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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1909)
Professional Directory of Wallowa County The ysiery of ! i , . . .... THOS. M. DILL R. L LONG COUNTY SURVEYOR H. E. MERRYMAN SURVEYOR AND ENGINEER fU. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor, Mining and Metallurgical Engl- neer. Enterprise. Oregon. ATTORNEY-AT-LAW TSie Yellow Room i Office first door south of New X j $ Civil. Hydraulic and Irrigation j Fraternal Bldg., Enterprise, Ore. j k.nt,iue.siing. Enterprise, Ore. M By GASTON LEROUX rfc CHAPTER III. "A Mm Bu Passed Like a Shadow Through th Blinds. A.LF an boor later Rouletabllle and I were on the platform of tbe Orleans station, awaiting tbe departure of tbe train which was to take us to Eplnay-sur-Orge. On tbe platform we found M. do Marquet and bis registrar, wbo repre sented tbe judicial court of Corbel!. M. de Marquet bad spent tbe night In Paris, assisting In tbe final rehearsal at tbe Scala of a little play of which be was the unknown author, signing himself simply "Castigat Rldendo." M. Marquet was beginning to be n "noble bid gentleman." "Generally he was extremely polite and fall of gay humor and In all bis life bad had but one passion that of dramatic art Because of the mystery which shrouded It tbe case of tbe yellow room was certain to fascinate so the atrical a mind. At tbe moment of meeting him I beard M. de Marquet say to tbe regis trar with a sigh: "I hope, my dear M. Malelne. this builder with his pickax will not de stroy so fine a mystery." "Have no fear." replied M. Malelne. "Bis pickax may demolish tbe pavilion perhaps, but it will leave our case In tact. I have Bounded tbe walls and examined tbe ceiling and floor, and I know all about it. 1 am not to be de ceived." Having thus reassured his chief, M. Malelne, with a discreet movement of the bead, drew M. de Marquet's atten tion to ns. Tbe face of that gentle man clouded, and as be saw Roule tabille approaching, hat In band, he sprang Into one of the empty carriages, saying half aloud to his registrar as be did so, "Above all, no journalists!" M. Malelne replied In the same tone, I understand," and then tried to pre vent Rouletabllle from entering tbe same compartment with tbe examining magistrate. "Excuse me, gentlemen, this com partment is reserved." "I am a journalist, monsieur, engag ed on the Epoque." said my young friend, with a great show of gesture and politeness, "and I have a word or two to say to M. de Marquet." "Monsieur Is very much engaged with tbe Inquiry be has in hand." "Ah! His Inquiry, pray believe me, la absolutely a matter of Indifference to me. I am no scavenger of odds and ends," be went on, with Infinite contempt in bis lower lip; "I am a the atrical reporter, and this evening I shall bare to give a little account of tbe play at the Scala." "Get In, sir, please " said the regis trar. Rouletabllle was already In the com partment I went In after him and seated myself by bis side. The regis trar followed and closed tbe carriage door. M. de Marquet looked at blm. "Ah, Bir," Rouletabllle began, "you must not be angry with M. Malelne. It Is not with M. de Marquet that I de sire to have the honor of speaking, but with M. "Castigat Rldendo.' Permit me to congratulate you personally, as well as tbe writer for tbe Epoque." And Rouletabllle. having first Introduced me, introduced himself. ' M. de Marquet. with a nervous ges ture, caressed his beard into a point "Tbe work of the dramatic author may Interfere." he said, after a slight hesitation, "with that of the magis trate, especially in a province where one's labors are little more than rou tine." "Oh, yon may rely on my discretion !" cried Rouletabllle. The train was lu motion. "We have started!" sold tbe examin ing magistrate, surprised at seeing us atlll in the carriage. "Yes, monsieur, truth has started," said Rouletabllle, smiling amiably, "on its way to tbe Chateau du Glandler. A fine case, M. de Marquet, a flue case!" "An obscure, incredible, unfathom able. Inexplicable affair, and there is Onlv one thin I fenr M Rouletabllle. that the journalists will be trying to I explain it" My friend felt this a rap on his , knuckles. , I "Yes." be said simply, "that is to be 'feared. They meddle in everything. As ;for my interest, monsieur, I only re ferred to it by mere chance the mere chance of finding myself in the same ; train with you and in tbe same com partment of the same carriage." "Where are you going, then?" asked ,M. de Marquet "To tbe Chateau du Glandler." re plied Rouletabllle, without turning. "You'll not get in, M. Rouletabllle!" I "Will you prevent me?" said my friend, already prepared to fight t "Not I! I like tbe press and Jour nalists too well to be in any way dis agreeable to them, but M. Stanger son has given orders for his door to Joe closed against everybody, and It is ell guarded. Not a Journalist was able to pass through the gate of tbe Glandler yesterday." M. de Marquet compressed hls ilps COPYRIGHT. 