Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-11

opened botn the windows in thc labo.
fatory and this one to make current
Of mir. Then I shut those in the labo-
ratory and left this one open when |
went out. When returned to the
pavilion this window had been closed
and monsieur and mademoisclle were
already at work in the laboratory
M. or Mile. Stangcrson had no
doubt shut III"
$50 doubt"
"You did not ask them?'
"No"
After close scrutiny Of the little
lnvatory and Of tho staircase leading
mp to the attic Roulctabile-to whom
we seemed no longer 10 exist-cntercd
the laboratory. I followed him. I
was, I confess. in n state OF great ex-
element. Robert Darzac lost none OF
my friends movements As for me.
my eyes were drawn at once to the
door OF the yellow room. It was closed
and, as | Immediately saw, partially
shattered and out of commission
My friend, who went about his work
In which VIC were. 1t was large and
well lighted. Two big windows--al-
most baYs--wcrc protected by strong
iron bars aud looked out upon wide
extent Of country.
The whole Of one side Of the labora-
tory was taken up with large chin
ncr, crucibleS, ovens and such imple-
fnv p
pcriments; tables loaded with walls
papers. reports. an electrical machine
an apparatus, as NJ. Darzac Informed
me, employed by Professor Stangerson
to demonstrate the dissertation Of mat
ter under The action of solar light
and other scientific implements.
Along The walls were cabinets. plain
or glass fronted, through which were
visible microscopes, special photo.
graphic apparatus and large quanti-
ty Of crystals.
! Rouletabille, who was ferreting in
the chimney, put his fingers into one
of the crucibes Suddenly he drew
himself up and held up piece OF half
consumed paper in his hand. He step
ped up to where VIC were talking by
one Of tho Wirdcvr.
Keep that for us, VI. DarZac," he
said.
| i bent over the piece Of scorched
/ paper which NJ. Darzac took from the
hand Of Roulctabille and read dis
| tinctly the only words that remained
! leCibe:
"Presbytery &c. lost nothing - charm
/ nor the gar it's brightness"
Twice since the morning these same
meaningless words had struck me, and
| for the second time | saw that they
produced on the Sorbonne professor
/ the same parar2ing effect NJ. Oar
zac's first anxiety showed itself when
/ he turned his eyes In the direction Of
Daddy jacques. But, occupied as he
was at another window. he had seen
nothing. Then, trcmhingly opening
his pocketbook, he put the piece of pa
per into IT, signing, My Cod"
During this time ROuletabille had
mounted into the opening Of the fire.
| grate-that is to say, he had got upon
the bricks of furnace-and was at
tentively examining the chimney,
which grew narrower toward the top.
the outlet from it being closed with
sheets of iron fastened into the brick
work, through which passed three
small chimneys.
Impossible TO get ont that way" he
| said, jumping back into the laboratory.
| Besides. even If he had tried to do t..
| he would have brought all that iron
work down 10 the ground. No. no; 1t Is
not on that side we have to search"
Rouleta billie next examined the fur
niture and opened the doors of the
cabinets. Then he came to the win
dows. through which. he declared, no
one could possibly have passed. At the
second window he found Daddy
jacques in contemplation.
"Wel, Daddy Jacques he said,
"what are You looking att
THAT policeman who Is always 60
ing round and round tho lake Another
of those fellows who think they can
see better than anybody else"
! you don't know Frederic Larsan,
Daddy Jacques. or you wouldn't speak
of him in that way" said Rouletabille
In melancholy tone. IF there IS any
ono who will find the murderer it will
be he" And Rouletabllc heavcd "A
deep sigh.