Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-12

' very wei, Sdlu. III seems 10 me
that the point of departure of my rea-
son would be this-there can be no
doubt that the murderer you pursued
was in the gallery" paused.
'After making so good a start, you
ought not to stop so soon," he eXclaim-
ed. "Come, make another effort"
''I'll try. ,Since he disappeared from
the gallery without passing through
any door or window, he must have es-
capped by some other opening"
Rouletabille looked at me pityingly,
smiled carelessly and remarked that /
was reasoning like a postman or--lIke
Frederic Larsan.
Rouetabille had alternate fits Of ad-
miration and disdain for the great
Fred. 1t all depended as to whether
Larsan's discoveries tailed with Roule-
tabille's reasoning or not. When they
did he would exclaim, "He is really
great~ When they did not, he would
grunt and mutter, what an ASST It
was petty side Of the noble character
of this strange youth.
We had risen, and he led me into the
park. When we reached the court and
'were making toward the gate, the
sound of blinds thrown back against
the wall made us turn our heads. and
we saw at window on the first floor
of the chateau the rudy and clean
shaver face of person did not rec
Ognize.
"Hellov' muttered Rouletabille. Gar
thur Rancew He lowered his head,
qUlckened his pace, and heard him
ask himself between his teeth: was
be in the chateau that night? What
is he doing hereY
We had gone some distance from the
chateau when | asked him who this
Arthur Rance was and how he had
come to know him. He referred to his
story Of that morning, and I remem-
bered that Mr.. Arthur W. Rance was
the American from Philadelphia with
whom he had had so many drinks at
the Elysee reception.
but was he not to have left France
almost Immediately | asked
mo doubt; that's why / am sur
prised to find him here still and not
only in France, but above all, at the
Chandler, He did not arrive this
morning, and be did not get here last
night. He must have got here before
dinner, then. Why didn't the con-
cierges tell meY'
/ reminded my friend, apropos Of the
concierges, that he had not yet told me
what had led him to get them set at
liberty.
We were close to their lodge. NJ and I
Nine. Bernier saw us coming. A frank |
smile lit up their happy faces. They |
seemed to harbOr no i'll feeling because |
OF their detention. My young friend |
asked them at what hour Mr.. Arthur
Rance had arrived. They answered that |
they did not know he was at the cha !
teau He must have come during the |
evening Of the previous night. but they
had not had to open the gate for him,
because, being a great walker and not
wishing that a carriage should be sent
to meet him, he was accustomed to get
off at the little hamlet Of Saint Michel.
from which he came to the chateau by
way Of the forest. He reached the
park by the grotto of Sainte Gene
We've, over the little gate of which,
giving on to the park, he climbed.
AS the concierges spoke / saw Roule-
Tables face cloud over and exhibit dis
appointment disappointment, no
doubt, with himself. Evidently he was
a little veXed after having worked so
much on the spot, with so minute a
study of the people and events at the
Chandler, that he had to learn now
that Arthur Rance was accustomed to
visit the chateau.
"You say that NJ. Arthur Rance is
accustomed to come to the chateau
When did he come here last?"
1--WE can't tell you exactly" replied
Nine. Bernler. I'VE couldn't know
while they were keeping us in prison.
Besides, as the gentleman comes to
the chateau without passing through
our gate he goes away by the way he
sOmes."
40 you know when he came the
first timer
ooh, yes. monsieur Nine years
ago"
.'He was IN France nine years ago,
then" said Rouletabille. "and since
that time. as far as you know. how
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