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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1910)
THE MEDFORD MAIL T.RLBtTNE, MEDFORD, OKKOON, TlTKDAV, JANUARY 25, 1910, THE PERFUME OF ! HE LADY IK BLACK Ily GASTON l.KHOL'W Author of 0Tho Mystery of the VHlow Knout." CopyrlRht, lt)OD, by Hretnno CHAPTER XVIII. Larsan Is Now A.nonj Us! 11AT was Kunce talking about the "little ruby headed pln" 1 remembered that Mine. Edith bad told us that Old Bob w bad snatched one from ber baud when she bad playfully pricked him with It ou the night of the drama of the squaro tower. But what rcla tlon could there be between tbU pin u'nd the ndventure of Old Bob? Banco did not wait for us to ask him. but hurried on to tell us that this lit tle pin had disappeared at the same time ns Old Bob and that he had found It In the possession of "the hangman of the aea." fastening a sheaf of bank notes which the old uncle bad paid him on that fated night for bis com plicity and bis silence ' In having brought him In the Haher boat to the grotto of Itomio and Juliet, and Ranee told us. moreover, that Tulllo bad with drawn from the spot at dawn, greatly disquieted at the nonappearance of his passenger. Ranee concluded trium phantly: -A max. who gives a ruby plu to an other man in a boar cannot be at the same moment tied up in a potato sack in the square tower." . Dpon which Mrs. Ranee Inquired: "What gave you the Idea or going to fean RemoY Did you knpw that Tulllo was to be fouud there V" "I received tin nnonymons letter In forming me of his whereabouts." was I who sent It to you." said Rouletabllle tranquilly, and then, turn log to tbe rest or us. he said In frigid tones: "Ladles and gentlemen. 1 congratu late myself upon tbe prompt return of il. Arthur Unnce. At tbe preseut mo ment there aro rfuuited urouud this table all tbe members of tbe bouse party of the Chateau of Hercules for whom my corporeal demonstration of tbe possibility ot tbe 'body too many' may have some interest. 1 entreat you to give me your undivided attention." But Arthur Ranee halted him with a quick movement. "What Uo you mean by that 7' "I mean " declared Rouletabllle. "all those among whom we may hope to find Larson." The Lady In Black, who bad up to this time not uttered a word, arose trembling to her feet. "Do you mean." she breathed, ber yes tilled with agonized apprehension, "that Larsan is now utnoug usV" "I am sure of it." Rouletabllle re plied gravely. There was an awful silence, during which none of us dared look at each other. "I am sure of It. and there is no rea son why tbe idea should surprise you. m.-idunie. since It has not for u mo ment left your own mind. As to the rest of us. Is it not true, gentlemen, that tbe Idea has occurred to each one of us at tbe same moment ou tbe day when we took luncheon on the Terrace of tbo Bold when all our eyes were bidden by tbe black glasses? If 1 except Mrs. Ranee, who Is there among us that did not feci tbe pres ence of Larsan at that time? "That is u question which ought to be propounded to Professor Stanger son an well as to tbe rest of us." in terposed' Arthur Ranee Instantly, "for from the moment when we begin any course of reasoning along those lines I can see no object in not having the professor, who was at 'the table at luncheon with us on that day. here at this time also." 1 "Mr. Rancel" cried the Lady in Black. "Yes, I must repeat It. If you will pardon me," replied Edith's husband haughtily. "M. Rouletabllle was wrong to generalize when he said, 'All tbe members of the house party' " "Professor Btangerson is so Mr from us In spirit that 1 have no need of bis presence here. Although Pro fessor Stangurson bad lived with us In the chateau, be was uut one of us lu regard to feeling tbe prexence of Lursau on that day And l.ursan Is here among us." But 1 launched out. and. forgetting that I had promised Mme. Edith to defend Old Bob. I started In to attack blm for tbe pleasure of proving Rou letabllle In tbe wrong, and. besldps, I felt Edith would not bear rancor against me for very long. "Old Bob," 1 began, "was also at that luncheon on tbe terrace, and you take