The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-09-30

had been heard to threaten the keeper.
and. though no evidence against him
had been found at his Inn, the evil
dence of carriers. who had heard the
threats. was enough TO justify his re-
tentiOn.
The examination had proceeded thus
far when, to our surprise, Frederic
Larsan returned to the chateau. He
+, was accompanied by one Of the en-
ployees of the railway. At that mo
ment Rance and + were In the vesti-
bule discussing Matthews guilt or in
nocence. while Rouletabille stood
apart. buried apparently In thought
The examining magistrate and his reg
lstrar were in the little green drawing
room. while Darzac was with the doc
tor and Stangerson in the lady's cham
Der. As Frederic Larsan entered the
vestibule with the railway employee
Rouletabille and / at once recognized
him by the small blond beard. We ex-
changed meaning glances. Larsan had
himself announced to the examining
magistrate by the gendarme and en-
tered with the railway servant as DAD
DIV Jacques came out. Some ten min
utes went by. during which Rouleta-
billie appeared extremely impatient
The door of the drawing room was
then opened. and we heard the magis-
trate calling to the gendarme. who en-
bered Presently he came out, mount
ed the stairs and, coming back snort
". went in to the magistrate ana SAID;
monsieur. NJ Robert Darzac VIII
not come"
.:WhatI MOI Gomez cried NJ. de Mar
quet.
"He saws he cannot leave Mile. Stan
gerson in her present state"
every we'll" said NJ. de Marquee
'sThen well go to him"
M. de Marquet and the gendarmes
mounted the stairs. He made sign TO
Tarsan and the railway employee to
follow. Rouletabille and I went along
too
On reaching the door OF Mile stan
rerson,s chamber NJ. de Marquet
knocked A chambermaid appeared. IL
was Sylvia. with her hair all IN olsor-
dor and CONSERVATION showing on her
face.
as NJ Stangerson withinT' asked the
magistrate,
eyes monsieur
osTel him that I wish to speak with
him"
/ Stangerson came out. His appear
Rnce was wretched in the extreme
"What do you want?" he demanded
of the magistrate. MAY I not be ieft
In peace. monsieur
/ "Monsieur" said the magistrate IT
ia absolutely necessary that l shouiu
see NJ Darzac at once. If you cannot
induce him to come | shall be com
PEELED to use the help of the law.
The professor made no reply he
looked at us all like man being leo
TO execution and then went back INTO
the room.
Almost Immediately after M Robert
Darzae came out He was very paie
He looked at us, and. his eyes raining
On the railway servant, his features
stiffened and he could hardly repress
a groan.
We were all much moved by the ap-
nearance of the man. we Ielt tna'
what was about to happen would de-
eide the fate of NJ Robert Darzac.
Frederic I.arsans face alone was ra-
diant. showing joy as OF oog tnai
had at last got its prey,
Pointing to the railway servant M
I -osd 20 NJ nqrZaC.
"Do you recognize this man. nPn-
sieurT
81 do" said M. Darzac In tone
which he vainly tried to make nrm.
"He is an employee at the station At
Epinay-sur-O rge."
saThis young man." went on IA. oe
Marouet. "afirms that he saw you get
of the train at Epinay Orge"-
THAT night" said M. Darzac, inter
rupting, .'at half past TO- 1t Is quite
true"
An interval of silence followed.
an. Darzac," the magistrate went
nm In a tone Of deep emotion-"M. Oar
FAC. what were you doing that night
at Epinay sur rge-at that timer
M. Darzac remained silent, simply
closing his eyes.
IN. Darzac," insisted M de Mar
ouet, 'can you tell me how you en-
ployed your time that nightr
NJ Darzac opened ms eyes. He
seemed to have recovered his self con-
troll.
"No monsieur"
"Think, monsieur, for II you per-
eist in your strange refusal l shall be
under the painful necessity of keeping
you at my disposition"
II refuse"
IN. Darzac, in the name Of the law
. arrest your
The magistrate had no sooner pro-
nounced the words than l saw Rouie-
tabille move quickly toward M. OAR
FAC. He would certainly have spoken
10 him, but Daraac by a gesture held
him off. AS the gendarme approached
his prisoner despairing cry rang