The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-08-19
The Trap.
CHAPTER XIV.


the Doth and the Both of DC
tober," wrote Joseph Roule
tabille, Il woke up toward
o'clock in the morning. Was it sleep
Iessness or noise without? The cry o
the Bette du Bon Dieu rang out wit
sinister loudness from the end Of tn,
park. rose and opened the window
Cold wind and rain, OpaqAe darkness
silence. reclosed my window. Agar
the sound of the cats weird cry In the
distance. l partly dressed In haste
The weather was too bad for even 8
cat to be turned out in 1t. What did Il
mean, then-that initiating Of the new.
ing of Mother Angenouxs cat so near
the chateau? l seized good sized
stick. the only weapon | had, and with
out making any noise opened my door
THE gallery into which / went was
well lit by a lamp with reflector.
felt keen current of air and on turn
treme end Of the gallery, which call
the of turning gallery TO distinguish
1t from the right gallery, on to which
the apartment of Mile. Stangerson
opened These two galleries cross each
other at right angles. Who had left
that window open or who had c6me to
open it? l went to the window and
leaned out. Five feet below me there
| was a sort of terrace over the semi
circular projection of a room on the
ground floor. One could If one wanted
! Jump from the window on to the ter
race and allow oneself to drop from 1t
into the court of the chateau. Who
ever had entered by this road had evi-
IDENTIFY not had key to the vestibule
door But why should be thinking Of
my previous nights attempt with the
ladder? Because Of the open window,
left open perhaps by the negligence of
servant? l reclosed it, smiling at the
ease with which built drama on the
mere suggestion Of an open window.
"Again the cry of the Bette du Bon
Dieu and then silence. The rain ceased
to beat on the window. All in the cha
teau slept. walked with infinite pre-
caution on the carpet of the gallery.
On reaching the corner of the right
gallery / peered round it cautiously
There was another lamp there with a
reflector which quite Lit up the several
objects in 1t, three chairs and some
pictures hanging on the wall. What |
was l doing there? Perfect silence |
reigned throughout. Everything was
sunk In repose. What was the instinct |
that urged me toward Mile. Stanger- |
sons chamber? Why did voice with,
in me cry. Go on to the chamber of
Mile. Stangersonr / cast my eyes
down upon the carpet on which was
treading and saw that my steps were
being directed toward Mile Stanger-
sons chamber by the marks of steps i
that had already been made there.
Yes on the carpet were traces of foot
steps stained with mud leading to the
chamber of Mile. Stangerson. Horror,
horror! recognized in those foot
prints the impression of the neat boots
If the murderer He had come, then, f,
rom without In this wretehed night {
f you could descend from the gallery /
~ way of the window, by means of 4
he terrace. then you could get into the |
hateau by the same means.
"The murderer was still In the cha
eau, for here were marks as of return |
ne footsteps. He had entered by the
pen window at the extremity of the
IF turning gallery; he had passed
frederic Larsan's door and mine, had
urned to the right and had entered b
file. Stangerson's room. | am before
he door of her anteroom. 1t Is open. 4
push 1t without making the least s
Disc. Under the door of the room it. &
elf / see streak of light. listen. q
o sound, not even of breathing. All, ii
/ only knew what was passing in ID
le silence that Is behind that door! r,
nd the door locked and the key turn
l on the inner side. And the MUIR h
erer is there perhaps. He must be I
lere. WIN he escape this time? All
apends Jon me. l must be calm, and Is
Dove all must make no false steps. b.
must see into that room. can enter Il
by Mile. Stangerson's drawing room. CT
ut to do that should have to cross "
II boudoir, and while | am there the :
urderer may escape by the gallery ps
,or, the door in front Of which am W
Nv standing. In
II am sure that no other crime Is be- st
g committed on this night, for there XII
complete silence in the boudoir, We
here two nurses are taking care Of te
lie. Stangerson until she is restored tn
health. ma
AS am almost sure that the muir ga
rer is there, why do not at once De
We the alarm? The murderer may SIC
rhaps escape, but perhaps ! may be WI
lie to save Mile. Stangersons life. SCI
ppose the murderer on this occasion ioi
not here to murderf The door has co
en- opened to allow him to enter-by ma
lom? And It has been rsfastened- ne