The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-07-29

crime was robbery"
The chief smiled.
"Ah. young Roaletabille! I've heard
Of him. He is considered rather clev
err Let him come in"
NJ. Joseph RouletabIlle entered the
laboratory, bowed to US and waited
for NJ. de Marquet to ask him to ex-
plain his presence.
you pretend, monsieur, that you
know the motive for the crime and
that that motive-in the face Of all
the evidence that has been forthcom-
ing-was robbery"
mo, monsieur; do not pretend that
do not say that robbery was the mo-
dive for the crime, and don't believe
It was"
''Then what Is the meaning Of this
cardT"
''It means that robbery was one of
the motives for the crime"
what leads you to think thatY'
IF you will be good enough to ac-
company me l will show you"
The young man asked us to follow
him into the vestibule, and we did. He
! led US toward the lavatory and begged
M. de Marquet to kneel beside him.
This lavatory is lit by the glass door,
and when the door was open the light
which penetrated was sufficient to
light 1t perfectly. NJ. de Marquet and
M. Joseph Rouletabille knelt down on
the THRESHOLD and the young man
pointed to a spot on the pavement.
THE stones Of the lavatory have not
been washed by Daddy Jacques for
some time" he said. THAT can be
seen by the layer Of dust that covers
them. Now notice here the marks Of
two large footprints and the black ash
they left where they have been. That
ash is nothing else than the charcoal
dust that covers the path along which
you must pass through the forest in
order to get directly from Epinay to
the Chandler. You know there is a
little village of charcoal burners at
that place who make large quantities
of charcoal. What the murderer did
was to come here at midday, when
there was nobody at the pavilion, and
attempt his robbery"
"But what robbery? Where do you |
see any signs of robbery? What proves
to you that robbery has been com
we all cried at once.
''What put me on the trace of It,"
continued the journalist.
"Was this" interrupted M, de Mar
quet still on his knees.
Evidently" said Rouletabille.
And NJ. de Marquet explained that
there were on the dust Of the pave
ment marks of two footsteps as well
as the impression, freshly made, of
heavy rectangular parcel. the marks
0f the cord with which 1t had been
being easily distinguished.
"You have been here, them NJ. Rou-
etabille? thought l had given or
iers to Daddy Jacques, who was left
n charge Of the pavilion. not to allow
anybody to enter"
"Don't scold Daddy Jacques Icame
lere with NJ. Robert Darzac."
"Ah, indeedr' exclaimed NJ de Mar {
Iuet disagreeably, casting a side
dance at NJ. Darzac, who remained {
erfectly silent.
"When saw the mark Of the parcel {
y the side of the footprints l had no .
oubt as to the robbery" replied NJ u
1.-THE thief had not
rought parcel with him. He had
made one here-a parcel with the s
tolen objects no doubt-and he put 1t q
! this corner, intending to take It a
way when the moment came for him q
, make his escape. He had also p
laced his heavy boots beside the par q
II, for, see, there are no marks Of n
cps leading to the marks left By the
pots, which were placed side by side.
hat accounts for the fact that the q
urderer left no trace OF his steps =
hen he fed from the yellow room,
,r any In the laboratory, nor In the =.
sstibule. After entering the yellow !,
ON In his boots he took them of, =
,ding them troublesome or because
J wished to make as little noise as - =,
'ssible. The marks made by him In -,
ing through the vestibule and the ~ ~
DOTdLOTy were subsequently WdSHeu -.
t by Daddy Jacques. Having for :. :.
me reason or other taken of his -
OTIS, the murderer carried them In !"
} hand and placed them by the side "a
the parcel he had made. By that %
ne the robbery had been accomplish ~
The man then returned to the ,e'
How room and slipped under the 80
d, where the mark of his body is 'n
rfectly visible on the floor and even sd
the mat, which has been slightly eid
wed from its place and creased.
agments of straw also recently ~
n bear witness to the murderer's W
vements under the bed" pr
Yes, yes We know all about that" se'
d NJ. de Marquet w
The robber had another motive for -
urnlng to hide under the bed" con- - T"'
led the astonishing boy journalist -
ou might think that he was trying .n
hide himself quickly on seeing,
ough the vestibule window. M and ~.
- a. he