The evening world., 1914-02-09

their windows even earlier
than usual. They were eager 70 know the
exact reason Of the disturbance during
xahs night. Thsy soon heard about the
outrage at the Cerdogne Bridge. and
they we're already asking one another
for details from door TO door when they
saw big Roubion running like mad
toward the Cours National
They tried in vain to stop and auss-
ton HIM. Then they followed HIM to
Monsieur 10 Mares door. where he rang
with all his might. N. Jules. stiil more
than half aislesp. came to the window.
He saw Roubion standing utterly dis
trauGht and went down to let him In.
Three minutes later they both came out
again. and n. Jules looked - terribly
clustered - big Roubion himself.
They walked with great strides toward
the Black Sun without answering any
body who spoke to them. Ten or twelve
persons came after them. recruiting
others a. they went along. But every
one had to walt outside the door OF the
Wuuo tu0 Nl6yoI ono AsooSsOh 49,
tered by tho great archway.
Almost at the same time good Old DR..
Honorat appeared upon the scene. hav.
Ing been fetched by an ostlsr from the
Black Sun. Or. Honorat won't into the
inn. but the ostler remained with the
crowd. and told them what had hap
pened. This was how Saint Martin-des-
Bots learned that Blondel. tho CONNER
cial traveller. had been found hanged.
like Lombard and Camus. And soon the
whole village was standing In front OF
the inn. filling the Rue Neuve from one
side to the other.
To avoid this crowd. which was kept
outside the barroom door by the VII
lage cr!er-nicknamed Daddy Drum-the
visitors who were In hurry to leave
the inn and the place went out at the
back. by the side OF the parish school:
and this also WAS the means OF exit
adopted by the Mayor and Roubion.
who. three-quarters OF an hour later.
left by roundabout road for the sta
ton. where they were to meet NJ. Her
ment de Meyrentin. the examining Mag
istrats Of Belle able.
NJ, de Meyrentin, who had heen In
formed during the night OF the fresh
outrage on the line between Saint
Martin-des- Bots and Moulins. was ex-
pected to arrive by the half past train.
No trains would run beyond Salnt-Mar-
tin until after the line had been repaired.
While waiting for the Magistrates ar
rival tho Mayor and Roubon walked up
and down the platform with their heads
sunk on their chests, their hands be-
hind their backs, exchanging their
thoughts In a low voice. as though they
feared that they might be sped upon
and overheard. They were speaking OF
the Vautrins.
N. jules admitted that the Three
Brothers were not a credit to the dis
trict, and that they might be held re-
sponslble Cor q good many minor mis-
deeds. but he maintained that they were
incapable Of murder.
Dr. Honorat examined tho body and
so did the Mayor. NJ. Jules later turned
to the doctor with the startling state
ment:
The terrible marks Of stranguiation in
the cases OF Lombard and Camus were
made upside DOWN.
what? Upside down!"
ut is no Incredible" continued NJ.
Jules. that Il Is not surprising that you
did not observe IT, You saw the prints
OF the fingers. and that was enough for
you. Murder said you-'strangulation.
How could you be expected TO observe
that the print of the thumb was at the
bottom and that Of the other fingers At
the top? To do that you would have TO
imagine that the crime was committed
w . murderer working with his head
ooWuWAN1t~