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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1910)
I THE MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY (5, 1010. 6 IDE PERFUME OF THE IflDY IS BLACK Ily fi.VSTON I.KKOUX, Author of "Tho Mystery of (lie Yellow Itoflm." Copyright, 1000, hy Mretnno's CHAPTER. V. The Castle of Horrors. TTTjllEN lie alights nt the Caravan 14 1 station, whatever the reason, y I the traveler might almost fan I or himself In tlie garden of Ilesporldes. whose golden Apples ex cited tho desire of the conqueror of the .Veraean lion. When, nfter ullghtlrig from the train, wo came to the bank of the sea our eyes were struck by n datsllng sil houette of a castle standing upon the peninsula of Hercules, which tho works accomplished on the frontier have, alas, nearly destroyed. The ob lique rays of the sun which were fall ing upon the walls and tho old square tower made the reflection of the tower glisten In the waters like a breast plate. Tho tower seemed to stand guard Ilka an old sentinel over tho bay of Garavan before us like a bluo lake of Are. Upon the lower steps of the stair "way which led to a tower was the charming figure of Arthur fiance's wife, who had been the beautiful Edlfh Prescott The voice of the young wife was her greatest charm, although the grace of her entire being was perfect. Sho greeted us In the simple fashion tho fashion of the Ideal hostess. Uoulcta bllle and myself made an effort to tell her that we bad Intended to look for a stopping place in the village. Sho lifted her shoulders with a gesture that was almost childish and 6a Id that our rooms were all ready for as. "Come, come! You bavent seen tnt chateau. Oh. I will show you la Louvo another time. It is the only gloomy corner In the plnee. It makes me shiver. But, do yon know, I lovo to shiver! Oh. M. Itouletabllle. you'll tell me stories that will make me hlrer someday, won't you?' And, chattering' thus, she glided In front of us In her white gown. She made a singularly pretty picture In this garden of the orient between the threatening old tower and the carved stone flowers of the mined chapel. And at our left Is the inunfense tow er of the twelfth century, wnlcb. Mme. Edith tells us. the natives call "la Ixmve" and which neither time uur war nor tempest has been able to de stroy. It is Jnst as it appeared In 1107. when the Saracens were able to make no headway In their attacks upon it. It was there that Mine. Edith bad chosen to have her roe,ms. 1 stopped looking nt the objects around s to loolrat tho people. Arthur Itanco 'was gazing at Mme. Darzac when my eyes fell upon them, and Itouletabllle seemed to be lost in thought and far. far away from us all. Darzac and 8tangersoh were talking in low tones. The same thought was Oiling the minds of each one of these people, both those who kept silence and tboso who If they spoko were careful to say nothing which could give a clow to the thoughts. We bad passed through the postern and found ourselves In another court Opposite us was the old donjon, Its appearance was more than impressive. It was high and square, and It was on account of Its shape that It was known as the square tower. And as this tower occupies the roost impor tant corner of the fortification it was also known as the corner tower. "That tower yonder in the opposite corner," went on Edith, 4ia the Tower of Charles the Bold, so called because he was the duke who furnished the plana when it became necessary to transform the defenses of the chateau so as to mako them resist the attacks of tho artillery. Old Bob has made this tower his study. I have never been able to refuse old Bob anything lie wanted. Old Bob," she added, with a charming smile, "Is my uncle. That Is the name be taught me to call him by when I was a little thing. Ho went to Paris on the 5 o'clock train, but be will bo back tomorrow. Ah, here Is uii oublletto!" 