The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-08-19


returned 10 the back OF the chateau 10
see II the window Of the chamber was
still half open The blind was drawn,
but did not Join and allowed a bright
stream Of light TO escape and fan upon
the path at our feet. l planted the
ladder under the window l am al
most sure that l made no noise, and
while Daddy Jacques remained at the
foot Of the ladder l mounted 1t very
quietly. my stout stick in my hand
held my breath and lifted my feet
with the greatest care. Suddenly a
heavy cloud discharged itself at that
moment In a fresh dOwnpour OF rain.
"At the same instant the sinister cry
of the Bette du Bon Dieu arrested me
In my ascent. 1t seemed to me TO have
come from close by me, only a few
yards away. Was the cry a signal?
Had some aecomplice of the man seen
me on the ladder7 Would the cry
bring the man to the window? Per
haps. All, there he was at the window!
l felt his head above me. l heard the
sound of his breath! | could not look
of my head and might be lost Would
he see me? Would he peer into the
darkness? No; he went away. He had
seen nothing. l felt rather than heard
him moving on tiptoe in the room, and
l mounted a few steps higher. My
head reached to the level of the win
dow sill; my forehead rose above it;
my eyes looked between the opening
in the blinds, and l saw
"a man seated at Mile. Stangerson's
little desk writing His back was turn
ed toward me. A candle was lit before
him, and he bent over the flame, the
light from it projecting shapeless shad-
ows. l saw nothing but monstrous,
STOPPING back.
mile. Stangerson herself was not
there! Her bed had not been lain on!
Where, then, was she sleeping that
night? Doubtless in the side room |
with her women. Perhaps this was |
but a guess. must content myself |
with the joy Of finding the man alone |
l must be calm to prepare my trap.
But who, then, is this man writing
there before my eyes, seated at the
desk. as if he were in his own home? /
If there had not been that ladder I'M
der the window, if there had not been
those footprints on the carpet in the
gallery, If there had not been that open
| might have been led to L
think that this man had right to be t
there and that he was there as mat
ter of course and for reasons about
which as yet | knew nothing. But
there was no doubt that this mysteri-
)us unknown was the man of the yell
ow room, the man to whose murder
JUS assault Mile. Stangerson without
him had had to submit. If ,
could but see his face! Surprise and I
.apture him! IL
If l spring into the room at this 9
moment he will escape by the right I
land door opening into the boudoir, or, I
rossing the drawing room, he viii a
each the gallery and shall lose him.
have him now, and in five minutes
nore he'll be safer than if l had him
n a cage What is he doing there,
lone in Mile. Stangerson's room? =
What is he writing? descend and
lace the ladder on the ground Dad
Y Jacques follows me. We re-enter
he chateau l send Daddy Jacques
} wake NJ Stangerson and instruct
i'm to await my coming in Mile
room and to say nothing
efinite to him before my arrival.
ill go and awaken Frederic Larsan.
IS a bore to have to do It, for l
lould have liked to work alone and
have carried off all the honors of
lis affair myself right under the very
)se of the sleeping detective But g.
addy Jacques and NJ. Stangerson are =
d men, and am not yet fully de
,loped might not be strong OF
Rough Larsan is used to wrestling CO
i'd putting on the handouts, He In
'ened his eyes. swollen with sleep a.
ady to send me flying without in the =
ast believing in my reporters fan =
es, had to assure him that the y
an was there.
+" That's strange he said. I thought NJ
Il him this afternoon inNParis.'
He dressed himself in haste and
med himself with revolver. We
ole quietly into the gallery.
:" Where is hep Larsan asked
+" In Mile. Stangerson's room
And Mile. Stangerson? eff
She IS not in there ur
" Let's go in to
: Don't 80 there. On the least -
,rm the man will escape. He has
Ut ways by which to do 1.-THE door, an
e window, the boldoir or the room COZ
which the women are sleeping bel
I'll draw him from below mis-
And if you fail? If you only sue thi
I'd in woupding him he'll escape
ain without reckoning that he is
'tainly armed. No; LET me direct the
petition, and LII answer for every {
ng.' tor
AS you Ike he replied, with, fairly act
I'd grace XII
Then after satisfying myself that cur
tha windows of tho two on Ilariae STA