The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-08-05

the murderer bau sonrnr 70 turn sus-
picion on 20 the old servant Up 20
thar point Larsan and I are IN ac-
cord but 20 further II Is going 20 Be
q terrible matter. for tell you be Is
working on wrong lines. and IL must
Fight him with nothingr'
At that moment we passed By the
back OF the chateau Night had come.
A window on the first door was partly
open. A feeble light came from Il Is
well as some sounds which drew our
attention We approached until We
bad reached the side Of a door that
was situated Just under the window.
Rouletabilie IN q low tone made me
understand that this was the window
Of Mile Stangerson's chamber. The
sounds which had attracted our atten-
ton ceased. then were renewed for q
moment, and then we heard stihed
sobs. We were only able to catch
these words. which reached us dis
tinctly. my poor RobertP Rouleta-
bile whispered in my ear:
eff we only knew what was being
said in that chamber my inquiry would
soon be finished"
He looked about him. The darkness
d the evening developed us. We could
not see much beyond the narrow path
bordered by trees which ran behind
the chateau. The sobs had ceased.
a
try to see." said Rouletabille.
And. making sign to me to deadeA
the sound Of my steps. he led me
across the path to the trunk OF tai
beech tree. the white bole OF winch
was visible in the darkness. This
tree grew exactly in front Of the win
dow In which we were so much inter
ested. its lower branches being on
level with the first door Of the cha
teau. From the height Of those
branches one might certainly see what
was passing in Mile stangerson's
chamber. Evidently that was what
Rouletabille thought. for, enioining me
to remain hidden. he clasped the trunk
with his vigorous arms and climbed
up. l soon lost sight Of him amid the
and then followed deep
silence.
In front of me the open window
lighted, and saw no shadow
move across it. listened, and pres
entity from above me these words
my ears:
after your
after you, prayr'
Somebody was overhead, speaking
courtesies. What was my
to see on the slippery col
1mn Of the tree two human forms APP
pear and quietly slip down to the
ground. Rouletabille had mounted |
llone and had returned with another
'NGood evening NJ. Sainclair"
1t was Frederic Larsan. The detec-
i've had already occupied the post OF |
when my young friend had |
bought to reach it alone. Neither no
iced my establishment. explained
hat to myself by the fact that they
must have been witnesses of some ten
Ter and despairing scene between Mile.
;tangerson, lying In her bed. and M.
)arzac on his knees by her pillow.
uessed that each had drawn different
exclusions from what they had seen. 4
( was easy to see that the scene had
trongly impressed Rouletabille in ia
or of M. Robert DarZac. while to Lar
an 1t showed nothing but consummate
ypocrisy acted with finished art by
file. Stangerson's fiance.
AS we reached the park gate Larsan
topped us.
"My caner he cried II left 1t near
ne tree" II
He left us, saying he would rejoin us t
resently. IL
"Have you noticed Frederic Larsan's
iner- asked me young reporter as
Jon as we were alone 1T is quite
ew one, which have never seen him a
se before. He seems to take great b
ire of tit never leaves him. One
ould think he was afraid it might fall .
to the hands of strangers. never
w it before today. Where did he +"
i'd it? 1t isn't. natural that a man 9
ho had never before used a walking r
lex should the day after the Chandler N
ime never move step without one. Il
! the day Of our arrival at the cha !,
au, as soon as he saw us, he put his
itch In his pocket and picked up his :
ne from the ground, proceeding to
1ich was perhaps wrong not to at M
n some importance" A
Ws wsEs now out Of the park R0uIe.
bfils bad dropped into silence. His M
cughtz were certainly still occupied
u Frederic Larsan,a new cane.