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

when do name the murderer you will
understand why could not speak be-
fore half past Q. assert this on my
honor I can. however. give you now
some explanation Of the murder Of the
keeper. NJ. Frederic Larsan. who has
seen me Mt work Mt the Chandler. can
tell you with what care studied this
case. found myself compelled 10 diff
fer with him in nrresting NJ. Robert
pnrzac. who is innocent. NJ. Larsan
knows Of my good faith and knows
that some Importance may be attached
to my discoveries. which have often
corroborated his own"
Frederic I.arsan said:
M. President. 1t will be interesting
TO hear NJ. Joseph Rouetabillc. espc.
cially ms he differs from me. We agree
! that the murderer Of the keeper was
/ the assaiant Of Mile. Stangerson. but
/ MS we are not agreed as to how the
! murderer escaped | am curious to hear
NJ. Rouctabille's explanation"
II have no doubt you arc" said my
friend
General laughter followed this re-
N.
that II it was repeated he would have
the court cleared.
Now, young man." said the presi-
dent. you have heard NJ. Frederic
I.arsan How did the murderer get
away from the court?"
Rouletabille looked at Nine Matthew.
who smiled back at him sadly.
Since Nine. Matthew" he said. "has
freely admitted her affair with the
keeper
"Why. it's the boy" exclaimed Dad
dy Matthew.
Remove that man" ordered the
president
Matthew WIS removed from the
court. Rouletabile went on:
"Since she has made this confession
I am free to tell you that she often
met the keeper at night on the first
floor Of the donjop in the room which
was once an oratory Nine. Matthew
came to the chateau that night en-.
vcloped in Il large black shawl. which
served also rs a disguise. This was
the phantom that disturbed Daddy
Jacques. She knew how to initiate
the mcwing Of Mother Angenoux's cat,
and she would make the cries to ad.
wise the keeper Of her presence.
Previous to the tragedy in the court
Nine. Matthew and the keeper left the
donjor together. l learned these facts
from my examination Of the footmarks
In the court the next morning Ber-
nier. the concierge. whom l had sta
toned behind the donjon-as he will
explain hiinself-coud not see what
passed in the court. He did not reach
the court until he heard the revolver
shots and then he fired. When the
woman parted from the man she went
toward the open gate Of the court,
while he returned to his room.
HE had almost reached the door
when the revolvers rang out. He had
just reached the corner when a shad-
ow bounded by. Meanwhile Nine.
Matthew. surprised by the revolver
shots and by the entrance Of people
into the court. crouched in the dark
ness. The court is a large one. and,
being near the gate. she might easily
have passed out unseen. But she re
manned and saw the body being car
ried away. In great agony Of mind
she neared the vestibuln and saw the
dead body Of her lover on the stairs II,
UP by Daddy Jacques lantern. She
then fed, ana Daddy Jacques Joined
her.
That same night before the muir
der Daddy jacques had been awak.
encd by the cats cry and. looking
through his window. had seen the
black phantom. Hastily dressing him
He is an old friend of Nine Matthew
and when she saw him she begged his
assistance. Daddy Jacques took pity
on her and accompanied her through
the oak grove out of the park. pas,
the border Of the lake to the road &c
Epinay. From there it was but very
short distance to her home
DADDY Jacques returned to the cha
tcau. and. seeing how important 1t was
for Nine. Matthews presence ut the
chateau to remain unknown. he haC
done all he could to hide 1t. appea
to NJ. Larsan, who saw me next morn
ing. examine the two sets of foot
prints"
Here Rouletabille, turning TOWARD
Nine. Matthew, with bow. said
"The footprints Of madame bear :
} strange resemblance to the neat foot
I prints of the murderer"
, Nine. Matthew tremblcd aud LOOKED
I Mt him with wide eyes as in wonder Il
what he would say next.
Madame has shapely foot lon;
and rather large for woman. Tn
) imprint. with its pointed toe. is yer,
+, like that Of the murderers."
, a movement In the court was re
!. pressed by Rouletabille. He held thel
!. attention at once.
II hasten to add" he went on, "tha
n ! attach no Importance to this. Ont
, ward signs like these are often iabl
. to lead us into error If we do not rcn
!. son rightly. NJ Robert Darzac's foot
2 prints are also like the murderer's, an
!. yet he is not the murderer"
). The president, turning to Nine. Ma
q thieu, asked:
:, "Is that in accordance with what 70
know occurred:"
a "Yes. NJ. President" she replied; 81
Is as II NJ. Rouletabille had been b.
!. hind u.s."
Did you see the murderer runnin
. | toward the end of tho riCht winOcn