'And she showed us In the center part 'of the second court a small shaft which she culled romantically an oubli ette and above which a eucalyptus tree, with its white blossoms and its leafless limbs, leaned like a woman, "over a fountain. Since we had entered tho second court wo understood better the topo graphical plan of tho Fort of Hercules. The castlo hod been built In 1140 by tho seigneurs of Mortola. In order to Isolate it completely from the land they had made an island of the pen In milu by cutting away the narrow isth mus wbtcb connected lr with the main land. The Isthmus in tho course of tho centuries had again resumed its old form, tho drawbridge had been thrown down, and tho trenches had filled up. Tho walls of the Chateau of Hercules followed the outllno of the penlusula nud were built upon the rocks, and tho latter In some places extended over tho waters in such a manner that a little ship might havo taken shelter beneath them, fearing no enemy while thus protected. This building was marveloualy well adapted for defense. The fort was cntored by way of the north gate, which guarded the two towers, A uud A', conuected by u pus euguwny, Theso. towers, which hud suffered greatly during the last alogea of the (lenooso, had boon repaired to some slight extent some time after j wurd nud had shortly before we came to Kocben Houses boot) made habitable by Mrs. Kuuce. who used tluun us serv ants' quarters. The front of tho tow er A served ns tuo Keepers lodge. A ! little door opened In the side of tho low- or upon the passageway and enabled I nuy one looking out to observe nil those , who came or went. The entrance to the castle was closed only by a little gnto which any one might open nt will. This entrance was the only ouo by which it was possible to get Into tho chateau. As 1 have said, lu pass lug through this gate one found him self In the first court, closed In on nil sides by the walls and the towers. As to tho towers B, B and B", which had for a considerable time longer pre served their uniformity nud their first height and the pointed roofs of which had been replaced by a platform de signed to support the artillery, they had later been razed to the height of the boulevard parapets, and their shape soemed almost like that of a half moon. Tho new castle on the plan Is nt C C. La Louvc. as I have said, had not been changed at all. but still reared Its dark hulk against the blue waters of tho Mediterranean, a strange, weird figure, looking thousands of years old. I have speken also of the ruins of tho chapel. The noclent commons (shown on the map by W), near he parapet j between B and B', had been transform ed into the stables and the kitchens. One could only penetrate into the second lnclosure through the postern (Indicated by H), which Mrs. Arthur Ranee called "the tower of the gar dener" and which was actually only a pavilion, formerly defended by the tower B" nnd by another tower situ ated at C and which had entirly dis appeared at the time of the erection , of the new castle (shown at O CO. A moat and n wall started from B" to ( abut on I at the Tower of Charles tho j Bold, advancing at C In the form of a spur 10 tue miusi or me ursc court nnd entirely Isolating the court, which they completely closed in. The moat ir'll exists, wide nnd deep, but tlx M. Stnngerson was In "la Inivo," lu the rear of tho Itanco suit. Mme. Kdlth herself showed us Jo our rooms, which recalled to us nothing of that nmgnllleout past. They had boon swept and garnished with a care that was almost touching. As I have al ready said, tho two Rleeplng rooms were separated by n Utile parlor. ' After dressing for dinner t called ! Koulctnhlllu to ask him If bo were ready. There was no answer. I wont Into his room nnd discovered with surprise that ho had already gone out. 1 went to tho window of his room. 1 which opened, like my own, upon tho , empty court. ' 1 But what was that dark shadow? that ho would never touch wine ngaln. Banco hud already known Miss Pros cott's unohvtho duo old mail who boro the ulcUnaiiio of "Old Bob" nnd wlu was ns celebrated for bis advoitiurcs as an oplotor ns for bis discoveries as a geologist, llo seemed as gentle ns a sheep, but ho had hunted many