The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-21

What are you goini; tU do: l".. do not mean to Xiii bim?''
 NO. madame" replied Rouleta billie gravely. We are going to judge him. And in order to be sure that the judges shall not he executiOners we are all going to swear upon the body of Pere Bernier after having laid down our arms that each of us will keep guard over himself.'
 And he led us into the chamber where Mere Bernier continued to grcan beside the bier of her spouse. There we laid aside our revolvers and took the oath which Rouletabilie ex- acted.
 The oath having been taken. Rou- letabille. with the Lady in Black still on his arm. went from the funereal cha Inher into the corridor. but instead of directing our steps toward the apartment of old Bob. as we expected him to do. he went straight to the door which afforded entrance to the chamber of "the body too many" and. dra wing from his pocket the little spe- ciaI key of which l have spoken, he opened the door.
 We were all astonished in entering the rooms which had been occupied by NJ. and Mime. Darzac to see upon NJ. Darzac's desk the drawing board. the wash dra wing upon which our friend had worked at the side of Old Bob in the latter's workshop In the Court of the Bold and also the little dish full of red paint and the tiny brush drenched with the paint. And. lastly. in the middle of the desk there was placed. appearing very much at its ease. upon Its bloody jaws. "the oldest skull of humanity"
 Rouletabllle locked and bolted the door and said to us. himself greatly affected, while we listened with stupe- faction:
 "sit down. If you please, ladies and gentlemen.
 "You will acknowledge" began Rou- letabille. that there is here around this table one chair too many and in consequence one person too few-to particularize. NJ. Arthur Rance. for whom we cannot wait much longer"
 Perhaps at this very moment my husband possesses the proofs of Old Bob's innocence" observed Mime. Edith, vsom all these preparations had disturbed more than any one else. 'I entreat Mme. Darzac to join me in imploring these gentlemen to do noth- ing until Arthur's return"
 The Lady in Black had no opportu- nifty to intervene. for before Mme. Edith finished speaking we heard a loud noise outside the door of the cor ridor. A knock came at the door. and we heard the voice of Arthur Rance begging us to open immediately. He cried:
 "I have brought the pin with the ruby headr'
 Rouletabille opened the door.
 Arthur Rance. you are come then at last.' he exclaimed.
 Edirh's husband seemed plunged in the deepest melancholy.
 What have you to tell me? What has happened? Some new misfortune? An. 1 feared so-feared that 1 had ar- rived too late when 1 saw the iron gate closed and heard the prayers for the dead chanted in the tower. Yes. 1 knew that you had executed Old Bob"
 Rouletnbille. who had closed and bolted the door behind Arthur Rance. turned to the American and said:
 ''Old Bob is alive and Pere Bernier is dead. Be seated. monsieur"
 Rance stared at the speaker in amazement. then looked in consterna- ton at the dra wing board. the dish of paint and the bloody skull and de handed:
 Who killed him7"
 Then. condescendlng to notice that his wife was there. he pressed her hand. but his eyes were fixed upon the Lady in Black.
 Before his death Bernier accused Frederic Larsan." answered M- Oar zac.
 Do you mean to say by that that he accused old Bob?" interrupted Rance indignantly. "I will not sufrer that 1. toe. had some doubts in re- gard to the personality of our beloved uncle. but I tell you that l have the ruby headed pin"