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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1909)
The M The By GASTON LEROUX CHAPTER IX. Reporter and Detective. lOTJLETABILLE, Dnrzae and 1 went back toward the pavilion. At some distance from tbe building tbe reporter made us stop and. pointing to a small clump of trees to tbe right of us, said: "Ttaat'B where the murderer came from to get into the pavilion." As there were other patches of trees of the same sort between the great oaks. I asked why the murderer had chosen that one rather than any of tbe others. Rouletabllle answered me by pointing to tbe path which ran quite close to the thicket to the door of the pavilion. "That path ls as you see, topped with gravel." be said. "The man must have passed along it going to tbe pa vilion, since no traces of his steps have been found on tbe soft ground. The man didn't bnve wings; he walked, but he walked on the gravel, which left no impression of his tread. The pravel has, In fact, been trodden by many other feet, since the path Is tbe most direct way between tbe pavilion and tbe chateau. As to the thicket, made of the sort of shrubs that don't flourish In the rough season laurels and -fuchsias It offered the murderer a sufficient hiding place until It was time for him to make his way to the pavilion. It was while hiding In that clump of trees that he saw M. and Mile. Stangerson and then Daddy Jacques leave the pavilion. Gravel has been spread nearly, very nearly, up to the windows of the pavilion. The footprints of a man parallel with the wall, marks which we will examine presently and which I have already seen, prove thnt he only needed to make one stride to find himself In front of the vestibule window, left open by Daddy Jacques. The man drew himself up by his hands and en tered the vestibule." "After all. it Is very possible," I said. "If I did not reason as I do In re gard to this gravel," Itouletabllle went on, "I should have to assume a bal loon. So don't say a thing is possible when it could not be otherwise. We know now how the man entered by the window, and we also know the moment at which he entered during the B o'clock walK of the professor and his daughter. The fact of the presence of the chambermaid, who bad come to clean up the yellow room, in the laboratory when M. Stangerson and his daughter returned from their walk at half past 1 permits us to af firm that at half past 1 tbe murderer was not in the chamber under tbe bed unless he was in collusion with tbe chambermaid. What do you say, M. Durzac?" M. Darzac shook bis head and said he was sure of the chambermaid's fidelity and that she was a thorough ly honest and devoted servant , "Besides," he added, "at 5 o'clock M. Stangerson went into tbe room to fetch his daughter's hat." "There is that also," said Rouleta bllle. "That the man entered by tbe win dow at the time you say, I admit," I said, "but why did he shut tbe win dow! It was an act which would nec essarily draw tbe attention of those who had left It open." "It may be tbe window was not shut at once," replied the young reporter. "But if he did shut the window it was because of the bend ia the gravel path A dozen yards from tbe pavlllqn and oa account of the three oaks that are Crowing at that spot." "What do you mean by that?" asked M. Darzac, who had followed us and listened with almost breathless atten tion to all that Itouletabllle had said. "I'll explain all to you later on, mon sieur, when I think tbe moment to be ripe for doing so. But I don't think I have anything of more importance to say on this affair if my hypothesis Is justified." "And what Is your hypothesis 7' "You will never know if it does not turn out to be the truth. It is of much too grave a nature to speak of it so long as. it continues to be only a hy pothesis." "Have you at least some idea as to who the murderer is?" "No, monsieur, I don't know who the murderer is. But don't be afraid, M. Robert Darzac. I shall know." I could not .but observe that M. Dar zac was deeply moved, and I suspect ed that Rouletabille's confident asser tion was not pleasing to him. Why, I asked myself, if be was really afraid that the murderer should be discover ed, was he helping tbe reporter to find him? My young friend seemed to have received the same impression, for he said bluntly: "M. Darzac, don't you want me to find out who the murderer was?" "Oh, I should like to kill him with my own hand I" cried Mile. Stanger son's fiance, with a vehemence that mated me. "I believe you," said Rouletabllle Bravely. "Bat you have not answered my question." We ware passing by tbe thicket of Which the young reporter bad spoken to us a minute before. I entered it And pointed out evident traces of a ysiery Yellow man "who bad- been "hidden there? Rouletabllle once more was right. "Yes, yes," he said. "We have to du with a thing of flesh and blood, who uses the same means that we do. It'll nil come out on those lines." Having said this, he asked me foi the paier pattern of tbe footprint which he had given me to take care