a, tiger through tho pampas of South America, lie had spout half his life south of the Itto Negro among tho Patagonlaus In seeking for the man of the tertiary period, or, nt least, for his fossils the man who must hnvo been contemporaneous with the I in menso mammoths and mastodons. He generally returned from these o.tpodl tlous with a respectable collection of Standing erect nt tho prow of a little ttttins nnd femurs nnd also with a rich tn of v h 1 n K n ft u H atp t t nt wnm v 1 1 1 ' keeping rhythmic ttma with tho two oars. I recognised the form of Lar snn. Why should 1 try to deceive my self by saying even for ouo moment that 1 was wrong? Ho was only too easily to be recognized. Oh, yea; It was ho! It was "tho great Fred," as wo used to call him when we looked upon him only ns the wonderfully resourceful nnd brilliant secret service ngent. Tho boat, silent, with Its motionless statue at tho prow, passed beneath the windows of the square tower nud to the Bhorcs of the Polnto do Garibaldi. The man stood erect, his arms folded, his face turned toward tho tower, a diabolical appari tion on tho threshold of tho night. display of skins of wild beasts, which showed that the old snvnut knew how to uso more modem arms than tho stone ax nnd bow and arrow. All theso details were given mo Inter by Arthur itanco himself. Ho bad been ono of "Old Bob's" pupils, but had not seen him In many years until he made tho acquaintance of Miss Edith. Miss Edith, upon tho occasion when Arthur Banco had been presented to her, hnd seemed somewhat more mel nncholy than she usually was, because she had received dlsquloting news of her uncle. Tho latter for four years buck hnd been absent In Patagonia. In Ills last letter he bad told his nleco i that ho waa HI and that ho feared that wmcn slowly crept up behind him nnd he should uot llvo to see hor again. enveloped aim in Its shades. Three months inter, howover. having llhM hit hit.t ..nlttnt., I 1 ' . . .. . " " . uuoum i iu i!ivu iuj . roceivcu nnomcr iciicr, sno suuucniy eyes and beheld two figures in tho I resolved to go nil alouo to South Amor- Court of Charles the Bold. They were near the llttlo door of tho square tow er. Ono of these forms the taller was supporting the other nnd speak ing in tones of entreaty. The smaller attempted to break away, as if to throw Itself into tho sea. I heard tho voice of Mme. Darzac say; uTIq "careful. It. fiance. 1'ou shall not leave mo this evening." itoulctabllle's voice answer ed: "Ho must land upon the bank. Let mo hurry to the bank." Mathlldo spoko again. Her voice was terrible to hear. "1. forbid you to touch that man." ' HOCMJZ. mem mat mmrm, lea and Join her uncle. During those three mouths Important events had transpired. Miss Edith hnd been touched by the remorso of Arthur Banco, and when Miss Prescott de parted for Patagonia no ono was as tonished to find that "Old Bob's" old I pupil was going to accompany her. If I Ihn nncmrrtmAnf tfrta tint nttlfln nn. ferrcd to wait for the consent of tho geologist. Miss Edith nnd Arthur Banco were met nt St. Louis by tho young womnu's uncle. Banco, who hnd not seen him In years, declared to him that he had, grown youuger. When his nleco Informed htm of her engage ment the uncle manifested great de light. The three returned to Philadel phia for tho wedding. Miss Edith had never been In France, nud Arthur de termined that their honeymoon should be spent there, And It was thus that they found, as will ho told a llttlo later, a scientific reason for locating In tho neighborhood of Mentonc, not exactly In France, but a hundred me ters' from the frontier, in Italy, at Bochers Bouges. PLAN 01? THE CASTLE OF HERCULES. Tho gong hnd sounded for dinner, and Arthur Banco was coming to look for us, so wc repaired to "In Louve," In the lower ball of which we wcro to dine. When we Vorc nil assembled Mme. Edith asked whether any of us had noticed a little boat which bad mado tho circle of the fortress and In which a man was stnndlng erect. The man's strange nttltudo bad struck her. she said, then added: "Oh, I