The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-04-03
CHAPTER XIV.
Rouletabille Knows the Two Halves
of the Murderer.

"a ri LIE. STANGERSON had been
IN for the second time almost
ii murdered Unfortunately she
0 was in too weak a state to bear
the severer injuries Of this second at
tack as we'll as she had those of the
first. She had received three wounds
in the breast from the murderer's
knife, and she lay long between life
and death. Her strong physique, how
ever, saved her; but, though she recov-
cred physically. it was found that her
mind had been affected. The slightest
allusion to the terrible Incident sent
her into delirium. and the arrest Of
Robert Darzac. which followed on the
day following the tragic death Of the
keeper, seemed to sink her fine intelli-
gence into complete melancholia.
Robert Darzac arrived at the chateau
toward half past 0. saw him hurry
ing through the park. his hair and
clothes in disorder and his face dead
ly white. Rouletabille and were look
ing out of window in the gallery.
eIe saw US and gave despairing cry.
"Pm tSo late!"
Rouletabille answered, "She .iiyes!'
A minute later Darzac had gone into
Mile. Stangerson's room, and through
the door we could hear his heartrend-
ing sobs.
There's a fate about this placer
| aI IN ssSnr,a nd a
gods must be watching over the mis-
fortunes of this family! If had not
been drugged would have saved
Mile. Stangerson. should have 81
fenced him forever. And the keeper
would not have been killed"
M. Darzac came in to speak with us
His distress was terrible. Rouleta
billie told him everything-his prepara
tions for Mile Stangersons safety, his
plans for either capturing or for dis
posing Of the assailant forever anC
how he would have succeeded had II
not been for the drugging.
"If only you had trusted mev sait
the young man in a low tone. IF yo'
had but begged Mile. Stangerson tt
confidc In me! But, then, everybod,
here distrusts everybody else. Th'
daughter distrusts her father and evel
her lover. While you ask me to pro
tect her, she is doing all she can II
frustrate me. That was why CAM
on the scene too late"
At NJ. Robert DarZac's request Roule
tabille described the whole scene
] Leaning on the wall to prevent him
self from falling, he had made his wa,
I to Mile. Stangerson's room, while W
/. were running after the supposed mu!
: derer. The anteroom door was opeI
t and when he entered he found Mile
0 Stangerson lying partly thrown owe
e the desk. Her dressing gown wa
e dyed with the blood flowing from Se
+ bosom. Still under the influence Q
the drug, he felt he was walking In
q horrible nightmare.
He went back to the gallery aut'
/ matically, opened window. shoute
his order to fire and then returned
the room. He crossed the deserte
boudoir, entered the drawing room an
Il tried to rouse NJ. Stangerson. who we
e living on a sofa. M. StangersOn ros
K stupidly and let himself be drawn b
d Rouletabille into the room, where,
J. seeing his daughters body, he uttere
e a heartrending cry. Both united the
N feeble strength and carried her to h
le bed
le On his way to rejoin us Rouletabil
'e passed by the desk. On the floor, net
1t 1t, he saw large packet. He kne
lie down. and, finding the wrapper loos
d he examined it and made out an emo
lg nous quantity of papers and phot
lie graphs. On one of the papers he reh
d. New differential electroscopic co
III denser. Fundamental properties of su
Of stance intermediary between ponde
le able matter and imponderable ether
re Strange irony of fate that the profes
or's precious papers should be restor
ed to him at the very time when an
tempt was being made to deprive hi
s. of his daughters life! What are 7
ed pers worth to him now?
The morning following that awf
IT. night saw NJ. de Marquet once more
ou the chateau with his registrar and &c
to- darmes. OF course we were all qu'
toned. Rouletabille and l had alrea
'es agreed ON what to say. l kept ba
nr, any information as to my being In
lat dark closet and said nothing about
drugging. We did not wish to sugg'
re in any way that Mile. Stangerson b
ng been expecting her nocturnal visitor
es- Arthur Rance told everybody In
I'd: manner so natural that 1t astonish
me that he had last seen the keel
eft toward II O'Clock of that fatal mig
He had come for his valise, he sa
I which he was to take for him ca
led next morning to the st. Michel stati
In and had been kept out late runnl
OF after poachers Arthur Rance had.
deed. intended to leave the chatt
ex- and. according to his habit. to walk
us the station.
er- NJ. Stangerson confirmed what RAJ
had said. adding that he had not asl