Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-01-28

there We're on the floor as plainly as IL
they had been made with ink on white
paper. Well. neither In the laboratory
nor in the vestibule, which were both
as clean as new pin. were there any
| traces Of mans footmarks. Since
they have been found near this win
/ dow outside, he must have made his
/ way through the ceiling of the yellow
room into the attic. then cut his way
through the roof and dropped to the
ground outside the vestlbule window.
But there's no hole, neither In the cell
Ing of the yellow room nor in the roof
of my attic; that's absolutely certain.
So, you see, we know nothing-noth-
ing. And nothing will ever be known!
It's mystery of the DEVILS own MAX
ing"
Rouletabille went down upon his
knees again almost In front Of small
lavatory at the back of the vestibule.
In that position he remained for about
minute.
"Well?" asked him when he got
up.
"Oh, nothing very important. A drop
of blood" he replied, turning toward
Daddy jacques as he spoke. while
you were washing the laboratory and
this vestibule was the vestibule win
dow open?" he asked.
mo, monsieur, 1t was closed. But
after / had done washing the floor |
lit some charcoal for monsieur in the
laboratory furnace, and as lit II
with old newspapers II smoked, so l
opened both the windows in the labo-
ratory and this one to make current
of air. Then shut those in the labo-
ratory and left this one open when l
went out. When l returned to the
pavilion this window had been closed
and monsieur and mademoiselle were
already at work In the laboratory"
IN. or Mile. Stangerson had no
doubt shut it?"
mo doubt"
"You did not ask themT
mo"
After close scrutiny of the little
lavatory and Of the staircase leading
up to the attic Rouletabllle-to whom
we seemed no longer to exist-entered
the laboratory. followed him. I
was, | confess, in state Of great ex-
element Robert Darzac lost none of
my friends movements. AS for me.
MY eyes were drawn at once to the
door Of the yellow room. It was closed
and, as l Immediately saw, partially
shattered and out Of commission.
My friend, who went about his work
methodically, silently studied the room
In which we were. 1t was large and
well lighted. Two big windows-al-
most bays-were protected by strong
iron bars and looked out upon wide
extent of country.
The whole Of one side of the labora-
tory was taken up with large chir,-
ney, crucibles, ovens and such imple-
ments as are needed for chemical e.
periments; tables loaded with yials,
papers, reports, an electrical machine
an apparatus, as NJ. DarZac Informed
me, employed by Professor Stangerson
to demonstrate the dissertation of mat
ter under the action of solar light
and other scientific implements
Along the walls were cabinets, plain
or glass fronted, through which were
visible microscopes, special photo
graphic apparatus and large quanti-
ty Of crystals.
Rouletabille, who was ferreting In
the chimney, put his fingers into one
OF the crucibes Suddenly he drew
himself up and held up piece Of half
consumed paper In his hand. He step
ped up to where we were talking by
one of the windows.
Keep that for US, NJ. Darzac," he
said.
l bent over the piece Of scorched
paper which NJ. Darzac took from the
hand of Rouletabille and read dis
tinctly the only words that remained
legible:
"Presbytery = lost nothing = charm
nor the gar-its brightness"
Twice since the morning these same
meaningless words had struck me, and
for the second time | saw that they
produced on the Sorbonne professor
the same paralyzing effect NJ. Oar
zac's first anxiety showed itself when
he turned his eyes in the direction of
Daddy Jacques. But, occupied as he
was at another window, he had seen
nothing. Then, tremblingly opening
MS pocketbook, he put the piece of pa
per into it, signing, MY Godr