1908, BY BRENTANO'S and seemed ready to relapse Into obstinate silence. He only relaxed a little when Rouletabllle no longer left him in ignorance of the fact that wo were going to tbe Glandler for. tbe purpose of shaking hands with an "old and intimate friend," M. Robert Dar xac a man whom Rouletabllle bad perhaps seen once in his life. "Poor Robert!" continued the young reporter, "this dreadful affair may be his death he is so deeply in love with Mile. Stangerson. It is to be hoped that Mile. Stangerson's life will be saved." "Let us hope so. Her father told me yesterday that if she does not recover it will not be long before be joins ber in tbe grave. What an Incalculable loss to science bis death would be!" "Tbe wound on her temple is serious, is it notr "Evidently, but by a wonderful chance It has not proved mortal. Tbe blow was given with great force." "Then it was not with the revolver she was wounded." said Rouletabllle, glancing at me In triumph. M. de Marquet appeared greatly em barrassed. "I didn't say anything. I don't want to say anything, I will not say any thing," he said. And be turned toward his registrar as if he no longer knew us. But Rouletabllle was not to be so easily shaken off. He moved nearer to tbe examining magistrate and, draw ing a copy of tbe Matin from his pock et, he showed it to blm and said: ' "There is one thing, monsieur, which I may inquire of you without commit ting an indiscretion. You have, of course, seen the account given in tbe Matin? It is absurd, is it notr "Not in the slightest monsieur." "What! The yellow room has but one barred window, the bars of which have not been moved, and only one door, which had to be broken open, and the assassin was not found!" "That's so, monsieur; that's so. That's how the matter stands." Rouletabllle said no more, but plung ed into thought A quarter of an hour thus passed. Coming back to himself again, be said, addressing the magistrate: "How did Mile. Stangerson wear ber hair on that evening?" "I don't know." replied M. de Mar quet "That's a very important point." said Rouletabllle. "Her hair was done up in bands, wasn't it? I feel sure that on that evening, the evening of tbe crime, she bad her hair arranged in bands." "Then you are mistaken, M. Roule tabllle." replied the magistrate. "Mile. Stangerson that evening had ber hair drawn up in a knot on the top of her head, her usual way of arranging it her forehead completely uncovered. 1 can assure you, for we have carefully examined the wound. There was no blood on tbe hair, and the arrangement of it has not been disturbed since tbe crime was committed." "You are sure? You are sure that on the night of tbe crime she had not ber hair in bands?" "Quite sure," the magistrate contin ued, smiling, "because I remember tbe doctor saying to me while be was ex amining tbe wound: 'It Is a great pity Mile. Stangerson was in the habit of drawing ber hair back from her fore head. If she had worn it in bands the blow she received on the temple would have been weakened,' It seems strange to me that you should attach so much Importance to this point" . "Oh, if she had not ber hair in bands I give it up," said Rouletabllle, with a despairing gesture. "And was the wound on ber temple a bad one?" be asked presently. "Terrible." "With what weapon was it made?" "That is a secret of the Investiga tion." "Have you found the weapon what ever It was?" The magistrate did not answer. "And the wound in the throat?" Here the examining magistrate read ily confirmed the decision of the doc tor that, if the murderer had pressed her throat a few seconds longer. Mile. Stangerson would have died of stran gulation, "The affair as reported in the Matin," said Rouletabllle eagerly, "seems to me more and more inexplicable. Can you tell me. monsieur, bow many openings there are in the pavilion? I mean doors and windows." "There are five," replied Monsieur