must be
boundless."
81 must have q talk with him"
l knew NJ. Robert DarZac from hav-
Ing been of great service to him In a
civil action while l was acting as sec
retary to Maitre Barbet Delatour. M
Robert DarZac, who was at that time
about forty years Of age. was pro-
fessor of physics at the Sorbonne. He
was intimately acquainted with the
Stangersons and after an assiduous
seven years courtship of the daugh-
ter had been on the point of marrying
her. In spite Of the fact that she had
become, as the phrase goes. "a person
Of certain age" she was still re-
markably good looking.
While l was dressing / called out to
Rouletabille, who was impatiently
moving about my sitting room:
Have you any idea as to the muir
derer's station in life?'
"Yes." he replied. 81 think If he
isn't man in society, he is at least q
man belonging to the upper class. But
that. again. is only an impression"
"What has led you to form itT'
well, the greasy cap. the common
handkerchief and the marks Of the
rough boots on the floor" he replied.
II understand" said. "Murderers
don't leave traces behind them which
tell the truth"
1--WE shall make something out of
you yet. my dear Sainclair," concluded
Rouletabille.