The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-10-21

the bullet IN the ceiling must have ne
suited from an accident Its very posi-
ton suggested an accident to my minC
and so fell In With my theory of {
nightmare. | no longer doubted tina
the attack had taken place befort
mademoiselle had retired for the night
After Weakening from her frightfu
dream and crying aloud for help she
had tainted
my theory. based on the evidence
Of the shots that were heard at mid
night, demanded two shots-one which
wounded the murderer at the time OF
his attack and one fired at the time
Of the nightmare. The evidence given
| by the Berniers before the examining
magistrate was to the effect that only
one shot had been heard. NJ. Stan
gerson testified to hearing dull sound
first. followed by a sharp ringing sound
The dull sound I explained by the
falling of the marble topped table; the
ringing sound was the shot from the
revolver. was now convinced I was
right The shot that had wounded the
hand of the murderer and had caused
1t to bleed so that he left the bloody
imprint on the wall was fired by
mademoiselle in self defense before
the second phase, when she had been
really attacked The shot in the cell
ing which the Berniers heard was the
accidental shot during the nightmare
81 had now to explain the wound on
the temple. 1t was not severe enough
to have been made by means Of the
mutton bone, and mademoiselle had
not attempted to hide II. 1t must have
been made during the second phase.
1t was to find this out that went to
the yellow room, and obtained my
answer there"
Rouletab billie drew a piece of white
folded paper from his pocket and drew
out Of it an almost invisible object
which he held between his thumb and
forefnger
"This. M President" he said. Els a
hair-a blond hair stained with blood.
It is a hair from the head of Mile.
Stangerson | found 1t sticking to one
of the corners Of the overturned table.
The corner of the table was itself
stained with blood-a tiny stain-hard-
" visible. but it told me that on ris-
ing from her bed Mile. Stangerson had
fallen heavily and had struck her head
on the corner Of its marble top.
81 had still to learn, In addition to
the name of the assassin, which ! did
later, the time of the original attack.
learned this from the examination OF
Nile. Stangerson and her father. though
the answers given by the former were
well calculated to deceive the examin-
ting magistrate. Mile Stangerson had
stated very minutely how she had
spent the whole of her time that day.
We established the fact that the MUIR
derer had introduced himself into the
pavilion between and o'clock. At
a quarter past 6 the professor and his
daughter had resumed their work. At
5 the professor had been with his
daughter, and since the attack took
place in the professors absence from
his daughter | had to find ont just
when he left her. The professor had
stated that at the time when he and
his daughter were about to re-enter
the laboratory he was met by the
keeper and held in conversation about
the cutting of some wood and the
ooachers. Mile. Stangerson was not
With him then. since the professor said.
/ left the keeper and rej0ined my
laughter who was at work in the
laboratory.
"It was during that short interval OF
lime that the tragedy took place. That
Q certain. In my minds eye ] saw
dlle. Stangerson re-enter the pavilion.
10 to her room to take OF her hat and
ind herself faced by the murderer. he
lad been in the pavilion for some time
Waiting for her he had arranged to
ASS the whole night there. BE had
AIKEN off Daddy Jacques boots, be
ad removed the papers from the cabi-
Jet and had then slipped under the
ed. Finding the time long. be had
isen. gone again into the laboratory.
hen into the vestibule. looked into the
arden and had seen. coming toward ,
be pavilion, Mile. StangersOD-aione. |
lie would never have dared to attack +,
er at that hour If he had not found 1
er alone. His mind was made up. !
lie would be more at ease alone with ]
nle. Stangerson in the pavilion than 4
e would have been in the middle OF 4
lie night, with Daddy jacques sleep 4
IL in the attic. So he shut the Vesd- I
ule window. That explains why q
either M. Stangerson nor the keeper,
no were at some distance from the 4
,vilion, had heard the revolver shot. I
"Then he went back to the yellow a
,om. Mile. Stangerson came In. what
lssed must have taken place very {
lickly. Mademoiselle tried to call for b,
,lp. but the man had seized her by d
e throat Her hand had sought ana d
'asped the revolver which she had Y
zen keeping In the drawer OF her h
ght table, since she had come TO rear
9 threats OF her pursuer The muir II
rer was about to strike her on the n
- a.. .,,,,ttnr. hnua N terrible