Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-03-18

the secret of her mystery, It would not
precipitate a tragedy more terribIs
than that which had already been en-.
acted here? Who can tell If it might
not mean her death? Yet II had
brought her close to death. and we
still knew nothing. or, rather. there
are some of us who know nothing.
But I-if knew who. should know
all Who? Who? Not knowing who,
| must remain silent out of pity for
her. For there is no doubt that she
knows how he escaped from the yellow
ROOM When ! know who / will speak
TO him-to him.
'She looked at us now. with a far
away look in her eyes, as If we were
not in the chamber. NJ. Stangerson
broke the silence. He declared that,
henceforth. he would no more absent
himself from his daughters apart
ments. She tried TO oppose him In
vain. He adhered firmly to his pur-
pose He would install himself there
this very night he said. Solely con-
cerned for the health of his daughter,
he reproached her for having left her
bed Then he suddenly began talking
to her as if she were a little child. He
smiled at her and seemed not to know
either what he said or what he did
The illustrious professor had lost his
head. Mile. Stangerson IN tone Of
tender distress said. Father, fatherr
Daddy Jacques blows his nose. and
Frederic Larsan limself is obliged to
turn away 80 hide his emotion. For
myself. ! am able neither to think or
feel. l felt contempt for myself.
1T was the first time that Frederic
Larsan. like myself, found himself
face TO face with Mile. Stangerson
since the attack In the yellow room.
Like me. he had insisted on being al
lowed TO question the unhappy lady.
but he had not, any more than had l,
been permitted. To him, as to me. the
same answer had always been given:
Mile. Stangerson was too weak to re-
ceive US. The questionings of the ex-
amining magistrate had overfatigued
her. 1t was evidently intended not to
give US any assistance In our re-
searches. l was not surprised, but
Frederic Larson had always resented
this conduct 1t Is true that he and
had a totally different theory of the
crime. | still catch myself repeating
from the depths of my heart: Save
herI Save her without his speakingv
Who is he--the murderer? Take him
and shut his mouth. But NJ. Darzac
made it clear that in order to shut his
mouth he must be killed. Have l the
right to kill Mile. Stangerson's muir
derer? No, l had not. But let him
only give me the chance! Let me find
out whether he is really a creature of
flesh and blcodl Let me see his dead
body, since it cannot be taken alive.
III ] could but make this woman,
who does not even look at US, under
and by her fathers distress Of mind.
And can do nothing to save her. Yes,
/ will go to work once more and ac-
complish wonders.
II move toward her. ! would speak
to her. ] would eptreat her to have
confidence in me. / would. in word,
make her understandable alone-that
l know how the murderer escaped
from the yellow room, that l have
guessed the motives for her secrecy,
and that pity her with all my heart
But by her gestures she begged us to
leave her alone. expressing WEAKNESS
and the need for immediate rest. NJ.
Stangerson asked us to go back to our
rooms and thanked us. Frederic Lar
san and | bowed to him. and. followed
by Daddy Jacques, we regained tho
gallery. ] heard Larsan murmur
Strange! stranger He made sign
to me to go with him into his room.
On the threshold he turned toward
Daddy Jacques.
Ibid you see him distinctlyY he
asked.
"'WhoY
1.-The man.
"'Saw him. Why. he had big red
beard and red hair
That's how he appeared to me-
said.
And to me- said Larsan.
"The great Fred and / were alone
in his chamber now to talk over this
thing. We talked for an hour. turn
ing the matter over and viewing it
from every side. From the questions
put by him, from the explanation
which he gives me, 1t is clear to ma
that In spite of all our senses he Is
persuaded the man disappeared by
some secret passage In the chateau
kisown to him alone.
He knows the chateau, he said to
me; he knows 1t WELL
He is rather tall man, well
built / suggested.
He Is as tall as he wants to be-
murmured Fred.
II understand l said. But how do
you account for his red hair and
beard?
TOO much beard. too much hair
false says Fred.
That's easily said. You are al
ways thinking of Robert Darzac You
can't <~nt ,.fl - 49, sl~.s