blm entirely out of your calcu lations on account of this little ruby pin. But of what use la this little pin to prove to us that Old Bub was rowed away by Tulllo, who waited for him at the orifice of a gallery Reading from tbo shaft to tho sea, If wp cannot discover how Old Bob could, as be said, have gone by way of tbe shaft, which we found closed from above and on tbe outside?" "Which you found closed, you mean," returned Rouletabllle, nxlng bts eyes upon me witb a Htrauge ex pression, which somehow embarrassed me. "I, on tbo contrary, found the Vjlmft open. But I had tind time to ruBitto the abaft and And mi tbaMr liud been opened," "And to close It again'" I cried. "And why did you eloso It? Whom did you wish to decclvo?" I lie pronounied these two words with ' n contempt so crushing that the blood ! rushed to my face. I nrose. Uvcry eye was tunicd upon me, ami ns 1 re membered the rudeness with which Rouletabllle hint ttvnted me n little while ago before Darzae I had tbe horrible feeling that every eye was suspecting me nccuslug me. Yes: I felt myself entirely wrapped around by the atrocious fnucy lu tbe mind of each and all that 1 might be Larsan, 1! Larsan: 1 looked nt each one In turn, "ltoiili'tnhlllo!" I cried madly, feeling my voice almost smothered in my throat. "You do not. you cauiiot sus-pect"- At this moment n pistol shot sound j cd outside, very near to the square i tower. We nil leaped to our feet, re . memberlng the order given by tbe re ! porter tu the thrve servunts to Ore upou any one who should attempt to go out of tbe square tower. Edith ut tered a cry utul trt:d to run out of tbe rtHim. but Rouletabllle. who bad not j made so much as a gesture, calmed ber , with u word. I "If nny one had drawn upon him." ' bo said, "tbe three men would have j tired together. That pistol shot was merely a signal a direction for me to ; begin." i Turning to me. he continued: "M. Salnclalr. you ought to know t that I never suspect any person or j anything without previously having satisfied myself upon the "ground of ' pure reason." Larsan is heiv among us. and the power of pure reason Is going to show him to you. So. be seat ed npiin. if you please, and do not take your eyes from me. for 1 am go lug to begiu on this paper the cor porenl demonstration of the possibili ty of 'the body too many. " First of all. he Investigated to make Bure that the bolts of the door behind him were closely drawn; then, return- in to the tub e, tie tooc ud a com-' pass. "I have tbe intention of making my demonstration." he said, "along the same lines .on which the "body too ! many' has produced ltseir. It will he thereby ony tbe more irrefutable.' And with his compass be took upon M. Darzac's drawing the measure of the radius of tbe circle which repre i sented the space occupied by the Tow j er of the Bold, su that he was lumu j diately afterward able to trace tl same circle Uin u piece of wulte pa i per which be bad fastened with copwr I bended nails to another drawing I board. ; When the circle was traced Itnuleta I blHe. putting don u his i-ompass. pick- eil up iti tlnv dish of red paint and i asked M. iiiirzac whether he recog nized it as the coloring matter be had used. M. Darzac replied that, to the best of bis Itellef. It was the same paint which he had mixed for his wash drawing. A good hair ot tbe paint bad dried up lu tbe iMittont ot the dish: hut. ac cording to tbe opinion expressed by M. Darzac. tbe part which remained would upon paper give nearly the same tint with which he bad "wash ed" tbe drawing of tbe peninsula of Hercules. "No one has touched It." Mid Roult tabllle very gravely, "and nothing has beeu added to It save a single tear. Besides, you will see that a tear more or less In the paint cup would detract nothing from the value of my demon stration." Thus saying, he dipped the brush in tbe paint and hfjmu carefully t "wash" all the space occupied by the circle which he bad previously traced When be had Uulshed he looked at bis watch and said: "Yon may see. ladles and gentlemen. :bat the coating of paint which cov ers my circle is neither more nor les thick than that