Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-11

dried blood, evidences OF previous
c+imeG."
"A mutton bone in the hand Of
skilled assassin is a frightful weapon"
said Rouctabillc. "a more certain
weapon than heavy hammer"
"Thc Scoundre has proved it to be
So" said NJ. Robert Darzac sadly.
"1hc Joint of the bone found exactly
fits the wound inflicted. My belief
is that the wound would have been
mortal IL the murderer's blow had not
been arrested ~ the act by Mile. Stan
gerson's revolver. Wounded in the
hand, he dropped the mutton bone and
fed. Unfortunately the blow had
been already given, ana mademoisclle
was stunned after having been nearly
strangled. II she had succeeded in
wounding the man with the first shot
Of the revolver, she would doubtless
have escaped Ihe blow with the bone.
But she had certainly employed her re-
volver too late. The first shot dcvi-
atcd and lodged In the ceiling. 1t was
the second only that took effect"
Having said this, NJ. Darzac knocked
at the door Of the pavilion. must
confess to feeling a strong Impotence
10 reach the spot where the crime had
been committed 1t was some time be-
fore the door was opened by man
whom ! at once recognized as Daddy
jacques
He appeared TO be well over sixty
years Of age. He had long white
beard and white hair. on which he
wore Cat Basque cap. lie was dress
cd in Il complete suit of chestnut col
ored veiveteen, worn at the sides, sa-
bots were on his feet. iIc had rather
a waspish looking face. the expression
Of which llshtencd, however, as soon
rs he saw NJ. Darzac.
"Fricnds." said orr griido. Nobody
IN the pavilion. Daddy JacQurs;'
II ought not to allow any body to en-
ter, NJ. Robert. but of course the order
does not apply to You. These gentle
there is TO be seen and made enough
drawings and drawn up enough re-
ports
Excuse me, NJ. Jacques, one ques-
ton before anything else" said Roule-
tabille.
"What is it, young man? IF can
answer it,
Ibid Your mistress wear her hair in
bands that evening? You know what
l mean-over her forehcadt'
mo, young man. My mistress never
wore her hair in the way you suggest,
neither on that day nor on any other.
She had her hair drawn M. as usual,
so that her beautiful forehead could be
seen, pure as that of an unborn child
Rouletabille grunted and set to work
examining the door, finding that it fas-
tened itself automatically. He salts
fed himself that it could never remain
open and needed a key 10 open it.
Then we entered the vestibule n small
well lit room paved with square red
tiles
"Ah. this is the window by which
the murderer escaped" said Roule-
tabille.
$50 they keep on saying, monsieur;
so they keep on saving. But if he had
gone off that way we should have been
sure to have seen him. We are not
blind, neither NJ. Stangerson nor 1 nor
the concicrges who are in prison. Why
have they lot put me In prison, too, on
account of my revolyer?"
Roulotahille had already opened the
| window and was examining the shut
tiers.
Were these closed at the time of the
crimeF'
And fastened with the iron catch
inside" said Daddy Jacques. and
am quite sure that the murderer did
not get out that way
Are there any blood stains;'
"Yes-on the stones outsidc-but
blood of what?'
"Ah," said Roulctabille, there are
footmarks visible on the path. The
ground was very moist. | will look
into that presently"
Nonsense" said Daddy Jacques
"Thc murderer did not go that way"
(Which way did lie go, then"
"liow do l know"
Roulctabllc looked at everything,
smclcd everything. He went down on
| his knees and rapidly examined every
one of the paving tiles. Daddy jacques
went on:
"Ah, You can't find anything. mon,
sieur Nothing has been found, And
now It Is all dirty. Too many persons
/ have tramped over IT, They wouldn't
| let me wash II, but on the day Of the
| crime | had washed the focr thor
ouchly. and if the murderer had cross
ed It with his hobnailed boots ! should
not have failed to sec whore he had
been He has left marks enough in
mndemoiSelle's chamber
Rouletabillc rose.
"W'hcn was the last time you washed
these tllest" he asked, and he fixed on
| Daddy Jacques most searching look.
"Why-as told you-on the day OF
the crime, toward half past while
, madcmoiscllc and her father were TAX
/ ing little walk before dinner here in
this room They dincd in the labora-
tory. The next day the examining
magistrate came and saw all the marks
there We're on the floor as plainly as II
they had been made with ink on white
paper. Well. neither In the laboratory
nor in the vestibulc, which were both
rs clean as a new pin. were there any
| traces of Il mans footmarES. Since
they have been found near this win
dow outside, he must have made his