of and applied it to a very clear foot mark behind the thicket "Aha!" he said, rising. I thought he was now going to trace back the track of the murderer's foot marks to the vestibule window, but he led us instead far to the left saying that it was useless ferreting In tbe mud and that he was sure now of the road taken by the murderer. "He went along the wall to the hedge and dry ditch, over which he Jumped. See, just In front of the little path leading to tbe lake, that was bis near est way to get out." "How do you know he went to the lake?" "Because Frederic Larsan has rot quitted tbe borders of It since this morning. There must be some impor tant marks there." A few minutes later we reached the lake. It was a little sheet of marshy wa ter, surrounded by reeds, on which floated some dead water illy leaves. The great Fred may have seen us ap proaching, but we probably Interested him very little, for he took hardly any notice of us and continued to be stir ring with his cane something which we could not see. "Look!" said Rouletabllle.. "Here again are tbe footmarks of tbe escap ing man. They skirt tbe lake here and Anally disappear Just before this path, which leads to the high road to Epl nay. The man continued his flight to Paris." "What makes you think that?" I asked, "since these footmarks are not continued on the path?" "What makes me think that? Why, these footprints, which I expected to find!" he cried, pointing to the sharply outlined imprint of a neat boot "See!" And be called to Frederic Larsan. "M. Fred, these neat footprints seem to have been made Blnce the discovery of the crime." "Yes, young man, ves. They have been carefully made," replied Fred without raising his bead. "You see. there are steps that come and steps that go back." "And the man had a bicycle!" cried the reporter. Here, after looking at tbe marks of tbe bicycle, which followed, going and coming, the neat footprints, I thought I might Intervene. "Tbe bicycle explains the disappear ance of tbe murderer's big footprints," I said. "Tbe murderer, with bis rough boots, mounted a bicycle. His accom plice, the wearer of the neat boots, bad come to wait for blm ou tbe edge of the lake with the bicycle. It might be supposed that tbe murderer was working for the other," "No, no!" replied Rouletabllle, with a strange smile. "I have expected to find these footmarks from tbe very beglnnlug. These are not the foot marks of the murderer." "Then there were two?" "No; there was but one, and he bad no accomplice." "Very good! Very good!" cried Fred eric Larsan. "Look!" continued the young report er, showing us tbe ground where It had been disturbed by big and heavy heels. "The man seated himself there and took off his hobnailed boots which he bad worn only for the pur pose of misleading detection, and then no doubt, taking them away with him, he stood up in his own boots and quietly and slowly regained the high road, holding his bicycle in bis band, for be could not venture to ride it on this rough path. That accounts for the lightness of tbe impression made by tbe wheels along it in spite of the softnesB of the ground. If there bad been a man on tbe bicycle the wheels would have sunk deeply into the soil. No, no; there was but one man there the murderer on foot." "Bravo! Bravo!" cried Fred again. And. coming suddenly toward us and planting himself in front of M. Rob ert Darzac, he said to him: "If we had a bicycle here we might demonstrate tbe correctness of the young man's reasoning, M. Robert Darzac. Do you know whether there is one at the chateau?" "No," replied M. Darzac, "there is not. I took mine four days ago to Paris, the last time I came to tbe chateau before the crime." "That's a pity," replied Fred very coldly. Then, turning to Rouletabllle, he said: "If we go on at this rate we'll both come to the same conclusion. Have you any Idea as to how tbe murderer got away from the yellow room?" "Yes," said my young friend, "I have an idea." "So have I," said Fred, "and it must be the same as yours. There are no two ways of reasoning in this affair. 1 1 am waiting for tbe arrival of my chief before offering any explanation to the examining magistrate." "Ah! Is the chief of tbe police ' comlngJT ... -. of Room COPYRIGHT. 190S. BY BRENTANO'S "Yes, this afternoon. He is going to ummon before the magistrate in the aboratory all those who have played my part in this tragedy. It will be very interesting. It is a pity you won't be able to be present." "I shall be present," said Rouleta bllle confidently. "Really you are an extraordinary fellow for your ape!" replied the de tective In a tone not wholly free from Irony. "You'd make a wonderful de tective If you had a little more meth odIf you didu't follow your Instincts ind that bump on your forehead. As I have already several times observed, M. Rouletabllle, you reason too much. You do not allow yourself to be guid ed by what you have seen. What do you say to the handkcrchl?f full of blood and the red mark of tbe hand on the wall? You have seen the stnln on the wall, but I have only