which cover the cir cle of M. Darzac. It Is almost the same thing the same tint." , "Dpdoubtedly," rejoined M. Durac "But what does all this signify? i was certainly In enough of an III hu mor when I found rtie state It wns in Old Bob had ruined my drawing hr letting his skull roll over It." "We are there!" spoke up Roulet bille quick as n tlab. And he lifted from the bureau the "oldest skull of the human nice." He turned It over and showed tbe crimsoned Jaws to Darzac Theu be arose, holding tbe skull In tbe croob of bts rfni). nua went Into the alcove lu the wall, lighted by a large window aud crossed by bars, which had been a loophole for cannon In tbe ancient times and which M. Darzac had used as a dressing room There be struck n match and lighted a lamp ailed with spirits of wine which stood upon u little table. Lpou tbls lump he set a little pot which he bad previously tilled with water. The skull still lay In tbo crook of hU arm. CHAPTER XIX. Two Robert Darzacs. UK more he explained tbe less we understood. But now what was this dread feeling which came , over us? Why T did we all suddenly recoil with a sin gle movement? Wby were the eyes of M. Durzuc wide with a new terror? Why did the Lady In Black-Arthur Ranee I myself utter tbe same syl lable, a name wblcb expired on our Hps "Larsan?" Where hud we seen blm? Where bad we discovered blm this time, we who were guzlug at Rouletabllle? Ah. that profile in the red shadow of th approuchlug twilight, that brow In tlx background of the alcove upon wtilcii tbe sunset rnys stream ns did the dawn on ilp morning of the crime. Oh, that stern jaw, bespeuking an Iron will, which appeared before u. not, as lu the light of day, gentle though u little bitter, but evil und tjaentenlng: Hojv like Jlguletubille wns'to Lursau' ' TiowTn thnT moment the son resembled bis father! it was I.nrsan'8 very self! Another transformation. At a moan from his mother llonietabl'io cinue out of hN funereal frame nit.t appeared before us as a tmndlt. and lie Hur ried toward us he was Rouletabllle once more. .Mme. Edith, who had never seen larsan, could uot under stand. She whispered to me, " hat Is going on?" Rouletabllle was there before us, with his hot water lu the casserole, n napkin and his skull, Atid he washed the skull. It wns soon done. The paint disappeared, lie made us bear witness to the fact. He stood in muto contemplation before bis own drawing for tcu minutes, during which he had by a sign ordered us to keep silence. Suddenly be seized tbe skull In bL right hand and tossed It about so thai It rolled over the drawing. Then ht showed us tbe skull and bade us uo tlce that it bore no trace of ml palut Rouletabllle drew out bis watch again "The palut has dried upon the plau.'' he said. "It has taken a quarter of an hour to dry. Upou tbe 11th of April wc saw at 5 o'clock In the afternoon Darzac entering the square tower and coming from out of doors. But Darzac after bavlug entered the square tower and after having tasteucd behind blm tbe bolts of bis door, as be tells us, had uot gone out again uutll wo came to fetch him after II o'clock. As to Old Bob. wc bad seen him eutcr tbe squaro tower at 0 o'clock, and there was no palut on this skull then. "How was this paint, which has tak en only a quarter of au hour to dry upou this plan, fresh enough still more tbuu au hour after Darzac had left lt-to stain Old Bob's skull when the savant, witb a movement ot auger, threw It down ou the plan as ho en tered tbe rouud tower? There is only one explanation ot tbls. nud 1 dory you to find unother, and that Is that the Robert Darzac who entered the square tower at ft o'clock and whom no oue had seen golug out ngalu .was not the same as thu one who came to paint In tbe round tower before the arrival of Old Bob at d o'clock and whom we found lu the room lu the square tower without bavlug seeu blm enter there and with whom we went out. In one word, be was uot the same mau as tbe M. Darzac here pres eut before us. Tbe testimony of pure reasou shows that there are two per sonalities appearing in tbe guise ot Robert Durzac." And Rouletabllle turned bis eyes full