The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-08-19
CHAPTER XIV.
Il Expect the Assassin This
Evening"


u scenes. | myself believe tina
have discovered what everybody els,
is searching for-namely, how the muir
derer escaped from the yellow room
without any accomplice and withou
Mile. Stangerson having had anything
to do with 1t. But so long as / am not
sure Of the real murderer l cannot
state the theory on which l am work
ing. / can only say that believe 1t to
be correct and in any case a quite nat
ural and simple one. AS to what hap
pened in this place three nights ago,
must say 1t kept me wondering for a
whole day and night. 1t passes all be-
lief. The theory | have formed from
the incident is so absurd that would
rather matters remained as yet unex-
planned"
Saying which, the young reporter in
vited me to go and make the tour of
the chateau with him. The only sound
to be heard was the crunching of the
dead leaves beneath our feet The 81
lence was so intense that one might
have thought the chateau had been
abandoned The old stones, the stag
nant water Of the ditch surrounding
the donjon, the bleak ground strewn
with the DEAD leaves, the dark, skele
ton-like outlines of the trees-all con-
tributed to give to the desolate place,
now filed with its awful mystery, an
aspect the most funereal AS we pass
ed round the donjon we met the Green
Man, the forest keeper. who did not
greet us, but walked by as if we had
not existed. He was looking just as
had formerly seen him through the
window of the Donjon inn. He had
still his fowling piece slung at his
back, his pipe was in his mouth and
his eyeglasses on his nose.
San odd kind of fish, Rouletabille
said to me in low tone.
slave you spoken to him?" | asked.
Eyes, but | could get nothing out of
him. His only answers are grunts
and shrugs of the shoulders. He gen.
orally lives on the first floor of the
donjon-a big room that once served
for an oratory He lives like bear,
never goes out without his gun and is
only pleasant with the girls. The
women for twelve miles round are all
setting their caps for him. For the
present he Is paving attention to Nine.
Matthew. whose husband is keeping a
lynx eve upon her In consequence"
After passing the donjon, which is
situated at the extreme end of the
left wing, we went to the back Of the
chateau. Rouletabille, pointing to a
window which recognized as the
only one belonging to Mile. Stanger-
sons apartment, said to me:
IF you had been here two nights
ago you would have seen your humble
servant at the top of ladder about
to enter the chateau by that window"
As expressed some surprise at this
piece of nocturnal gymnastics, he beg
ged me to notice carefully the exterior
disposition of the chateau. We then
went back into the building
81 must now show you the first floor
If the chateau, where am living"
said my friend. He motioned me to
'ollow him up magnificent fight of
stairs ending In landing on the first
loor. From this landing one could
,ass to the right or left wing of the
hateau by a gallery opening from it.
This gallery, high and WIDE extended
long the whole length of the building ,
nd was lit from the front of the cha ]
eau facing the north. The rooms, the
windows of which looked to the south,
pened out of the gallery. Professor 6
tangerson inhabited the left wing of 3
he building Mile. Stangerson had her I
partment in the right wing.
We entered the gallery to the right. G
. narrow carpet laid on the waved /
aiken floor which shone like glass, h
the sound Of our footsteps. I
asked me In low tone TO r
ak carefully as we were passing the
COR of Mile. Stangerson's apartment. v
his consisted of bedroom, an ante 4,
,om, a small bathroom a boudoir and h
drawing room One could pass from q
ne to another of these rooms without r
aving to go by way of the gallery. i,
he gallery continued straight to the e
estern end of the building. where 1t 81
as lit by high window AT ABOUT II
vo-thirds of it's length this gallery at a,
Night ANGLE Joined another gallery Il
!, v,ing the course of the right wing.
TPo. better to follow this narrative II
Q shyil call the gallery leading from II
e stairs to the eastern window the
light" gallery and the gallery quit th
lg 1t at right angle the ''of turn
2" gallery. II was at the meeting 10
int Of the two galleries that Rouleta- tn
lie had his chamber, adjoining that on
Frederic Larsan, the door Of each n,
ening on to the of turning gal nj
Y, while the doors Of Mile. Stan W
rson's apartment opened into the in
ght" gallery. IN
aouletabllle opened the door OF his en-
,m and after we had passed In care n,
lily drew the bolt. /. had not had IN
ne to glance around the place in m,
itch he had been installed when he No