seen the handkerchief." "Bah!" cried Rouletabllle. -"The murderer was wounded in the hand by Mile. Stangerson's revolver." "Defective observation defective ob servation! The examination of the handkerchief, the numberless little round scarlet stains, the impression of drops which I found In the tracks of the footprints at tbe moment when they were made on the floor, prove to me that the murderer was not wound ed at all. M. Rouletabllle, tbe mur derer bled at tbe nose!" The great Fred spoke quite seriously. However, I could not refrain from ut tering an exclamation. The reporter looked gravely at Fred, who looked gravely at him. And Fred Immediately concluded: "The man allowed the blood to flow into hlB hand and handkerchief and dried his hand on the wall. The fact Is highly Important," he added, "because there is no need of his being wounded In the hand for blm to be tbe mur derer." Rouletabllle seemed to be thinking deeply. After a moment be said: "There is something a something. M. Frederic Larsan, much graver than the misuse of logic, tbe disposition of mind in some detectives which makes them in perfect good faith twist logic to the necessities of their preconceived Ideas. Beware of Judicial error, M. Fred; it will trip you up." And, laughing a little in a slightly bantering tone, his hands in his pock ets, Rouletabllle fixed his cunning eyes on the great Fred. Frederic Larsan silently contemplat ed the young reporter who pretended to be as wise as himself. Shrugging his shoulders, be bowed to us and moved quickly away, bitting the stones on his path with his stout cane. Rouletabllle watched his retreat and then turned toward us, his face Joyous and triumphant. "I shall beat him!" he cried. "I shaU beat tbe great Fred, clever as he is! I shall beat them all!" And be danced a double shuffle Suddenly he stopped. My eyes follow ed his gaze. They were fixed on M. Robert Darzac, who was looking anx iously at tbe Impression left by his feet side by side with tbe elegant footmarks. There was not a particle of difference between them! We thought he was about to faint His eyes, bulging with terror, avoided ns, while hU- right band, with a spas modic movement, twitched at the beard that covered his honest, gentle and now despairing face. At length regaining bis self possession, he bowed to us and, remarking in a changed voice that he was obliged to return to the chateau, left us. "The deuce!" exclaimed Rouletabllle. He also appeared to be deeply con cerned. From bis pocketbook be took a piece of white paper, as I had seen him do before, and with his scissors cut out the shape of the neat boot marks that were on the ground. Then he fitted the new paper pattern with the one be bad previously made. The two were exactly alike. Rising, Route tabllle exclaimed suddenly, "The deuce!" Presently he added, "Yet I believe M. Robert Darzac to be an hon est man." He then led me on the road to tbe Donjon inn, which we could eee on the highway by the side of a small clump of trees. CHAPTER X. mHE Donjon Inn was at least two centuries old, perhaps old er. Under its signboard over the threshold a man with a crabbed looking face was standing, seemingly plunged in unpleasant thought, if the wrinkles on bis fore bead and tbe knitting of hla brows were any Indication. When Rouletabllle and I were close to him be deigned to see us and asked us In a tone anything but engaging wheth er we wanted anything. He was no doubt the not very amiable landlord of this charming dwelling place. As we expressed a hope that he would be good enough to furnish us with a breakfast he assured us that be had no provisions. "You may take us in," Rouletabllle said to him. "We are not pollcemea," "We Shall Have to Eat Red Meat Now." Professional Directory of Wallowa County - - - - - A..-......- . ..... . . . . . . . . . r THOS. M. DILL ATTORNEY-AUAW Office first door south of New t i Fraternal Bide.. EnterDrlse. Ore. ; 4MMHtH4HH BURLEIGH & BOYD I ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW I Practice in all State Courts and Interior Department. Careful at- X ten lion to all business. ? !D. W. SHEAHAN LAWYER ENTERPRISE ? Practice in State and Federal Courts and Interior Department. C. T. HOCKETT. M. D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Office upstairs in Bank Build ing, bid. Home phone in office and residence. VI'm not afraid of the police, f'm not afraid of any one," replied the man. I had made my friend understand by a sign that we should do better not to insist; but being determined to enter the inn, he slipped by the man on the doorstep and was in the common room. "Come on," he said. "It is very com. fortable here." A good fire was blazing in tbe cbtra ney, and we held our hands to tbe warftth It sent out. It was a morning in which the cjiproach of winter was unmistakable. Tbe room was a toler ably large one, furbished with two heavy tables, some stools, a counter ; decorated with rows of bottles of sirup j and alcohol. "That's a fine fire for roasting a chicken," said Rouletabllle. ' "We have no chicken, not even