upou tbe man whose name lie had ut tered. Durzac. like all the rest ot us, was under the spell of tbe luminous dem onstration of the youug rejiorter. We were ull divided betweeu u new hor ror and a boundless admiration. Here again we fouud tbe mark ot bis pro digious und logical mathematical In telligence. Darzac cried out: "it was thus, then, that be was able to enter the squure tower under a dis guise which made him without duub' my very Image. It was thus that b was able to bide behind the panel lr such a wuy that I did not see titer myself when 1 came here to write iu letters after quitting the Tower ot th Bold, where I left tuy drawing. Ilin bow could Pere Beruier have dptMiru to hliur "Doubtless." replied Rouleluhllle. who bad takeu tbe hand ot the 1-aily in Black In both bis own ns though he wished to give ber courage, "be must have believed that It wus your self." "That. then, explains tbe fact that when I reached my door 1 had only to push It open. Pere Bernler believed that 1 was within." "Exactly. That Is good reasoning." declared Rouletabllle. "and Pere Her tiler, who bad opened to Darzac No. 1, bad not troubled blmself about No. 'J since he did not see hltr, nny more than yourself. You certainly reached tbe square tower at tbe moment that Salnclnlr and myself called Bernler to the paniet to see whether he could help us in understanding the strange gestit illations of Old Bob. talking ar ihp threshold of the Barn.u tjrande to lin. ibtiiii i- iiuw t i in. t .unit, ii "But Mere Ilprnlprr cried M. Dar tno "She had gone luto ber lodgi Was she not astonished to see M. Dar zac come lu u second time when she bad uot seeu lilui go out?" "Let us suppose." replied tile youtn. reporter, with u sad smile "let us sup pose. 11. Durzac, that Mere Bernler at that tnomuiit, the moment when you passed luto your apartments that Is to say, when the second apparition or Darzac passed In wus otcuplvd Ui picking up some of the potatoes spilled upou tho floor, and we shall suppose the truth." "Well, then, 1 can congratulate my self on the fact tbut 1 am stilt upon earth." "Congratulate yourself, M. Darzac! Congratulate yourself!" "When 1 remember that as uoon as I entered my room 1 drew tbe bolts as 1 buve told you that 1 did, that 1 bo gan to work aud that this wretch was hidden behind my back. Why, he might have killed roe without ' hin drance!" Rouletabllle stepped close to Dar zac and fixed his eyes upon him with a look that seemed to read bis aoal. "Why did lie not kill you, then?" bo asked. "You know very well that ho was waiting for some one else," replied Darzac, turning bis face sorrowfully toward tho Lady in Black. Rouletabllle was now so closo to Darzac that their shadows on the floor looked like that of one strangely form ed being. The lad put his two bands on tbe older man's shoulders. "II. Durzuc," he suld, bis volco again clear aud strong, "I have a confession to malto to you. When 1 began to un derstand how tho 'body too many' hnd effected an entranco arid when 1 had discovered that you did nothing to un deceive us to regard to Jho hour pf 0 o'clock, at whUli wo liiid Vnevod-nl t which every one. rather, except my j self ucllcved-thnt you bad entered the ' square tower, I felt that 1 hud 'tbo right to suspect that the murderer was not the man who nt o'clock entered tho square tower under the form of Durtitc. 1 thought, on the contrary, that Darznc might be the true Dar zac and you might bo the false one. Ah. my dear Darzac, how 1 have sus. i pectod you!" I "That was madness." erlod Darzac. ! "If 1 did not tell you the exact hour nt which 1 entered the squaro tower It wns because the time was somewhat ! vague In my own mlud and I did not ! nttnch any Importance to It." ; "In such n milliner, M. Darznc." con I turned Rouletnblllo without paying any , attention to the Interruptions of his ' Interlocutor, the emotion of tho Lndy i In Black and our attitude, more thnn over tilled with terror- "In such a ; manner ns that you could have stolen I nwny tho true llarxnc when ho camo I from outside aud by your own careful ness and the too faithful help ot the Lndy lu Black could have