know who it la. for I know the fisherman who rowed tho boat. He Is a grent friend of 'Old Bob.' " "Ah. then you know tho fisherman, mndnme?" asked Routctabllle. "Flo comes to the castle sometimes to sell fish. Tho peoplo around the village havo given him nn odd name, which I don't know how to say in their Impossible patois, but I can trnnslato it They call him 'the hangman of tho sea.' A pretty name, isn't It?" Tho repast was ono of tho gloomiest in my recollection. Tho specter of Lnrsan hovered before our minds' eye; we felt bis actual prcsonce. (To be continued.) LOS ANGELES IS READY FOR MEET 0I Preparations (or Aviation Week Completed Splendid Show Is Promise.. Many Visitors Aro Expected. LOS AN'GKLKS, Jtui. O.-l'iopurn. lions for aviation wook in tliia oilv hnvo proceeded to the stage whom all j tho wild-oyod enthusiasts in tho aviation nnd aeronautical world, as well ns thu absolute ornnlts, holiovo tlial it is tli oir turn to gut into tho game and denioustrnto what thoy can ' do, or, rather, what thoy think they can do. Tho Los Anngolen mooting in to bo unite different from anything in tho why of an exhibition of nirornft Hint ' has ovor boon nt tempted. WhoreuH the Kttronunn moots havo boon more-' ly competitions hotween aviators in tests for distntico flights, high flights, ' and flights for speed and duration, i tho Los Angeles moot will go much ' further than this in (hat it will have every type of aircraft yot itivontod, that lias shown any clement of huo cess, and will afford tho flrnt oppor tunity for tho gront nvintor to got together nnd not only discuss nmong themselves tho many advantages and disadvantages of all tho various in ventions, but to see them nil together on one Held. Tho valtto of this to tho men who aru making aviation hjstory now cannot ho ovor-estimateu. THE ROGUE RIVER LAND1 COMPANY NO. 11 NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE 0 flora nn ospotMiilly irood foothill orchard for u low price nnd. on good tornw. In Uicho dayu of advancing priccH, it will pay to look into this. ' It puyia to deal with thj "Man Who Knows." When tho l?oguo River Land Company wold tho Tronwon & Guthrie orchard at Eaglo Point to tho priro winning owners, four years ago, tho salesman, w. M. Holmes, nnsuitjd (lie purchasers those Spitnonborgtrcos would prodtrvo tho world's best apples, and subsequent erwita prove tho soundness of his judgniont. By tho way: Did St ever occur to you that moat of tho men who hare won out in tho Rogue River Valley, bought thoir win ning orchards through tho Roguo Rivor Land Com pany? W. M. Holmes, Manager, is always at your aorvicc for a good buy. ' TAXIDERMrST AND FURRIER Send your trt)Vns to me for mount ing. Dig gaan heeds, fish, birds and rantnaanls Rtennted true to nature hy improved mefhtdn. I do tanning, mnkr fiw rugs, tnnke, remodel nnd cleat fur garment. Express nnd mail or- dars proBoptly attended to. C. M. HARRIS. 405 Washinntoa Street, Portland, Or Toleplwn Mwin 3(100. WE DONT DELIEVE YOU CAN BEAT TH-: J Thirty-two aora a this tract, fi ' fmit land, abeut two miles fttj a shipping pont. The buJldiw conmnt of a fire -root box kmwo, I good-wired barn, rte. There art ' 12 nsres of 5 oafl ft-year-eld a; pi en. inertly Ncwtowea, with eow- laereuil poaen pheatod! beiww. as finer. Mi three ootoh of Konng poor fares und mm fussily orchard. Fwr orefl in alfalfa. Six or oicht aw f Wnber, fit ly oak mid laurel. There in a pumping plaat 0 Cko plooo which mpplitfi water for & gardeo and nMalfo, eiRipp4l witfe rnootiae ongiuc. Alat 40 oda fm a good Bchooi. T3ob rural Mnfl do 'livory aud taWpihone. Price $10,fi00. Terms. W. T. YORK & CO. A New Year of Prosperity Is assured to you if you pur chase your groceries of Rex Grocery Co. -trails had been toru down all the length of the new castlo and replaced hy the walla of the castle Itself. Tho pavement of the Inner court tho Court of Cbarlea the Dold, as tho old guidebooks of thu country call It still was a little higher than that of the outer court. Ono could penetrate into the old castlo only (designated by