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.