Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-02-25

moment. and then we heard stified
sobs. We were only able to catch
these words, which reached us dis.
tinctly. MY poor Robert" Rouleta.
billie whispered In my ear:
IF we only knew what was being
said in that chamber my inquiry would
soon be finished"
He looked about him. The darkness
Of the evening enveloped us. We could
not see much beyond the narrow path
bordered by trees which ran behind
the chateau. The sobs had ceased.
If we can't hear we may at least
try to see," said Rouletabille.
And, making sign to me to deaden
the sound of my steps. he led me
across the path to the trunk of tall
beech tree. the white bole Of which
was visible in the darkness. This
tree grew exactly in front of the win
dow In which we were so much inter
ested. its lower branches being on a
level with the first floor OF the cha
teau. From the height Of those
branches one might certainly see what
was passing In Mile. Stangerson's
chamber. Evidently that was what
Rouletabille thought. for. enjoining me
to remain hidden. he clasped the trunk
with his vigorous arms and climbed
up. ! soon lost sight Of him amid the
branches. and then followed a deep
silence.
In front OF me the open window
remained lighted. and I saw no shadow
move across It. | listened. and pres
emily from above me these words
reached my ears:
after your
After you. prayr'
Somebody was overhead. speaking
exchanging courtesies. What was my
astonishment to see on the slippery col
umn Of the tree two human forms ap.
pear and quietly slip down to the
ground. Rouletabille had mounted
alone and had returned with another.
Good evening. NJ. Sainclairv'
1t was Frederic Larsan. The detec-
tive had already occupied the post OF
observation when my young friend had
thought to reach 1t alone. Neither no
ticed my establishment l explained
that to myself by the fact that they
must have been witnesses of some ten
der and despairing scene between Mile.
Stangerson. lying In her bed, and NJ.
Darzac on his knees by her pillow. l
guessed that each had drawn different
conclusions from what they had seen.
It was easy to see that the scene had
strongly impressed Rouletabille In ia
vor of NJ. Robert Darzac. while to Lar
san 1t showed nothing but consummate
hypocrisy acted with finished art by
Mile. Stangerson's fiance.
AS we reached the park gate Larsan
stopped US.
my caner he cried. 81 left 1t near
the tree"
He left us. saying he would rejoin us
presently.
"Have you noticed Frederic Larsan's
cane?" asked the young reporter az
soon as we were alone. 'It is quite a
new one. which I have never seen him
use before. He seems to take great
care of tit never leaves him. Ono
would think he was afraid 1t might fall
into the hands of strangers. | never
saw It before today. Where did he
find It? 1t isn't natural that a man
who had never before used walking
stick should the day after the Chandler
crime never move step without one.
IN tho dov of o,,r n r,fvol NJ fha nha
teau. as soon as he saw us. he put his
watch In his pocket and picked up his
cane from the ground. proceeding to
which was perhaps wrong not to at
bach some Importance"
We were now out Of the park. Roule-
tabiile had dropped into silence. His
thoughts were certainly still occupied
with Frederic Larsan's new cane.
had proof Of that when, as we came
pear to Epinay, he said:
"Frederic Larsan arrived at the
Chandler before me. He began his In
Quiry before me. He has had time to
find out things about which / know
Where did he find that Gamer"
Then he added: 1T is probable that
his suspicion-more than that, his rea.
soning-has led him to lay his hand on
something tangible. Has this cane
anything to do with it? Where the
deuce could he have found TT"
AS had to wait twenty minutes for
the train at Epinay, we entered cab
aret. Almost Immediately the door
opened, and Frederic Larsan made his
appearance, brandishing his famous
cane.
Il found it," he said iaughingiy.
The three of us seated ourselves at q
table. Rouletabille never took his eyes
Of the cane. He was so absorbed that
he did not notice sign Larsan made
to a railway employee. young man
with a chin decorated by tiny blond
and III kept beard. On the sign the
young man rose. paid for his drink,
bowed and went out should not my
self have attached any Importance to
the circumstance II 1t had not been re-
called to my mind some months later
BY the temperance Of the man with
the beard at one of the most tragic mo-
ments Of this case. then learned that
the youth was one of Larsan's assist