The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-04-22
THRILLING MYSTERY STORY OF RUSSIAN

no. no."
do you think that IL there had been any
tick-tack then you would have heard it,
with all those persons talking in the
room?'
Il hear everything. I hear everything"
DID you go downstairs at the same time
those people did,"
mo. no; I remained near the general for
some time, until he was sound asleep"
And you heard nothing?"
Nothing"
"You closed the doors behind those per-
sons?'
"Yes, the door to the great staircase. The
door OF the servants stairway was con-
demned a long time ago; it has been locked
by me, alone have the key and on the
inside of the door opening into the generals
chamber there Is also a bolt which is always
shot. All the other doors of the chamber
have been condemned by me. In order to
enter any Of the four rooms on this floor
1t Is necessary now to pass by the door of
my chamber. which gives in the main
staircase"
Perfect. Then, no one has been able to
enter the apartment. No one had been in
the apartment for at least two hours ex-
cepting You and the general, when you
heard the clock work. From that the only
conclusion is that only the general and
you could have started it going"
What are you trying to say?' Matrena
demanded. a~stounded.
Il wish to prove to you by this absurd
conclusion, madame, that il is necessary
~never-never, you understand? Neyer-to
reason solely upon even the most evident
external evidence when those seemingly
conclusive appearances are in conflict with
certain moral truths that also are clear as
the light Of day. The light Of day for me,
madame. is that the general does not desire
to commit suicide and. above all, that he
rvAtt11 n nhDAaA H. 49, ~
suicide by cl0ckwork. The light of day for
me is that YOU adore your husband and
that you are ready to sacrifice your life
for his"
Nov! Here.' exclaimed Matrena, whose
tears, always ready in emotional moments,
flowed freely. but, Holy Mary. why do
you speak to me without looking at me?
What is it? What is it?'
Don't turn. Don't make a movement!
You hear-not q move! And speak low,
very low. And don't cry, for the love of
Gcdp'
But you say at once . the bou-
quet! Come to the generals room!'
Not a move. And continue listening to
me without interrupting.' said he, still in
clining his ear. and still without looking
at her. 1T is because these things were
as the light of day to me that say to
myself. 1t is impossible that it should be
impossible for a third person not to have
placed the bomb in the bouquet. Someone
is able to enter the generals chamber even
when the general Is watching and all the
doors are locked"
"oh, no. No one could possibly enter. l
swear it to you"
As she swore it a little too loudly. Rou-
letabille seized her arm so that she almost
cried out, but she understood instantly that
it was TO keep her quiet.
II tell you not to interrupt me, once for
ALL"
But. then, tell me what you are looking
at like that"
"I am watching the corner where some
one Is going to enter the generals chamber
when everything is locked, madame. Do
not novel"
Matrena, her teeth ehattering, recalled
that when she entered Rouletabille's cham
Der she had found all the doors open that
communicated with the chain of rooms: the
young mans chamber with hers, the dress
ing-room and the generals hambe She
tried, under Rouletabille's look, to keep
calm, but In spite of all the reporters ex-
hortations she could not hold her tongue.
But which way? Where will they en-
teri"
by the door,"
(which door,"
THAT of the chamber giving on the SER
wants stairway"
why, how? The key! The bolt"
"They have made a key"
But the bolt Is drawn this side"
"They will draw it back from the other
side"
What! That is impossible"
Reuletabille laid his two hands on Mat
rena's strong shoulders and repeated, de-
taching each syllable. "rhey will draw it
back from the other side"
1T Is impossible. repeat IT."
MADAME, your Nihilists haven't invented
anything. 1t is a trick much in vogue with
sneak thieves in hotels. All it needs is a
little hole the size Of a pin bored in the
panel of the door above the bolt"
God" quavered Matrena. Il don't I'M
d~erstand what you mean by YOU little hole.
Explain to me, little domovoi."
"Follow me carefully, then" continued
Rouletabille, his eyes all the time fixed
elsewhere. 1.-THE person who wishes to en-
ter sticks through the hole a brass wire that
he has already given the necessary curve to
and which Is fitted on its end with a light
noint of steel curved inward. With such an
instrument 1t is child's play, if the hole has
heen made where 1t ought to be. to touch
the holt on the inside from the outside, pick
Inc knob on it, withdraw 1t. and open the
door If the bolt is like this one, a small
door BOLT"