Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-18
rortancc N. Darzac agrees with me

ment seemed to me to be altogether
abnormal, made sign Of assent. !
gathered he was unable to speak.
II want you to know, then" contin.
ned NJ. Stangcrson, that my daughter
has sworn never TO leave me and adj.
heres firmly to her oath in spite of all
my prayers and all that | have argued
to induce her TO marry. We have
known NJ. Robert Darzac many years
He loves my child, and believed that
she loved him, because she only re.
Gently consented to this marriage
which desire with all my heart. |
am an old man, monsieur. and it was
happy hour TO me when I knew that
after | had gone she would have at
her side one who loved her and who
would help her in continuing our com.
mon labors l love and esteem NJ
Darzac both for his greatness of hear,
and for his devotion to science. But
two days before the tragedy, for
know not what reason. my daughter
declared to me that she would never
marry NJ Darzac."
\ dead silence followed NJ Stanger-
sons words, 1t was moment fraugh,
with suspense.
Did mademoisclle give you any ex-
plAuation-did she tell you what her
motive was?" asked NJ. OAK.
she told me she was too Old TO mar
ry: that she had waited too long. She
said she had given much thought to
the matter, and while she had great
esteem, even affection. for N. Darzac
she felt It would be better if things
remained as they were"
THAT is very strange muttcred W,
OAK.
Strange" repeated NJ de Marquet.
you'll certainly not find the mo-
tive there, NJ PAX" NJ. Stangerson
said, with a cold smile.
In any cASc. the motive was not
theft" said the chief impaticntly.
"Oh. we arc quite convinced of
that" exclaimed the examining magis.
tratc.
At that moment the door Of the lab
oratory opened. and the officer in
charge Of the gcndarmcs entered and
handed card to the examining magiS-
trate. NJ. de MarQuet read it and ut
tered 4 half angry exclamation.
This is really too much" he cried.
"What IS it?' asked the chief
ITS the card of a young reporter
engaged on the Epoquc, a VI. Joseph
Roulctabille 1t has these words writ
ten on it. zone Of the motives of the
crime was robbery"
The chief smiled.
All, young Roulctahille! I've heard
of him. He is considered rather clev-
or. Let him come in"
NJ. Joseph Roulctabille entered the
laboratory, bowed to us and waited
for NJ. de Marquet to ask him to OK
plain his presence.
You pretend, monsieur, that you
know the motive for the crime and
that that motive--in the face Of all
the evidence that has been forthcoM-
ing robberyT
no, monsieur; l do not pretend that.
do not say that robbery was the mo-
tive for the crime, and l don't believe
It was"
"1hon what is the meaning Of this
card"
1T means that robbery was one Of
the motives for the crime"
"Whlt leads you TO think that?"
of you will be good enough to ac-
company me will show you"
The young man asked us to follow
him into the vestibule. and we did lie
led us toward the lavatory and begged
NJ. de Marquet TO knee beside him.
This lavatOry is lit by the glass door,
and when the door was open the light
which penetrated was sufficient TO
light 1t perfectly. NJ. dc MarQuet and
NJ. Joseph Roulctabille knclt down on
the threshold. and the young man
pointed to a spot on the pavement.
THE stones of the lavatory have not
been washed by Daddy Jacques for
some time" he said. THAT can be
seen by the layer of dust that covers
thom. Now notice here the marks of
two large footprints and the black ash
they left where they have been. That
nsh is nothing else than the charcoal
dust that covers the path along which
You must pass through the forest in
order to get directly from EpinAy to
the Chandler You know there is a
little village Of charcoal burners AT
that place who make large quantities
Of charcoal. What the murderer did
was to come here at midday, when
there was nobody at the pavilion and
attempt his robbery
"HUt what robbery: Where do you
see any signs of robbery? What proves
10 you that robbery has been com
nlijted| we all cried at once.
"What put me on the trace Of IT,
continued the journalist
"Was this" interrupted VI. de Mar
Quct slill on bis knees.
"Eyidontly,' said ROuetabille.
And ~ dc Marquct explained that
there were on the dust Of the pave
mcnt marks Of two footsteps as well
as the Impression. freshly made, of a
heavy rectangular parcel. the marks
Of the cord with which ii had been
fastened being easily distinguished.
You have been hero, then, NJ Rou
letahlllc? | thought | had given or
dcrs TO Daddy Jacques, who was left
IN charge Of the pavilion, not to allow
ANYBODY to ontor."
"Don't scold Daddy Jacques. Icame
here with ". Robert DarZac."
"Ah, indccG." exclaimed VI. de Mar
Duet disaErccably, casting side
glance at NJ. Dai2ac, who remained
norfnrllN Silnnt.