Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-25
CHAPTER XIV.
The Trap.

"EAST night the night between
the Doth and the Both of Oc-
tober.' wrote Joseph Roule-
@ tabille, II woke up toward
o'clock in the morning Was it sleep
lessness or noise without? The cry of
the Bette du Bon Dieu rang out with
sinister loudncss from the end Of the
park. rose and opened the window.
Cold wind and rain, opaque darkness,
silence. | reclosed my window. Again
the sound Of the cats weird cry in the
distance. | partly dressed in haste
The weather was too bad for even n
cat to be turned ont in Il. What did II
mean. thcn-that initiating Of the new
ing Of Mother AngenouXs cat 50 near
the chateau? | seized good sized
stick, the only weapon had. and with
out making any noise opened my door,
The gallery into which went was
well lit by lamp with reflector. l
felt a keen current of air and on turn
Ing found the window open at the ex
treme end of the gallery which l call
the off turning gallery to distinguish
1t from the right gallery, on to which
the apartment Of Nile StanGcrson
opened. These two galleries cross each
other at right angles. who had left
that window open or who had come to
open 1t: went 70 the window and
leaned OUT. Five feet below me there
was a sort of terrace over the semi
circular projection of Il room on the
ground floor. One could if one wanted
jump from the window on to the ter
race and allow oneself 10 drop from 1t
into the court Of the chateau. Who
ever had entered by this road had evil
IDENTIFY not had key to the vcstihule
door. But why should be thinking of
my previous nights attempt with the
ladder? Because Of the open window.
left open perhaps by the negligence Of
a servantf ! recloscd II. smiling al the
ease with which built Il drama on the
mere suggestion Of an open window.
again the cry Of tho Bette du Bon
Dieu and then silence. The rain ceased
Ia beat on the window. All in the cha
tcau slept. / walked with INFINITE pre-
raution on the carpet of the gallery.
On reaching the corner of the right
, gallery | peered round II cautiously.
There was another lamp there with
reflector which quite lit up the several
objects in It, three chairs and some
lictures hanging on the wall What
was | doing there? Perfect silence
rcigned throughout. Everything was
sunk In repose. What was the instinct
that urged me toward Mile. Stranger
Oh, Il ut IA.
In me cry, Go on to the chamber OF
Mile. Stangerson" | cast my eyes
down upon the carpet on which | was
treading and saw that my steps were
being directed toward Mile. Stranger
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. ! recognized IN those foot.
prints the impression Of the neat boots
of the murderer He had come, then,
from without in this wretched night.
II you could descend from the gallery
the terrace. then you could get into the
chateau by the same means.
THE murderer was still in the cha
roau, for here were marks as Of return
Ag footsteps. lie had entered by the
open window at tho extremity Of the
~ turning gallery; he had passed
|lrcdrric Lctsan's door and mine, had
armed to u right and had entered
Me StanEcrson'S roon. ! am before
he door Of her anteroom. 1t Is open.
Push IT without making the least
oise. Under the door Of the room H.
self | see n streak Of light, listen,