Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1909-03-19
ANTEROOM.

to her, You who know Of this mys-
terry. explain 1t to US and we shall per-
haps be able to save you How
longed to save her-from herself and
from the other, It brought the tear.
to my eyes
"Who can tell that, should we learn
the secret OF her mystery, X wostd pca
precipitate a tragedy more terrible
than that which had already been en-
acted here? Who can tell If 1t might
not mean her death? Yet it had
brought her close 30 death, aud we
still knew nothing. or, rather, there
are some OF us who know nothing.
But If knew who. | should know
all. Who? Who? Not knowing who,
l must remain silent out of pity for
her. For there is no doubt that she
knows how lie escaped from the yellow
room. When | know who | will speak
to him-tc him!
"She looked at us now, with a far
away look In her eyes, as IL we were
| not In the chamber. NJ. Slangerson
broke the silence. He declared that,
henceforth. lie would no more absent
| himself from his daughters apart
ments. She tried 10 oppose him in
vain. He adhered firmly to his pur
pose. He would install himself there
this very night. he said. Solely con-
| cerned for the health of his daughter,
he reproached her for having left her
bed. Then he suddenly began talking
to her AS II she were little child. He
smiled at her and seemed not to know
either what he said or what he did
The illustrious professor had lost his
head, Mile. Stangerson in a tone of
tender distress said. Father, father!
Daddy Jacques blows his nose, and
Frederic Larsan himself is obliged to
turn away to hide his emotion. For
myself. am able neither to think or
feel. l felt contempt for myself.
st was the FIRST time that Frederic
Larsan, like myself, found himself
face to face with Mile. Stangerson
since the attack In the yellow roon.
Lake me. he had insisted on being al
lowed to question the unhappy lady.
but he had not, any more than had l,
been permitted. To him, as to me, the
same answer had always been given:
ceive us. The questonings of the e1-
amining magistrate had overfatigued
her. 1t was evidently intended not to
give us any assistance In our re-
searches. i was not surprised, but
& Frederic Larson had always resented
this conduct 1t Is true that he and
had totally different theory of the
crime. I still catch myself repeating
from the depths OF my heart: Save
her. Save her without his speaking!
Who is he-the murderer? Take him
and shut his mouth. But NJ. Darzae
made 1t clear that In order TO shut his
mouth he must be killed. Have I the
right to kill Mile. Stangerson's muir:
derer? No. | had not But les him
only give me the chancel Let me And
out whether he IL really q creature OF
flesh and blood! Lat me see his dead
body. since itscannot be taken alive.
If / could but make this woman.
who does not even look at US, under.
stand! She is absorbed by her fears
and by her fathers distress Of mind.
And 7 can do nothing to save her. Yes
win so TO work once more and ac-s
compiish wonders. n
II move toward her, / would speak
TO her. would entreat her to have
conndence In me. would, III q word,
make her understand alone that
j know how the murderer escaped
from the yellow room, that i have
Eguessed the motives for her secrecy,
and that ! pity her with all my heart.
But by her gestures she begged us to
leave her alone, expressing WEAKNESS
ana the need for immediate rest. III.
GtaHgerson asked M TO 80 hack 10 our
rooms snd thanked us. Frederic Lar
san and ! bowed 70 him. and. followed
by Daddy Jacques, We regainsd tie
gallery heard L.arsan murmur:
ssHtraaxet stranger he made i sign
Ltoj - II 20 with him into hi room.
& On tho threshold ~ turned toward
Paddy Jacques.
.DA you ~ hin d,stineuyr !.