The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-05-13

know and also know II the glasses
were his. Such evidence would be
damning. That explained Larsan's re-
turn. know nov that Larsan or
Ballmeyer is long sighted and that
these glasses belonged to him.
II now made n mistake. | was not
satisfied with the evidence ! had OBJ
tanned. I! wished TO see the mans
face. Had | refrained from this the
second terrible attack would not have
occurred"
But" asked the president, why
should Larsan 20 to Mile. Stangerson's
room at all? Why should be twice at
tempt to murder herr
because he loves her, NJ. President
"That is certainly a reason. but
at Is the only reason. He was mad
ly IN love, and because Of that and
other things he was capable of com
hitting any crime"
"Did Mile. StangerSon know this|
Eyes, monsieur. but she was ignorant
Of the fact that the man who was pur,
suing her was Frederic Larsan; other
| wise, Of course, he would not have
been allowed to be at the chateau. |
noticed when he was In her room aft.
er the incident in the gallery that he
kept himself in the shadow and that he
kept his head bent down. He was
looking for the lost eyeglasses. Mile.
Stangerson knew Larsan under anoth-
er name"
M. DarZac,' asked the president,
did Mile. StangersOn In any way con-
flde in you on this matter? How is It
that she has never spoken about it to
any one? If you are innocent. she
would have wished to spare you the
pain Of being accused"
"M[lle. StaDgerson told me nothing"
replied NJ. Darzac.
Does what this young man say ap-
pear probable to you?" the president
asked.
Mile. Stangerson has told me moth
ing" he replied stolidly.
How do you explain that on the
night Of the murder Of the keeper
the president asked, turning to Roule-
tabille, "the murderer brought back the
papers stolen from NJ. Stangerson?
How do you explain how the murderer
gained entrance into Mile. Stangerson's
locked roOm?"
The last question is easily answer
ed. A man like Larsan or Ballmeyer
could have had made duplicate keys.
AS to the documents, | think Larsan
had not intended to steal them at first.
Closely watching mademoiselle with
the purpose of preventing her mar
riage with NJ. Robert Darzac, he one
day followed her and monsieur into
the department store. There he got
possession Of the reticule which she
lost or left behind. In that reticulc
was a key with a brass head. He did
not know there was any value attach
ed to the key till the advertisement In
the newspapers revealed 1t. He then
wrote to mademoiselle, as the adver-
tisement requested. No doubt he ask
ed for a meeting. making known to her
that he was also the person who had
for some time pursued her with his
love. He received no answer. He
went to the postoffice and ascertained
that his letter was no longer there. He
had already taken complete stock Of
NJ. DarZac, and, having decided to go
to any lengths to gain Mile. Stanger-
son. he had planned that, whatever
might happen, NJ. Darzac, his hated
rival. should be the man to be sus-
pected.
II do not think that Larsan had as
yet thought Of numbering Mile. Stan
gerson; but. whatever he might do, he
made sure that NJ. DarZac should suffer
for 1t. He was very nearly Of the same
height as NJ. DarZac and had almost
the same sized feet. 1t would not be
difficult to take an impression Of NJ.
Darzac's footprints and have similar
boots made for himself. Such tricks
were mere child's play for Larsan or
Ballmeyer.
Receiving no reply to his letter, he
determined, since Mile. Stangerson
would not come to him. that he would
&c to her. His plan had long been
formed. He had made himself master
OF the plans Of the chateau and the
pavilion, so that one afternoon while
NJ. and Mile. Stangerson were out for
a walk and while Daddy Jacques was
away he entered the latter by the
vestibule window. He was alone and,
being In no hurry, he began examining
the furniture. One Of the pieces, re-
sembling a safe, had a very small key
hole. That interested him! He had
with him the little key with the brass
head and. associating one with the