Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-05

!
out making any noise opened my door
1.-THE gallery into which went was
well lit by lamp with a reflector.
felt a 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
It from the right gallery, on to which
the apartment of Mile. Stangerson
opened. These two galleries cross each
other at right angles. Who had left
that window open OF who had come to
open it? went to the window and
leaned out. Five feet below me there
was a sort Of terrace over the semi
circular projection Of a room ON the
ground floor. One could if one wanted
Jump from the window on to the ter
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 a key to the vestibule
door. But why should l 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 it, smiling at the
ease with which / built drama on the
mere suggestion of an 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. l walked with infinite pre-
caution on the carpet of the gallery
On reaching the corner of the right
gallery l peered round it cautiously
There was another lamp there with a
reflector which quite lit up the several
objects in it, three chairs and some
pictures hanging on the wall. What
was l doing there? Perfect silence
reigned throughout Everything was
sunk in repose. What was the instinct
that urged me toward Mile. Stanger
sons chamber? Why did voice with
in me cry, Go on to the chamber of
Mile. Stangersonv / cast my eyes
down upon the carpet on which l 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.
horrorl 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.
If 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.
1.-THE 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
off turning gallery; he had passed
Frederic Larsan's door and mine, had
turned to the right and had entered
Mile Stangerson's room. am before
the door of her anteroom. 1t is open,
/ push it without making the least
noise. Under the door Of the room it
self see a streak of light listen
No sound, not even of breathing. All,
If only knew what was passing in
the silence that is behind that door!
find the door locked and the key turn.
derer is there perhaps. He must be
there. Will he escape this time? All
depends on me. / must be calm, and
above all l must make no false steps
must see into that room. / can enter
it by Mile. Stangerson's drawing room
But to do that should have to cross
her boudoir, and while am there the
murderer may escape by the gallery
door, the door ia front of which am
now standing.
II am sure that no other crime lis be-
ing committed on this night, for there
is complete silence in the boudoir,
where two nurses are taking care of
Mile Stangerson until she is restored
to health
ITo BE Continued