de Marquet, after having coughed once or twice, but no longer resisting the desire he felt to talk of the whole of the Incredible mystery of tbe affair he was investigating. "There are five, of which the door of the vestibule is tbe only entrance to tbe pavilion a door always automatically closed, which cannot be opened, either from the out er or inside, except with the two spe cial keys which are never out of the possession of either Daddy Jacques or M. Stangerson. Mile. Stangerson had no need for me, since Daddy Jacques lodged in the pavilion and be cause, during the daytime, she never left her father. When they, all four, rushed Into the yellow room, after breaking open the door of the labora tory, the door in the vestibule re- I malned closed as usual and of the two ' t A 1 . . . -r j iw upeuiuK ii 1'Huuy jacques naa one in his pocket and M. Stangerson tbe other. As to tbe windows of the pavilion, there are four, tbe one win dow of the yellow room and those of the laboratory looking out on to the country, the window in the vestibule looking Into the pnrk." "It Is by that window that he escap ed from the pavilion!" cried Rouleta bllle. "How do you know that?" "How? Oh, the thing Is simple enough! As soon as he found he could not escape by the door of the pavilion his only way out was by the window In the vestibule, unless he could pass through a grated window. The win dow of tb yellow room Is secured by Iron bars, because It looks out upon the open country; the two windows of the laboratory have to be protected in like manner for the same reason. As the murderer got away I conceive that be found a window that was not bar redthat of the vestibule, which opens on to the park that Is to say, into the Interior of the estate. There's not much magic in all that." "Yes," said M. de Marquet. "but what you have not guessed Is that this single window In the vestibule, though It has no iron bars, has solid Iron blinds. Now, these Iron blinds have remained fastened by their iron latch, and yet we have proof that the murderer made his escape from the pavilion by that window! Traces of blood on the inside wall and on the blinds as well as on the floor, and footmarks, of which I have taken the measurements, attest the fact that the murderer made his escape that way. But then, how did he do It, seeing that the blinds remain ed fastened on the inside? He passed through them like a shadow. But what is more bewildering than all, is that it is impossible to form any idea as to how the murderer got out of the yellow room or how be got across the laboratory to reach tbe vestibule!" "Could that window have been closed and refastened after the flight of tbe assassin?" asked Rouletabllle. That is what occurred to me for a moment, but It would Imply an accom plice or accomplices, and I don't see" After a short silence he added : . "Ah, if Mile. Stangerson were only well enough today to allow of her being questioned!" Rouletabllle, following up his thought, asked: "And the attic? There must be some opening to that?" "Yes; there is a window or, rather, skylight in It, which, as it looks out toward the country. M. Stangerson has had barred, like the rest of the windows. These bars, as in the other windows, have remained intact, and the blinds, which naturally open in ward. Lave not been unfastened. For the rest, we have not discovered any thing to lead us to suspect that the murderer had passed through the at tic." "It seems clear to you, then, mon sieur, that the murderer escaped no body knows bow by tbe window in tbe vestibule?" "Everything goes to prove it." "I think so, too," confessed Rouleta bllle gravely. After a brief silence be continued: "If you have not found any traces of the murderer in the attic, such as the dirty footmarks similar to those on the floor of the yellow room, you must come to tbe conclusion that it was not be wbo stole Daddy Jacques' revolver." "There are no footmarks In tbe attic other than those of Daddy Jacques himself," said tbe magistrate with a significant turn of his head. Then, after an apparent decision, he added, 'Daddy Jacques was with M. Stanger son In tbe laboratory, and it was lucky for blm he was." "Then what part did bis revolver play in the tragedy? It seems very clear that this weapon did less harm to Mile. Stangerson than it did to the murderer." The magistrate made no reply to this question, which doubtless embar rassed blm. "M. Stangerson," he said, "tells us