taken bis I plnce and hnve been perfectly able to I defy detection of your nudnclous en terprise. This wns my Imnglnntlon only my Imagination, Dnrznc. Don't ' let It disturb you. But lu such a man ner ns tbls I hnd thought that, you being l.nrsnn. the man who was put In tbe sack was Darzac. Alt. the fancies tbnt I hnve hnd and tho useless suspl- ! clous!" . "Bnb!" responded Mathllde's hus band gloomily. "We are all suspicious ' here!" i Rouletabllle began speaking again. "You see, Darzac, thore are two I manifestations of Robert Dnrznc. To know which was the tme one and I which was the one which formed a ! disguise for Larsan my duty. Darzac tbnt which the power of pure reason showed me wns to examine without j fear or reproach both of these mani festations In nil Impartiality. Thus I ' beglu with you Darzac." i Darzac replied: "It does not matter since you sus pect roe no longer. But you must tell me Immediately who Is Larsan. 1 Inslt upon It 1 demnnd It." "We nil demand It and at ouce!" we nil cried, turning upon both of them. Mnthtldo rushed up to her child and placed herself In front of him ns If to protect blm. We felt the pathos of her attitude, but the scene i had endured too long, and we were beyond the limits .of patience. t "if he knows who Is Ijirsan let him speak out and . make an end of this!" exclaimed Arthur Rnnce. And suddenly. Just ns the thought 1 crossed my mind that I bad heard tho same cries of anger and Impntlcnco I two yenrs before nt the court of as i sizes, another pistol shot sounded out side the door of the squnro tower, and we were all so seized with con j stcrnatlon tbnt our nnger fell nwny in I a moment and we found ourselves not threatening Rouletabllle. but entreat I lng him to put an end as soon as pos : slble to this Intolerable sltuntlon. As soon us the second shot was I heard tbe countenance of Rouletabllle j changed completely. His face seemed transformed, and bis whole being ap peared to vibrate with a savage en I ergy. I Laying aside tbe half bantering mnn j ner which he had used toward M. ' I Dnrznc and which we hnd All found extremely disagreeable, he' gently re-, leased himself from the clasp of the Lady In Blnck. who still clung to him. walked toward the door, folded his arms and said: "You see. my friends. In an affair like this It does not do to neglect nny ; point. There were two manifesta tions of Robert Dnrzac which entered ' tliA uniinpii triivor Thorn worn two manifestations which came out. and j one or incp wns in ine sbck: i nni is i where one loses oneself. And even now 1 do not wish to make nny mis-1 tnkes. -Will Darznc. here present, per mit me to sny thnt 1 hnd a hundred excuses for suspecting him?" Then I thought to myself: "How un lnokv thnt ho did not mention his sus picions to me! would have told blm about I ho mnp of Australia." Darzac strode across the room and planted bimsulf In frout of tbe young reporter and said lu a tone nearly Imiudlble from auger: "What excuse? ask you whut ex cuses?" "You will soon understand, my friend," said the reporter, with tbe ut most calmness. "The first thing that I said to myself while 1 was examin ing the conditions surrounding your manifestation of Uirsuu was this: Nonsense! If he wore Larsan. would not Professor Httuigurson's daughter hnve perceived It?' That Is self evi dent, the common sense of that thought. Is It nut? But when I tried to look Into the mind of the lady who has become Mine, Darzac I discovered beyond u doubt, monsieur, that all tbo while she could not free herself from Just this fear- the fear thnt you might bo Larsan!" Mnthlldu. who m( fallen hnlf faint ing Into n chair, gathered strength enough to stun up and to protest against the words with a frightened, despairing gesture. As for M. Iiurzac, his faco was a picture of hopelchH anguish. (To be continued.) Notice Is hereby givon that tho undoreiffnod will apply nt the regular mooting of tho city council of Medford, Oregon, on February 1, 1010, fo licenuo to soil malt, vinoous and spirituous li quors in loss quantities than one- gal lon for a period of eix months, nt lot 11, block 20, in ifodford, Oregon. W. Itf. KENNEDY. Dated