Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-25

fancy not to sleep that night IN rrr
chamber. but in the boudoir with her
nurses. locking the door on them. Since
the night OF the crime she had expert
enced feelings Of terror, and fears came
over her that are easily to be compre-
hended
But who could imagine that on that
particular night when he was to come
she would by mere chance determine
TO shut herself In with her women
WIN would thiuk that she would net
contrary TO her fathers wish to sleep
in the draw wing roomY Who could be-
lieve that the letter which had so re-
Gently been on the table in her room
would no longer he there? He who
could understand all this would have
to assume that Mile. Stangerson knew
that the murderer was coming-she
could not prevent his coming again--
unknown to her father, unknown to all
but to NJ. Robert Darzac. For he must
know 1t now. Perhaps he had known
it before! Did he remember that
phrase in the Elysee garden, Must l
commit crime then, to win youT
Against whom the crime If not against
the obstacle, against the murderer?
All, l would kill him with my own
handr And l replied. You have not
answered my question: That was the
very truth. In truth. In truth. NJ. Oar
FAC knew the murderer so we'll that,
while wishing to kill him himself, he
was afraid | should find him. There
could be but two reasons why he had
assisted me in my investigation. First,
| because I have forced him to do it,
and. second, because she would be the
better protected.
81 am I'm the chamberlain room. I
look Mt her, also at the place where the
letter had just now been She has pos
scSScd herself of It: it was evidently
intended for hcr-evidently. How she
ttcmbleS, Trcmbles at the strange
story her father is telling her. of the
presence of the murderer In her cham
Der and of the pursuit. But Il Is plain
ly to be seen that she is not wholly
satisfied by the assurance given her
until she had been told that the
murderer by some incomprehensible
means had been able to elude us.
Then followed silence. What
silence. We are all there looking at
hcr-her father. Larsan. Daddy jacques
and |. What were we all thinking OF
in the silence? After the events Of
that night. Of the mystery Of the mex
pllcable gallery. Of the prodigious fact
Of the presence Of the murderer in her
room, it seemed to mo that all our
thoughts might have been translated
Into the words which were addressed
TO her. You who know Of this mys-
terry. explain it to MS and we shall per-
haps be able to save you How
longed to save her-from herself and
from the other, 1t brought the tears
to my eyes.
'Who can tell that should we learn
the secret Of her mystery. Il would not
precipitate tragedy more terrible
than that which had already been en-
acted here? Who can tell if 1t might
not mean her death: Yet 1t had
brought hcr close TO death and we
still knew nothing, or, rather. there
nrc some of us who know nothing.
But If knew who, | should know
NIL. Who? Who? not knowing who,
| must remain silent VI Of pity for
her. For there is no Ioubt that she
he escaped from the yellow
room. When know who | will SPEAK
to him--to him
"She looked at us now, with far
away look in her eyes. rs II we were
not in the chamber. NJ. StanSerson
broke the silence. He declared that
hpnccforth. he would no more absent
himself from his daughters apart
ments. She tried 10 oppose him in
vain He adhered firmly 70 Nis pur-
pose He would install hims' + there
this very night. he said. SoA-y con
cerned for the health Of his daughter
. he reproached her for having eft hcT
bed. Then he suddenly began talking
TO her as If she were n little child. lie
smiled at her and seemed not to know
either what he said or what he did
The ilustrious professor had lost his
head Mile. Stangcrson In tone of
tender distress said, Father, father,
Daddy jacques blows his nose, and
ffpucTlc IStTSuu uIti~til - cbli cNi "
turn away to hide his emotion. Fol
myself ! nm able neither to think OF
feel. ! felt n contempt for myself.
1T was the first time that Frederic
y.arsan. like myself, found himself
face to face with Mile. Stangcrsor
since the attack in the yellow room
Like me. he he'd insisted on being al
lowed to question the unhappy lady
d. but he had not, any more than had !
been permitted. To him, as to me, the
same answer had always been given
Mile. Stangerson was too weak to re
ceivc us. The Qucstionings of the ex
aiming magistrate had ovcrfatiguet
; her. 1t was evidently intended not tC
Il give us any assistance in our re
- searches. was not surprised bu
Frederic Larson had always resented
u this conduct. 1t IS true that he and
had totally different theory Of TIT
> crime. | still catch myself repeating
from the depths of my heart: Save
her. Save her without his speaking
: Who IL hc-the murderer? Take hin
y and shut his mouth. But NJ. Darza'
l made 1t clear that in order to shut hi
y mouth lie must be killed. Have ! thu
y right to kill Mile Stangerson's muir
o derer? No, had not. But let hin
only give me the chance, Let me fine