that tbe two bullets have been found in the yellow room, one embedded in the wall stained with tbe Impression of a red hand a man's large hand and tbe other in the cell ing." "Oh, oh, in the celling!" muttered Rouletabllle. "In the ceiling! That's very curious! In tbe celling!" lie puffed awhile In silence at his pipe, enveloping himself In tbe smoke. When we reached Eplnay-sur-Orge 1 had to tap him on tbe shoulder to arouse him from bis dream and come out on to tbe platform of tbe station. There the magistrate and bis regis trar bowed to us and, by rapidly get ting Into a cab that was awaiting them, made us understand that they had seen enough of us. "How long will it take to walk to the Chateau du Glandler?" Rouleta bllle asked one of the railway porters, j "An hour and a half or an hour and three-quarters easy walking," the man replied. j Rouletabllle looked up at tbe sky . and, no doubt finding its appearance satisfactory, took my arm and said: "Come on! I need a walk. It was BURLEIGH & BOYD ATTORNEYS-ARAW f Practice In all State Courts and I Interior Department. Careful at- X teuiion to all business. $ n V SHRAM A V . ... I il vrn MJTrnnnlrp la n ita uunu Kiac Practice in State and Federal a courts and Interior Department. r 1 C. T. HOCKETT. M. D. t t ;; ruiMUAiH AMI MKQtUN ;; Office upstairs in Bank Build- , , ing. Ind. Home phone lu office T j and residence. J bit of luck our falling lu with that examining magistrate and his registrar, eh? What did I tell you about that revolver?" His head was bent down, he had his hands in his pockets, and he was whistling. After awhile I heard him murmur: Toor woman!" "Is It Mile. Stangerson you are pity ing?" "Yes. She's a noble woman and worthy of behvsr pitied a woman of a great, a very great, character, I Imagine I Imagine." "You know her, then?" "Not at all. I have never seen her but once." "Why. then, do you say that she Is a woman of great character?" "Because she bravely faced the mur derer, because she courageously de fended herself, and, above all, because of the bullet In the celling." CHAPTER IV. "In the Bosom of Wild Nature." mHE Chateau du Glandler is one of the oldest chateaux In tbe He de France, where so many building remains of the feudal period are still standing. Built origin ally In the heart of the forest lu tbo reign of Philip le Bel, It now could be seen a few hundred yards from the road leading from tbe village of Salnte Genevleve to Monthery. A mass of Inharmonious structures, it is dominat ed by a donjon. It was in this place, seemingly be longing entirely to tbe past, that Tro fessor Stangerson and bis daughter In stalled themselves to lay the founda tions for the science of the future. When M. Stangerson bought the es tate, fifteen years before tbe tragedy with which we are engaged occurred, tbe Chateau du Glandler bad for a long time been unoccupied. Another old chateau lu tbe neighborhood, built In the fourteenth century by Jean do Belmont, was also abandoned, so that that part of tbe country was very lit tle inhabited. Some small houses on the side of the road leading to Corbcll, an inn, called the Auberge du Don Jon, whlcb offered passing hospitality to wagoners these were about all to represent civilization In this out of the way part of the country, but a few leagues from tbe capital. But this deserted condition of tbe place bad been the determining reason for the choice made by M. Stangerson and bis daughter. M. Stangerson was already celebrated. He hud returned from America, where bis works had made a great stir. Tbe book which be bad published at Philadelphia, on tbe "Dissociation of Matter by Electric Action," had aroused opposition throughout tbe whole scientific world. M. Stangerson was a Frenchman, but of American origin. Important mat ters relating to a legacy bad kept blm for several years In the United States, where he bad continued tbe work be gun by him in France, wbltber be bad returned in possession of a large for tune. Mile. Stangerson was at tbe time when her father returned from Amer ica and bought tbe Glandler estate twenty years of age. She was ex ceedingly pretty, having at once the Parisian grace of ber mother, wbo bad' died In giving ber birth, and all tbe splendor, all the riches of the young American blood of ber parental grand father, William Stangerson. A citizen of Philadelphia, William Stangerson had been obliged to become natural ized in obedience to family exigencies at tbe time of bis