Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-04-28
"ThIs is what you call the alleywayr

"This is what you call the alleywayT 2
questioned Coquenll.
Exactly"
From the pocket of his coat the de.
tectlve drew a small electric lantern
the one that had served him so well
earlier in the evening and, touching
switch. lac threw upon the ground a
strong white ray. whereupon confu
sion of footprints became visible, as
If number of persons had trod back
and forth here.
"what dUes this mean?" he cried
Papa Tignol explained shamefacedly
I'VE did it looking for the pistol; it
was Glbelin's orders
Bon Dleu! What a pity. We can
never get a clean print in this mess.
But wait! How far along the alley
way did you lookY"
"As far as that back wall Poor
Gibelin! FIe never thought of looking
on the other side Of it. Eh, chr
Coqueni breathed more freely. 1--WE
may be all righd yet All. yes" he
cried. going quickly to this back wall
where the alleyway turned to the right
along the rear of the hotel Again he
threw his white light before him and.
with a start of satisfaction. pointed to
the ground. There clearly marked.
was a line of footprints. single line,
with no breaks or imperfections. the
plain record on the rain soaked earth
that one person. evidently a man. had
passed this way. going out
"Ill send the dog 6rst." said M.
Paul. Here. Caesar! Cherche!"
Once more the eager animal sprang
forward. following slowly along the
row of trees where the trail was con-
fused. and then, at the corner. dash
ing ahead swiftly. only to stop again
after few yards and stand scratch.
ing uueasily at closed door.
That settles 1t" said Coquenil. HE
has brought us to the alleyway door.
Am | right
YES" nodded Gritz.
THE door that leads to No. ~"
"Yes."
"Open it" and. while the agitated
proprietor searched for his pass key.
the detective spoke TO Tignol: Il want
impressions Of these footprints, the
best you can take. Use glyCerin with
plaster of paris for the mOlds. Take
this one. and these two, and this, and
this"
The alleyway door stood open. and,
using his lantern with the utmost care.
Coquenil went first. mounting the
stairs slowly. followed by Gritz Al
the top they came to narrow landing
ard closed door
This opcns directly into No. ~
asked the detective.
Yes"
rs it usually locked or unlocked?"
ut is always locked"
well. its unlocked now" observe
Coquenll. trying the knob. Then. flash
ing his lantern forward. he threw tht
door wide open. The room was empty
LET me turn up the electrics." said
the proprietor. and he did so, Shnwinf
furnishings like those in No. q eXcept
that here the prevailing tint was pale
blue. while there it was pale yellow.
IL see nothing wrong" remarked NJ
Paul. glancing about sharply. "DC
you?"
Nothing"
Except that this door into the cor
ridor is boted. 1t didn't bolt itself
did it?"
mo" sighed the other.
Coquenil thought moment; then hC
produced the pistol found in the court
yard and examined it with extreme
care; then he unlocked the corridor
door and looked out The policeman
was still on guard before No. g.
II shall want to go in there shortly
said the detective,
Gritz hesitated a moment and then
with an apprehensive look in his beady
eyes. he said. so you're going in
there" and he jcrked his fat thuml
toward the wall separating them from
No. q.
Coquenil nodded.
TO see If the ball from that"-hC
looked with II shiver at the plstol-''tits
in-in that?'' Again he jerked his
thumb toward the wall. beyond which
the body lay.
"No; that is the doctors business
Nine Is more iD,pOrtantP'