Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-01-19
The Mystery of
 the Yellow Room By GASTON LEROUX
By GASTON LEROUX
CHAPTER xIx-continued.)

We were close 70 tnelr lodge. NJ. ana Mime. Bernier saw us coming. A frank smile lit up their happy faces They seemed to harbor no ill feeling because of their detention. My young friend asked them at what hour Mir. Arthur Rance had arrived They answered that they did not know he was at the cha teau He must have come during the evening of the previous night. but they had not had to open the gate for him, because, being great walker and not wishing that carriage should be sent to meet him. he was accustomed to get off at the little hamlet of Saint Michel. from which he came to the chateau by way of the forest. He reached the park by the grotto of Sainte Gene vieve. over the little gate of which. giving on to the park. he climbed. As the concierges spoke I saw Roule- tabille's face cloud over and exhibit dis appointment "a disappointment, no doubt, with himself. Evidently he was little vexed. after having worked so much on the spot, with so minute study of the people and events at the Chandler. that he had to learn now that Arthur Rance was accustomed to visit the chateau.
 You say that M Arthur Rance is accustomed to come to the chateau. When did lie come here lsst?'
 "we cant tell you exactly" replied Mme Bernler. We couldn't know while they were keeping us In prison. Besides. as the gentleman comes to the chateau without passing through our gate he goes away by the way he comes"
 Do you know when he came the first timef"
 "oh. yes. monsieur. Nine years ago"
 He was In France nine years ago. then" said Rouletabllle. "and since that time. as far as you know. how many times has he been at the Glsn- dier?'
 Three times"
 When did he come the last time, as far as you know?'
 "A week before the attempt in the yellow room"
 RouletabIlle put another question. this time addressing himself particular | " to the woman:
 Tn the grove of the parquetf"
 "In the grove of the parquet," she replied.
 ''Thanksr' said Rouletabile. Be ready for me this evening" He spoke the last words with finger on his lips as If to command silence and discretion.
 We left the park and took the way to the Donjon inn.
 Do you often eat hereY
 Sometimes"
 But you also take your meals at the chateau?"s
 Yes. Larsan and I are sometimes served in one of our rooms"
 Hasn't NJ Stangerson ever invited you to his own table?" Never"
 Docs your presence at the chateau displease himy'
 'I don't know; but, in any case. he does not make us feel that we are in his way"
 Doesn't he question your Never. He is In the same state of | mind as he was in at the door of the yellow room when his daughter was being murdered and when he broke open the door and did not find the murderer. He is persuaded since he could discover nothing that there's no reason why we should be able to dis cover more than he did. But he has made it his duty since Larsan ex- pressed his theory not to oppose us." Rouletabille buried himself In thought again for some time. He aroused him. self later to tell inc of how he came to set the two concierges free. 'I went lately to see NJ. Stangerson and took with me piece of paper on which was written, I promise. what ever others may say. to keep in my service my two faithful servants. Der nier and his wife 1 explained to him that by signing that document he would enable me to compel those two people to speak out. and l declared my own assurance of their innocence of any part in the crime. That was also his opinion. The examining mag istrate after 1t was signed presented ] the document to the Berniers. who then did speak. They said what l was certain they would say as soon as they were sure they would not lose their places.
 They confessed to poaching on NJ. Stangerson's estates. and 1t was while they were poachlng. on the night of the crime. that they were found not far from the pavilion at the moment when the outrage was being committed. Some rabbits they caught in that way were sold by them to the landlord of the Donjon inn. who served them to his customers or sent them to Paris. That was the truth, as had guessed from the first. Do you remember what said on entering the Donjon inn ? We shall have to eat red meat--nowr | I had heard the words on the same