marriage with a French lady. Twenty years of age, a charming blond, with blue eyes, milk white complexion and radiant wltb divine health, Mathllde Stangerson was one of the most beautiful marriageable girls in either tbe old or tbe new world. It was ber father's duty, In spite of the inevitable pain whlcb a separation from her would cause him, t think of her marriage, and be was fully pre pared for it. Nevertheless he burled ; himself and his child at the Glandler, at the moment when bis friends were expecting blm to bring ber out into so RESULT OF MILL MEETING. From Flora Journal. At the mejtlng of the stockholders of the Flora Milling Co., Monday af ternoon, the following officers were elected: F. S. Johnson, president; L. Austin, manager; W. 11. Baker, treasurer; T. M. Gllroore, secretary; J. Doran. director. The Milling com pany so far in erecting the mill have been to the -expense of $9000. The building is number one and the ma chinery Is as good as new. The ar rangement In building could not be better. Everything Is lovely and hi a week will be making flour. I CHAS. A. AULT f PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON J Residence 1 block east of Pres- f X byteriun Church. Office in Ber- 2 land Building. Enterprles. 5 Questioned by her friends, the young girl replied calmly, "Where could we work better than In this solitude?" For Mile. Stangerson had already be gun to collaborate with her father In his work. It could not at tbe time be Imagined that her passion for science would lead her so far as to refuse all the suitors who presented themselves to her for over fifteen years. The young girl's extreme reserve did not at first discourage suitors, but at tbe end of a few years they tired of their quest. One alone persisted with tender te nacity and deserved the name of "eter nal fiance," a name bo accepted with melancholy resignation; that was M. Robert Darzac. . Mile. Stangerson was now no longer young, and It seemed that, having found no reason for mar rying at five and thirty, she would nev er find one. Suddenly some weeks before the events with which we are occupied a report to which nobody attached any importance, so incredible did It sound was spread about Paris that Mile. Stangerson bad at last consented to "crown" tbe inextingulshablo flame of M. Robert Darzac! It needed that M. Robert Darzac himself should not deny this matrimonial rumor to give It an nppearance of truth, so unlikely did It seem to be well founded. One day, however,' M. " Stangerson, as be was leaving the Aoudemy of Science, an nounced that the marriage of his daughter and M. Robert Darzac would be celebrated lu the privacy of the Chateau du Glandler as soon as be and bis daughter had put tbe finishing touches to their report summing up their labors on the "Dissociation of Matter." The new household would In stall Itself In the Glandler, and the son-in-law would lend his assistance in tho work to which the father and daughter had dedicated their lives. The sclent iflc world had barely had time to recover from tho effect of this news when It learned of the attempted assassination of mademoiselle. CHAPTER V. In Which Joseph Rouletabllle Mikes Remark to N. Robert Darzac Which Produces Its Little Effect. OULETAB1LLE and I had been walking for several minutes by the side of a long wall bound lug the' vast property of M. Stangerson uud hud already come wltulu sight of the entrance gate when our attention was drawn to an Indi vidual who, half bent to the ground, seemed to be so completely absorbed In wbat be was doing as not to have seen us coming toward him. At one time be stooped so low as almost to touch tbe grouud. At another he drew himself up and attentively examined the wull. Then he looked Into the palm of one of his bands and walked away with rapid strides. Finally he set off running; still looking Into the palm of his baud. Rouletabllle bad brought me to a standstill by a ges ture. "Hash! Frederic Lursau Is at work! lie n't let ua Ol.iturfo him!" Rouletabllle had a great udmlratlon for the celebrated detective. I had never before seen blm, but I knew blm well by reputation. At that time, be fore Udiilptabllle had given proof of bis unique talent, I.arsun was reputed as the most skillful unraveler of the most inyfiterlotiH and complicated crimes. Ills reputation was"worId wide, nnd the police of London and even of America often called blm to their aid when tbelr own national Inspectors and