Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-04

taken without any conference Will
Mile. stangerson.
ITO cut the story short. he repeated
that his belief in the possibility Of 4
fresh attack was founded entirely or
the extraordinary coincidence. II any
thing happens to Mile. Stangcrson,' hi
said. 1T would be terrible for both Of
us-for her, because her life would be
In danger: for me. because could mel
ther defend her from the attack nor
tell OF where had been. I am perfect
~ aware Of the suspicious cast on me
The examining magistrate and NJ. Lar
san are both on the point Of believing
In my guilt. Larsan tracked me the
last time went TO Paris. and ! had all
the trouble in the world to get rid OF
him.
why do you not tell me the name
OF the murderer now II you know It.?
cried.
an. Darzac appeared extremely trou.
bled by my question and replied to me
In hesitating tone:
ct? / know the name OF the muir.
dcrer7 Why. how could ! know his
name?
81 at once replied. from Mile. Stan.
gerson.'
He grew so pale that I thought he
was about to faint, and saw that
had hit the right nail on the head.
Mademoiselle and he knew the name
OF the murderer! When he recovered
himself, he said to me: \ am going to
leave you. Since you have been here
| have appreciated your exceptional in
telligence and your unequaled inge.
1uity. But I ask this service Of you.
Perhaps am wrong to fear an attack
during the coming night, but as
must act with foresight count on you
10 Illustrate any attempt that may be
made
Have you spoken Of all this to NJ.
| StanSerson?'
"'No. l do not wish him to ask me,
MS you just now did. for the name Of
Che murderer. I tell you all this. NJ.
Rouletabillc. because have great.
very great confidence in you. know
that you do not suspect me-
was evidently suffering pitied him.
the moro becnuo, felt sure that he
would rather allow himself to be kill
cd than tel! me who the murdcre. was.
AS for Mile. Stangerson. fel. that
she would rather allow herself to be
murdered than denounce the man Of
the yellow room and Of the inexplic.-
vol
mating her or both by some inscr,ita.
bic power They were dreading moth
ing SO much as the cha nee Of N. Stan.
gerson knowing that his daughter was
held by her assalant. made H.
Darzac understand that he had ex.
planned himself sufficiently and that
he might refrain from telling me any
more than he had already told ME.
promised him to watch through the
night. He insisted that I should es-
tablish an absolutely impossible bar
rier about Mile. Stnngersons cham
Der, around the boudoir where the
nurses were sleeping and around the
rawing room where since the affair
of the inezplicable gallery NJ. Stanger.
son had slept. In short, was to put
Gordon round the whole apartment.
From his insistence | gathered that
NJ. Darzac intended not only to make
1t impossible for the expected man to
reach the chamber of Mile. Stanger.
son, but to make that impossiblity 80
visibly clear that. seeing himself ex.
pccted. he would at once 60 away.
That was how interpreted his Anal
words when we parted, You may men
ton your own suspicious Of the expect.
cd attack to NJ. Stangerson. to Daddy
Jacques. to Frederic Larsan and to
anybody in the chateau.
when he was gone began to think
that ! should have to use even a great.
or cunning than his so that II the man
should come that night he might not
for moment suspect that his coming
had been expected. Certainly! I
would allow him to get In far enough.
so that. dead or alive. might see his
face clearly. He must be got rid Of
Mile. Stangerson must be freed from
this continual impendin. danger"
The landlady rcappeared at that mo.
ment. bringing In the traditional bacon
onelet. Rouletabille chnffed her a lit.
tie. and she took the chaff with the
most charming good humor.
"She is much jollier when Daddy
Matthew is in bed with his rheuma.
tism," Rouletabill said to me.
When he had finished his omelet
and we were again alone Rouleta billie
continued the tale OF his condolences.
when I sent you my telegram this
morning." he said. II had only the
word of NJ. Darzac that perhaps the
assassin would come tonight. can
now say that he will certainly come.
! expect him"
what has made you feel this Ger.
tainty?"
II have been sure since half past 10
o'clock this morning that he would
come. knew that before we saw
Arthur Rance at the window in the
court"
"Ah" I said. 'But. again. what
made you so sure? And why since
half past 10 this morning."
Because Mt half past 10 had proof
that Mile, Stangerson was making as
many efforts to permit of the murder.
er's entrance as NJ. Robert Darzac had
taken precautions against it,"
us that possible!" cried. Haven't
you told me that Mile. Stangerson
1nVoo NJ