January 21, 1910, IliT! A T .T JM J jL JL J& J JE J6 I and see us in our New Quarters, 108 W. Main St, next door to York & Co. Realty Office. sRex Market Huth ft Pech Props. Phone 3071 REAL ESTATE Farm Land Timber Land Orehard Land Residences City Lots Orchards and Mining Claims Medford Room 10, Jackson ANNOUNCE1V LENT The Roguo Rivor Canning & Hvnpornting company will tlovotu Mondays nnd Thursdays of each weok to custom work in the tuiiti nfuctiirc of cider, applo buttor niul jollieh. I'hotm vour orders for nioo awuot cidor to 11X2. DolivorieH will he made op TuoHclnys nnd tfridiivn of ouch week. ROGUE RIVER CANNERY & FVAPORATING COMPANY Mill In West Medford. Phone 11X2. The JACKSON COUNTY REALTY COMP'Y 604 WEST TENTH STREET, OR 124 KING STREET. MEDFORD - - - - - OREGON Office In residence, corner West Tenth and Kino Streets. Always prepared to show you tho best Jack son county has In the real estate line from the unimproved land to tho best bearlno orchards, farm land or Mock ranches; also city property. The manager has had ten years' experience In the county, which will aid the prospective purchaser. Seeing Is knowing. We also have modern rooms to accommodate our patrons Following are Some of our Good Buys 16 acres iNowtowns and Spitz apples, $14,000 easy terms; just ready to bear. 10 acres Nowtown and Spitz apples,. 4-ycar-old trees; $5000, easy terms. Several nico small tracts near town just coming ii bearing. Realty Co County Bank Building RESOLVED The best resolution for you to tnnko is to come to us for your no.xt suit, if you want something uut of tho ordinary. U'o do the host work anil ohnrgu the lowest prices. W. W. EIFERT THE PBOOBkiHflrVB TAIL OB 360 acres 1 1-2 miles north of Eagle Point, $18,000, easy terms. 200 acres south Eagle Pomt, $10,000, easy House, two lots, well locat ed; price $1700. terms, improved. 293 acres near. QQal mines, $9000, easy terms, ONEY AKERS Nloo fi-ioom tnodurn lioimo, oleo trle light, hath, four bloolm from city park, for ouo woelt nt latino, One (i-ipom bungalow, roinplutod February 15; modern nuivoulonct'Hi well locntud; two bluetts from pnvo uumt; bargain nt fl'ltUO. $ 1 000 will hiimlli) It. Ouo 0-room house, oloctrlu lights, closo to sowor, half block from Main, (loud buy at 18G0. LOTfl OK LOTH Hensouublo j liccs. Wright & Allin 128 Uast Main Hlroet. BENSON'S BARGAINS 120 aoros in SamV Valley, 10 miles from Medford, 0 milon from Clold Hill, milufl from Enj;lo Point; partly cleared, can nil ho plowed; less than 2 acres wnHto; wo am offering thiH now nt $30 per ncro for ouiok sale; tonus. 10 ncres, 10 milt's north of Mod ford, 1 ti tnilo of HoukIo; B acres cul tivated, ! ncrrs in fruit trcos from I 2 to 10 years old; on 2 food county roadH; small house, liurn, woodshed, vj,'tnblo hotiso, henhouse, 2 wells; this can all ho easily oloari'd without a foot of wnstn laud; 2 acres in closed with woven wire feiiro. Prion $2100; terms. Let its show you some of our It aud 10-ncre tracts; theso tracts aro nt different stniics of dovnlopment, from raw land to honrini: nrnhnrd. If ; some of those don't suit you, you tiro i indeed hard to suit. i A ten-room houso, south frout, in dcMrnhlo neighborhood, fur .f'JlOft cash. Also iiRcntH for tho Sunny Ilnllif j orchard tracts of ten acres, Ilopkitm orchard. LOTS OF LOTS. Our firm owns 100 desirnhlu resi dence lots. Wo aro building house in ench of those additions. Wo wiU sell (hum on tho installment plntu Tho nvorneu price of thesu lots i $2"i0. Knsy payments, $2.r down nnd )?10 monthly. Wo nnticipnto raisini,' tho prico of lots when n few more houses nro completed. We do not hnliovn in hot-nir ntvumontH to sell proporty. For your pockethook'i. Hiike, tnko our tip. 1)0 IT NOW. Wo hnvo recently moved to our now quarters ovor FniitKrowors.r hnnk, Hiiilo 20.ri.200. Phono ML INSURANCE THAT INSURICS. . Wo linudlo no other kind. Pinto OlnsH, Automobile Fire. Benson Investment Company Also city proporty, noarly two acres, with good buildings,' well located, modern improvements. Prico $5500. Two lots, fine location, $1500. Sovoral acre tracts, fino lo cation to subdivjdo for lots .for salo.