detectives found them selves nt the end of their wits and re sources. No one was astonished, then, that the bead of the Paris police bad at the outset of the mystery of the yel low room telegraphed bis precious subordinate In London, where be bad been sent on a big case of stolen se curities, to return with all baste. Fred eric had made all speed, doubtless knowing by experience that If he was Interrupted lu what be was doing It was because his services were urgent ly needed In another direction, so, as Rouletabllle said, be was that morning already "aj work' We soon found , W. C. KETCHUM j; DENTIST - ENTERPRISE X f'ite Reriand Building. Home T i Independent Phone. X X COLON R. EBERHARD t ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR t T Practices In all Courts and In- I terlor Dept. Notary Public. J Ind. Home phone. Joseph. X E. T. ANDERSON. M. D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Calls attended to day or night. Home phone. Enterprise, Ore. out In what It consisted. What be was continually looking at fcn tbe palm of his right hand was nothing but his watch, the minute band of whlcb he appeared to be not ing Intently. Then he turned back, still running, stopping only when he reached the park gate, where he again consulted his watch and then put it away In bis pocket shrujrglng his shoulders with n gesture of discourage ment, ne pushed oikmi the pork gate, reelosrd and locked it. rulsed bis head and throush the burs perceived us. Rouletabllle rushed after blm, and I followed. Frederic Larsan waited foe us. "M. Fred," said Rouletabllle. raising his bat and showing the profound respect, based on admiration, which the young reporter felt for the cele brated detective, "can you tell me whether M. Robert Darzac Is at the chatenu nt this moment? Here Is one of his friends of the Paris bar, who desires to speak with blm." "I really don't know, M. Rouleta bllle," replied Fred, shaking hands with my friend, whom he had several times met In the course of bis difficult Investigations. "I have not seen him." "The concierges will be able to in form us. no doubt?" said Rouletabllle, pointing to tbo lodge, the door and windows of which were close shut. "The concierges will not be able to give you any informatlco, M. Rouleta bllle." "Why not?" "Because thoy were arrested half an hour ago." "Arrested!" cried Rouletabllle. "Then they are the murderers!" Frederic Larsan shrugged his shoul ders. "When you can't arrest the real mur derer." he said, with an air of supreme Irony, "you can always Indulge In the luxury of discovering accomplices." "Did you have them arreBted, M. Fred?" "Not 1! I haven't had them arrest ed. In the first place. I am pretty sure thut they have not had anything to do with the affair and then be cause" "Because of what?" asked Rouleta bllle eagerly. "Because of nothing," said Larsan, shaking his head. "Because there were no accom plices!" said Rouletabllle. "Abu! You have an Idea, then, about thto matter?" Bald Larsan, looking at Rouletabllle Intently, "yet you have seen nothing, young man you have not yet gulned admission here!" "I shall get admission." "I doubt It. The orders are strict." "I shall gain admission if you lt me see M. Robert Durzac. Do that for me. You know we are old friends. I beg of you, M. Fred. Do you re member the article I wrote about you on. tbe gold bar case?" to be continued.) SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I A mysterious at tempt Is made at midnight to mur der Mile. Stangerson, daughter and assistant of Prof. Stangerson, who Is at work on his theory of tbe dlssoch a'lon of matter In a pavilion near his chateau. Pistol shots and the young woman's crle for help are heard behind the lockel and bolted door of her chamber, the yellow room. The cries are answered by Professor Stan i j t ,;ud Daddy Jacques, an aged servant. Aided by . the concierges, Bernler and his wife, they break open the door and find Mile. Stangerson twoonlng and half strangled, with a wound In ber temple, but find no trace of her assailant. The only possible outlet from the yellow room b the door. The weird cry of the "bete du bon Dleu," a cat belonging to -Mother Angenoux, a recluse, Is beard Just before Mile. Stangerson's cries. II Joseph Rouletabllle, a reporter-detective, Is introduced to the reader by M, Salnclulr, the narrator of the story. Rouletabllle declares the revolver was fired by Mile. Stan gerson, wounding her assailant in the hand.
