The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-16

ie..--, .Ae drawing. terrified by his savage tone.
 "The red paint. the red paint!' he kept grooming. his eyes staring in his head as though he were witnessing some frightful spectacle. But whst-what is itT' I stam- mered
 "'what is It?' My God, man. can't you see? Don't you know that that is blood?"
 No. I did not know it-indeed, I was quite sure that it wasn't blood. It was merely red paint But l took care not to contradict, Rouletabille I feigned to be interested in this idea of blood.
 Whose bIood?" inquired. Do you think that it clan be Larsan'sr"
 ''Oh. oh. oh. Larsan's blood? Who knows anything about Larsan's biood7 Who has ever seen the color of it? To see that. 1t would be necessary to open my own veins, Saineiair. That's the only way. My father would not let his blood be spilled like that.'' He was speaking again with that strange. desperate pride of his father.
 When my father wears a wig 1t will 1t My father would not let his blood be spilled like that" He spoke again: My poor mother did not deserve this. I did not deserve it" A tear ran down his cheek and fell into the little dish of paint "Ahrs he cried. Tt isn't necessary to i'll it any fuller" And he. picked up the tiny cup with infinite care and carried it to the cabinet. Let us go. Let us gor' he said drearily at last '.The time is come, sainclair. No matter what happens, we can never turn back now. The Lady in Black must tell us everything everything about the man who is in that sack ,--
 He knocked at the door of the square tower. asked him whether be did not wish me to leave him alone with his mother But to my great sur prise. he begged me not to abandon him flor anything in the world-so that the circle should not be closed.r And he added mournfully. Perhaps 1t may never ber' ag The door of the tower again was opened, and we saw Bernier's face ap- pear.
 What do you want? What are you doing here againr' he demanded Speak low. Madame Is in Old Bob's sitting room. and the old man has not come in yet.''
 Rouletabnle pushed the door farther open
 We were in the vestibule of the tower. rr
 "what is madame doing in Old Bob's sitting room?' asked the reporter in a low voice
 "she is waiting for Darzac. She dare not re-enter the room until he comes. nor either''
 "weli. go back into your lodge. Der nier."
 He opened the door of Old Bob's salon. and we saw the form of the Lady in Black She never moved at our entrance. but her lips opened. and . voice that should never have recog- nized as hers murmured:
 "Why are you come? I saw you crossing the court. You have been there ali night. You know all. What do you want nowr'
 She added in deep misery: a
 You swore to me that you would seek to know nothing"
 Rouletabiile took her hand.
 Come. mother. dearest" he said tenderiy.
 She did not resist in the least But when he led her to the door of the fa- tai chamber she recoiied. Not thereP' she moaned-
 Rouletabille tried the door. It was locked. He called Bernier, who opened the door and then hurried away.
 Once the door was opened we looked into the room. What a spectacle we beheld, The chamber was in the most frightful disorder. and the crimson dawn which entered through the vast embrasures rendered the disorder still more sinister. What an illumination for a chamber of horrors. Blood was upon the walls and upon the floor and upon the furniture-the blood of the rising sun and the blood of him whom Toby had carried of in the sack. no one knew whither. in the potato bag. The tables. the chairs. the sofas. were all overturned. The curtains of the bed to which the man in his death agony had tried desperately to cling were half torn down. and one could distinguish upon one of them the mark of a bloody hand.
 Mme. Darzac murmured:
 "we are deliveredr'
 Rouletabille had fallen upon his knees at her side.
 Then she told us the story She looked at the closed door. She looked at the overturned furniture and the blood spattered walls and floor and narrated the details of the frightful scene. She told us that as soon as Darzac had entered his room he had drawn the bolt and had walked to the little table in the center of the room. The apartment was lighted only by a wax candle.
 To be continued-,