F) by a llttlo door. K. The old In habitants ot the country never spoke of it except as the square tower, to distinguish It from the round tower, or tho Tower of Charles the Dold, as they sometimes called the latter. A parapet similar to the one which closed in the outer court was built be tween the towers B", P and L. closing tho inner court as firmly as tho outer. We have seen that the round tower had been In years past torn down to half Its former height. This tower bad a number of Uny chambers above and an Immense octa gon chamber below. One descended Into this chamber by a steep and nar row stairway. The celling of tho oc tagon room wns supported by four great cylindrical pillars, and from Its walls opened three enormous embra sures for three enormous cannons. It was of this room that Mme. Edith had wished to make a dining room. Tho great windows bad been enlarged aud mado square, although they wero still guarded by barriers of iron. This tower (shown on tho map at L) was tho spot chosen by Mme. Edith's uncle for a workshop and tho abiding place of bis collection. Of thp chateau of tho seventeenth century, known as tho now castle, they had only repaired two bedcham bers on the first floor and a llttlo sit ting room for guosts. It was to these; that Ilouletablllo and myself wero as signed. The Darzacs wero lodged ip the square tower. Two rooms tho windows of which opened upon the balcony were reserved In this square tower for "Old Bob." who slant there. I descended to the court, whero l found Ilouletablllo alone. I spoko to blm, but bo did not answer. I went on Into tho outer court, and I saw Darzac coming toward mo In greatest excitement II 0 called out: "Did you see him V "Yes. I saw him," I replied. "And sho my wife lo you know whether sho saw him?" "She saw him too. Sho was with Iloulotablllo when he passed." Robert Darzac was trembling like an nspeu leaf, no told mo that when ho saw tho boat and Its passbngcr bo bad rushed like a madman to tho shore, but that before be had reached tho Polnto do Garibaldi the bark bad disappeared as If by enchantment. Darzac left me and hurried away to seek Mathlldo. But he returned gloomy and grieved, The door of his wife's apartment was locked, and she would not see blm. Wo. remained together upon tho ram part gazing at tho night which bad carried Larsan away. In order to change tho direction of his thoughts I asked him a few questions regarding tho Itanco household. Ho told mo that, Bfter tho trial at Versailles, Itanco had returned to Philadelphia, and tbero one evening at a family dinner party bo bad fouad himself seated besldo a fbaralng young girl who had Interest ed blm at once by a display of inter est in Ilteraturo and art. Somowbat haughty, yet gentlo and melancholy, sho at onco recalled to the young man tho heroines of Walter Scott, who, ho soon learned, was her favorlto author. From tho first sho attracted htm strongly. But Itanco bad so far for got himself as' to drink too much wine, no never realized what his offenso had boon, but bo knew that ho must havo committed some frightful breach of politeness when Miss Edith, with boigbtcned jcoior, requested mm nor to address her again. Upon tho mor row he wont to call on tho young lady and nntroated her uurdon. uweariuc At Prices Strictly in Keeping with the Quality of 4 Our Stock which is Unexcelled A Trial-will Convince You Resolved That with the beginning of the New Year, I will trade where I receive the greatest value for my money In other words iERex Market Huth & Pech Props. Phone 32?1 Allen Reagan The Square Deal Grocers P. O. Hanson. Tom Moffat We make any kind and stylo of windows. Wo carry glass of any size on hand. Medford Sash & Door Co. 1 Wire to Us to Wire for "You" Why not got, in touch with tho best electrical con tractors in Medford H Electrical work is too impor tant and too "particularr" to bo left to anyone but exports, and wo will not only do tho work skillfully and perfectly, but supl tho best and most reliable of appliances. Southern Oregon Electric Company TEL. 1091. 38 , jUTH CHtAPB I