The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-03-25
CHAPTER XIV.


NS HlSll, tHt IlSHl zen
the Goth and the 30th of Oc-
tobcr," wrote Joseph Roule-
81 tabillc. Il woke up toward |
o'clock i'm the morning. Was it sleep
l~csSncSS or noise without The cry of
the l;ctc du Bon DicI rams out with
sinister loudnCSS from the end Of the
park. | rose and opened the window.
Cold wind and rain, opaque darkness,
silence. | rccloscd my window. Again
the sound of the cats weird cry in the
distance. | partly dressed in haste.
The weather was too bad for even Il
cat to be turned out in il. What did it
mean, then that initiating Of the new
ing of Mother ~AngcnouN's cat SO near
the chateau | seized Il good sized
stick, the only weapon / had. and with
out making any noise opened my door.
The gallery into which | went was
well Lit by Il lamp with Il reflector. |
felt n keen current of air and on turn
ing found the window open at the eX-
treme end of the gallery, which call
the of turning gallery to distinguish
1t from the right gallery. on to which
| tue apartment VI Alllt' CtdnS'I Spi
opened. These two galleries cross each
other at right angles. Who had left
that window open or who had come to
open ii? | went to the window and
leaned u Five feet below me there
was Il sort of terrace over the semi
circular projection of Il room on the
ground floor. n could If one wanted
s...,.. g..,, A.. ,-t,1., nn q, THO Tow.
, race and allow oneself to drop from it
into the court Of the chateau. Who
ever had entered by this road had evil
IDENTIFY not had n key TO the vestibule
door. But why should | be thinking of
my previous nights attempt with the
ladder? Because of the open window.
left open perhaps by the negligence of
a servant? | reclosed II. smiling at the
ease with which | built Il drama on the
mere suggestion Of al open window.
Again the cry OF the Bette du Bon
Dieu and then silence. The rain ceased
to beat on the window. All In the cha
teau slept. ! walked with Infinite pre-
caution on the carpet Of the gallery.
On reaching the corner Of the right
gallery I peered round It cautiously.
There was another lamp there with a
reflector which quite lit up the several
! objects In ii. three chairs and some
, pictures hanging on the wall. What
was I doing there? Perfect silence
reigned throughout. Everything vas
sunk In repose. What was the instinct
that urged me toward Mile. Stanger-
sons chamber? Why did a voice with
tn me cry, Go on to the chamber OF
Mile. Stangprson" I cast my eyes
down upon the carpet on which | was
treading and saw that my steps were
being directed toward Mile. Stanger-
sons chamber by the marks OF steps
that had. already been made there.
Yes. On the carpet were traces Of foot
steps stained with mud leading to the
chamber OF Mile. ~Stangerson. Horror.
horror. I recognized in those foot.
prints the impression of the neat boots
| Of the murderer. He had come, then,
from without in this wretched night.
IL you could descend from the gallery
by way Of the window, by means Of
the terrace, then you could get into the
chateau by the same means.
"Thc murderer was still in the cha
teau. for here were marks as Of return
ing footsteps. He had entered by the
open window at the extremity Of the
of turning gallery; he had passed
Frederic Larsan's door and mine. had
turned to the right and had entered
Mile. Stangcrson's ROOM. l am before
the door Of her anteroom. IT is open.
I push 1t without making the least
noise. Under the door OF the room It.
self l see 4. streak Of light. listen.
No sound, not even Of breathing. All.
II I only knew what was passing IL
the silence that is behind that door! I
find the door locked and the key turn
ed ON the inner side. And the muir
derer Is there perhaps. He must be
there. VIII he escape this time. All
depends on me. I must be calm. and
above NIL ! must make no false steps.
must see into that oom I can enter