The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-03-27

1T must be he" said Rouletabille.
II forgot to ask you," l said 'if we
are to make any allusion to tonights
business when we are with this police.
ruan. / take it we are not Is that
so?"
Evidently. We are going to operate
alonc. on our own personal account"
$50 that all the glory will be ours p
Rouletabille laughed.
We dined with Frederic Larsan in
his room. He told us he had jrst
come in and invited us to be seated at
table. We ate our dinner in the best
OF humors, and l had no difficulty in
appreciating the feelings of certainty
which both Rouletabille and Larsan
felt. Rouletabille told the great Fred
that had come on a chance visit and
mat he had asked me to stay and help
him in the heavy batch Of writing he
had to get through for the Epoque.
! was going back to Paris, he said, by
the IL o'clock train, taking his copy,
which took story form, recounting
the principal episodes in the mysteries
of the Chandler. Larsan smiled at the
explanation like man who was not
fooled and politely refrained from max.
ing the slightest remark on matters
which did not concern him,
With Infinite precautions as to the
words they used and even as to the
tones Of their voices. Larsap and
Rouletabille discussed for long time
Mr.. Arthur RANGES appearance at the
chateau and his past in America.
about which they expressed a desire
10 know more, at any pate so far as
his relations with the Stangersons. At
one time Larsan, who appeared to me
to be unwell, said, with an effort:
II think, NJ, Ropletabille, that we've
not much more to do at the Chandler
and that we shan't sleep here many
more nights"
Y think so, too, NJ. Fred"
"Then you think the conclusion Of
the matter has been reachedT
u think. indeed that we have moth.
ing more to find out" replied Rouleta-
billie
"Have you found your criminalf"
asked Larsan.
Have you4n
.Yes.n
$50 have l." said Rouletabille.
Scan it be the same mali?"
y don't know II you have swerved
from your original idea," said the
young reporter. Then he added with
emphasis, IN. Darsac is an honest
manp
Are you sure Of thatY" asked Lar
san. "Well, am sure he is not. So
it's fight, then?"
"Yes, 1t is fight. But shall beat
you, M. Frederic Larsan"
youth never doubts anything" said
the great Fred laughingly and held out
his hand to me by way of conclusion.
Rouletabille's answer came like an
echo:
mot anything!"
Suddenly Larsan, who had risen to
wish us coed night, pressed both his
hands to his chest and staggered. He
was obliged to lean on Rouletabille for
support and to save himself from fall,
ing.
"Oh, OH" he cried. what is the
matter with me? Have / been poison
ed?"
He looked at us with haggard eyes.
We questioned him vainly.. He did
not answer us. He had sunk into an
armchair, and we could not get u
word from him. We We're extremely
distressed, both on his account and on
our own, for we had partaken of all
the dishes he had eaten. He seemed
to be out of pain, but his heavy head
had fallen on his shoulder and his eye
lids We're tightly closed. Rouletabille
bent over him, listening for the beat
ings of the heart.
Ny friends face, however, when he
stood up, was as calm as IL had been
moment before agltated.
''He Is asleep" he said.
He led me to his chamber, after clos,
Ing Larsan's room.
'The drugf" ! asked. 'Does Mile.
stangerson wish to put everybody to
sleep tOulRntE
''Perhaps," replied Rouletabille. But
could see he was thinking of some
thing else.
sBut what about usY' l exclaimed.
"How do we know that we have not
been druggedT'
"Do you feel indisposed?" Rouleta-
billie asked me coolly.
sNot In the least"
"Do you feel any inclination to go to
sleepY"
"None whatever"
'Well. then. my friend. smoke this
excellent cigar"
And be handed me choice Havana,
one NJ. DarZac had given him, while
he lit his brierwood-his eternal brier-
wood.
We remained In his room until about
10 O'clock without word passing be-
tween us. Buried in an armchair. Roule,
tabille sat and smoked steadily, his
brow In thought and a faraway look
In his eyes. On the stroke of 10 be
took of his boots and signed me to do
the same. Standing in our socks, he
said in so low tone that I guessed
rather than heard the word: