The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-18

LIE seen old Bob until that time that you started out to the heart of the Pampas to look for him. AS to the memory of M. Arthur Rance. who started out with you on that journey. it would be even less distinct than your own, and he would be more capable of being de- ceived than yourself with your intui- ton of kinship added to your recollec- tons of your relative. I am going, but I shall return, for if it is necessary to arrive at the intolerable conclusion that Larsan assumed the likeness of M. Bob 1t will remain for us only to seek Nj. Bob himself. in which case madame, l shall be your obedient servant.
 For all that has happened. M Rance, l make you my humblest ex- cuses and also to your wife, and I count upon you to persuade her to have patience little longer. I real ize that you feel that you have reason to reproach me with having stated my hypothesis too quickly and too abrupt ly: but, please remember, it ts only few moments since madame reproach- ed me with being too slow"
 Suddenly the portals flew open. and the stable boy. Walter, Old Bob's faith ful servant. rushed into our midst. His clothing was torn and muddy. his hair was in disorder. and his face wore an expression of rage mingled with terror. He. carried in his hand a dirty rag which he threw upon the table. This .repulsive object, stained with great blotches- of reddish brown, wns nothing other than the sack which had served to carry or the mysterious body.
 With a harsh voice and savage ges- lures Walter howled ferth thousand incomprehensible things in his broken tumble of French and English.
 Rance interrupted him from time to time, while Walter shook his fists menacingly at Darzac. Once for n moment it seemed as though he in- tended to seize Darzac by the throat. When he finished speaking Rance translated his words for us.
 He says that this morning he mo- ticed blood stains on the English cart aud saw that Toby seemed very great ly fatigoed This puzzled him so much that he decided to speak of it at once to Old Bob. but he sought his master in vain. Then, seized by a dark foreboding, he followed the prints of the horses feet and the wheels of the vehicle, which he could easily do because the road was mud dy and the wheels had sunk deep. Finally he reached the old Castillon and noticed that the wheels led up to a deep chasm into which he descend ed. believing that he should find the body of his master, but he saw mere ly this empty sack, which may have contained the corpse of Old Bob. and now, having caught a ride in a peas ants wagon, he has returned to ask for his master. to learn whether any, one has seen him and, if he is not found, to accuse Darzac of having caused his death."
 We stood confounded. But, to our great astonishment. Mime. Edith was the first to recover her self possession. She quieted Walter by promising him that she would soon bring him face to face with old Bob perfectly safe and well. And she said to Rouletabille:
 You have twenty-four hours. mon- sieur. Make the best use of it."
 Mime. Edith cast whitening glance at him ana left the room, followed by her husband. The sight of the sack struck Darzac speeches.. He had thrown the bag into an abyss, and it was brought back empty. Rouletabille spoke:
 ''Larsan Is not dead, be sure of that, Never has the situation been so fright full as it Is today, and I must hurry away at once. I have not a minute to lose. In twenty-four hours I shall be back"
 He pressed us to his heart. NJ. Oar xac first. then myself, and then, falling into the arms of the Lady in Black. he burst into a passion of sobs.