The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-04-24

his daughter had to find out just
when he left her. The professor had
stated that at the time when he and
his daughter were about to re-enter
the laboratory he was met by the
keeper and held in conversation about
the cutting of some wood and the
poachers. Mile Stangerson was not
with him then, since the professor said.
4 left the keeper and rejoined my
daughter, who was at work in the
laboratory.
1T was during that short interval OF
time that the tragedy took place. That
is certain. In my minds eye l saw
Mile. Stangerson re-enter the pavilion,
go to her room to take off her hat and
find herself faced by the murderer. He
had been in the pavilion for some time
waiting for her He had arranged to
pass the whole night there. He had
taken off Daddy jacques boots. he
had removed the papers from the cabl-
net and had then slipped under the
bed. Finding the time long. he had
risen, gone again into the laboratory.
then into the vestibule. looked into the
garden and had seen. coming toward
the pavilion, Mile. Stangerson-alone.
He would never have dared to attack
her at that hour If he had not found
her alone. His mind was made up.
He would be more at ease alone with
Mile. Stangerson in the pavilion than
he would have been in the middle of
the night. with Daddy Jacques sleep
ing In the attic So he shut the vesti-
bule window. That explains why
neither NJ Stangerson nor the keeper
who were Mt some distance from the
pavilion. had heard the revolver shot.
"Then he went back to the yellow
room. Mile. Stangerson came In. What
passed must have taken place very
quickly. Mademoisele tried to call for
help. but the man had seized her by
| the throat. Her hand had sought and
| grasped the revolver which she had
| been keeping in the drawer of her
night table, since she had come to fear
the threats of her pursuer. The mur-
derer was about to strike her on the
head with the mutton bone, a terrible
| weapon I'm the hands of Larsan or
Ballmeyer, but she fred In time. and
the shot wounded the hand that held
the weapon. The bone fell TO the floor
covered with the blood Of the murder
er, who staggered, clutched at the wall
for support imprinting on 1t the red
marks. and. fearing another bullet
fed.
"She saw him pass through the labo'
ratory and listened. He was long at
the window At length he jumped
from It. She few to 1t and shut It.
The danger past. all her thoughts were
Of her father Had he either seen OF
heard? At any cost to herself she
must keep this from him. Thus when
NJ. Stangerson returned he found the
door of the yellow room closed and bis
daughter in the laboratory bending
over her desk Mt work.
Turning toward NJ. Darzac. Rouleta
bile cried:
"You know the truth! Tell US, then
II that is not how things happened"
Il don't know an. thing about It," re
piled M Darzac.
II admire you for your silence, 90 X
Rouletabille, "but If Mile. StangersoI
knew of your danger she would RELEASE
, you from your oath. She would bel
, Of you to tell all she has confided t
! you. She would be here to defent
! you!
? NJ. Darzac made no movement no
] uttered a word. He looked at Rouleta
? billie sadly.
' However" said the young report
p er, "since mademoiselle is not here
D must do it myself. But, believe NE
: N. Darzac. the only means to sav
e Mile. Stangerson and restore her (
her reason is to secure your acquittal.
q What Is this secret motive tina
b compels Nile. Stangerson to hide he
e knowledge from her fatherY aske
d the president.
e "That. monsieur. | do not know,
:. said Rouleiabille. ut is no busines
o of mine"
, The president. turning to NJ. Darza
endeayored TO induce hin to tell wha
e he knew.
W do you still refuse, monsieur. to te
t US how you employed your time durin
d the attempts on the life Of Mile. Stal
gerson"
Il cannot tell you anything, mo
q. sieur."
e. The president turned to Rouletabil
lie as If appealing for an explanation.
e. 1--WE must assume, NJ. President, th
III u. Robert Darzac's absences are clos
d. ly connected with Mile. Stangerson
s. secret and that NJ. Darzac feels hiI
ID self In honor bound TO remain sileI
ID IL may be that Larsan, who since
three attempts has had everything
10 training to cast suspicion on 81. Da
10 zac, had fixed on just those occasio
*. for a meeting with NJ. DarZac at
OF spot most compromising. Larsan
en cunning enough to have done that"
re The president seemed partly CO
ID vinced: but, still curious. he asked:
40 But what is this secret Of Nj
ad StangersonY'
~ THAT cannot tell you," said Rou
lr tabille. II think. however. you kn'
ne enough now to acquit NJ. Robert ID
AT zac, unless Larsan should return, a
lis don't think he will" he added. witt
At lau0h