Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-11

II had still to learn. In addition to
the name Of the assassin. which I did
later, the time of the original attack.
learned this from the examination Of
Mile. Stangerson and her father. though
the answers given by the former were
we'll calculated to deceive the examin.
ing magistrate. Mile. Stangerson had
stated very minutely how she had
spent the whole of her time that day.
We established the fact that the muir.
derer had introduced himself into the
pavilion between and 6 o'clock. At
Il quarter past q the professor and his
daughter had resumed their work At
s the professor had been with his
daughter and since the attack took
place in the professors absence from
his daughter | had to find out Just
when he left her. The professor had
stated that ut the time when he and
his daughter were about to re-enter
the laboratory he was met by the
keeper and held In conversation about
the cutting of some wood and the
poachcrs. Mile Stangerson was not
with him then. since the professor said,
L left the keeper and rejoined my
daughter, who was ut work In the
laboratory.
1T was during that short interval OF
time that the tragedy took place. That
Is certain. In my minds eye l saw
Mile. Stangcrson rc-cnter the pavilion,
go to her room to take off her hat and
find herself faced by the murderer. lie
had been in the pavilion for some time
waiting for her. He hgd arranged TO
pass the whole night there. He had
taken of Daddy Jacques boots. he
had removed the papers from the cabl
net and had then slipped under the
bed. Finding the time long. he had
risen, gone again into the laboratory.
then into the vestbule, looked into the
garden and had seen. coming toward
the pavilion. Mile. Stangerson--alon
He would never have dared to attack
her at that hour If he had not found
her alone His mind was made up.
He would be more ut ease alone with
Mile Stangerson in the pavilion than
he would have been in the middle of
the night. with Daddy jacques sleep.
ing in the attic. So he shut the vesti.
bule window. That explains why
neither. n Stangerson nor the keeper.
who were at some distance from the
pavilion. had heard the revolver shot.
Then he went back to the yellow
room. Mile. Stangcrson came in. What
passed must have taken place very
quickly Madcmoiselle tried to call for
help, but the man had seized her by
the throat. Her hand had sought and
grasped the revolver which she had
been keeping in the drawer Of her
night table, since she had come to fear
the threats of her pursner. The muir
dcrcr was about to strike her on the
head with the mutton bone. q terrible
weapon In the hands of Il Larsan or
ballmeyer, but she fred in time. and
the shot wounded the hand that held
the weapon. The bone fell to the floor
covered with the blood of the murder
err, who staggered. clutched at the wall
for support. inprinting on 1t the red
marks, and. fearing another bullet,
fed
ratory and listened. He was long at
the window. At length he jumped
from 1t. She few to it and shut it,
The danger past. all her thoughts were
of her father. Had he either seen or
heard? At any cost to herself she
must keep this from him. Thus when
NJ. Stangerson returned he found the
~ 4. -, ,,,1 IL,
daughter in the laboratory bending
over her desk at work."
Turning toward NJ. Darzac. Rouleta-
billie cried:
"You know the truth. Tell US. then,
if that is not how things happened"
Il don't know anything about It," re-.
piled NJ. Darzac.
| Il admire you for your silence" said
R.oulctabille, but If Mile Stangerson
knew Of your danger she would release
you from your oath. She would beg
Of you to tell all she has coniided to
YOU She would be here to defend
you"
| NJ. DarZac made no movement nor
uttered Il word. He looked at Rouleta-
J billie sadly.
"Iowevcr.' said the young report
or. "since maGemoiselle is not here
must do it myself. But, believe me,
NJ. Darzac the only means to save
Mile. Stangerson and restore her to
her reason Is to secure your acquittal."
What Is this secret motive that
compels Mile. Stangcrson TO hide her
knowledge !,om her father" asked
the president I.
THAT. monsieur, l do not know"
of mine"
The president. turning to ". Darzac,
endeavored to induce him to tell what
he knew.
DO you still refuse. monsieur, to tell
us how you employed your time during
the attempts on the life of Mile. Stan
gerson!"
Il cannot tell you anything, mon
sieur."
The president turned to Rouctabille
as II appealing for al explanation.
I'VE must assume, NJ. President. that
NJ. Robert arZnc's absences are close
ly connected with Mile. Stangcrson's
secret and that NJ. DarZac feels him
self In honor bound to remain silent.
1t may be that Larsan, who since his
three attempts has had everything in
training to cast suspicion on NJ. Oar
z1c, had fixed on Just those occasions
for meeting with NJ. Darzac at u
I 4,