a wretched rabbit." said tbe landlord. I "I know," said my friend slowly "I know. We shall have to eat red meat now." "I confess I did not in the least un derstand what Rouletabllle meant by what he had said, but tbe landlord as soon as he heard the words uttered an oath, which he nt once stifled, and placed himself at our orders as obe diently as M. Robert Darzac had done when he beard Rouletabille's mysteri ous sentence, "The presbytery has lost nothing of Its charm nor the garden its brightness." The man pushed open a little side door and called to somebody to bring him half a dozen eggs and a piece of beefsteak. Tbe commission was quick ly executed by a strongly built young woman with beautiful blond hnlr and jarge, handsome eyes, who regarded us with curiosity. The innkeeper said to ber roughly: "Get out, and If tbe Green Man comes don't let me see him!" She disappeared. Rouletabllle took the eggs, which had been brouglrf to him in a bowl, and tbe meat, which was on a dish, placed all carefully be side him In the chimney, unbooked a frying pan and a gridiron and began to beat up our omelet before proceed ing to grill our beefsteak. He then or dered two bottles of cider aud seemed to take as little notice of our host as our host did of him. Tbe landlord let us do our own cooking and set our table near one of the windows. Suddenly I heard blm mutter: "Ah. there he Is!" His face bad changed, expressing fierce hatred. He went aud glued him self to one of the windows, watching the road. There was no need for me to draw Rouletabille's attention. lie had already left our omelet and bad joined the landlord at tbe window. I went with him. A man dressed entirely In green vel vet his head covered with a hunts man's cap of the same color, was ad vancing leisurely, lighting a pipe as be walked. He carried a fowling piece slung at bis back. His movements displayed an almost aristocratic ease. He wore eyeglasses and appeared to be about five and forty years of age. His hair as well as bis mustache were salt gray. He was remarkably hand some. As he passed near the inn be hesitated, as If asking himself whether or no he should enter it, gave a glance toward us, took a few whiffs at bis pipe and then resumed his walk at the same nonchalant pace. Rouletabllle aud I looked nt our hor.t. His flashing eyes, his clinched hands, bis trembling Hps, told us of bis tu multuous feelings. "He has done well not to come In here today!" be hissed. "Who Is that man?" ns'.:cd Houleta bllle, returning to bl3 omelette. "The Green Man," growled the Inu keeper. "Don't you know him? Then all the better for you. He Is not an acquaintance to make. Well, be Is M. Stangerson's forest keeper." "You don't appear to like him very much?" asked tbe reporter, pouring his omelet into the frying pan. "Nobody likes blm, monsieur. He's an upstart, who must once have had a fortune of his own, and be forgives nobody because in order to live he has been compelled to become a serv ant A keeper is as much a servant 88 any other, isn't he? Upon my word, one would say that he is the master of the Glandler and that all the bind and woods belong to him. SileU Ito-lslon Kugerty Awaited. Postland A proceeding that is at tracting a (treat deal of attention from homesteaders and others inter ested in the acquisition of title to the public lomain has been in prog ress all this week before the regls- ter and receiver of the Portland j land office and several days longer x ...oj c 4 uii r-u iu iu Hearing of A toe issues involved. It appears from the evldenoa i. reedy adduced that settlers in the vicinity of Euchre Mountain, in the former Slleti Indian reservation, commuted their homestead entries at the end of 14 months from the date of filing. The forestry service insti tuted a contest and is prosecuting the 8a me on behalf of the govern ment, on the ground that the sub mission of proof at the end of only eight months' residence is evidence of bad faith. If this contention is sustained by the local land office of ficials and confirmed by the land de partment, it Is claimed that it will have the effect of establishing a dan gerous precedent and place many other homestead claims in timbered districts In peril, as it has heretofore been common practice to accept eight months' actual and continuous residence as sufficient to sustain a commutation proof. He'll not let a poor creature eat a morsel of bread on the grass his grass!" "Does he often come here?" "Too often. But I've made him un derstand that bis face doesn't please me, and for a mouth past he hasn't been here. Tbe, Donjon inn bus never existed for blm! He hasn't bad tline- been too much engaged in paylnj; court to the landlady of the Thret Lilies at Saint Michel. A bad fellow. There Isn't au bouest mun who can bear him. Why, tbe concierges of tbe chateau would turn their eyes away from a picture of blni!" "Tbe concierges of the chateau are honest people then?" "Yes, they are, as true as my name's Mathlcu, monsieur. I believe them to be honest." "Yet they've been arrested?" "What does that prove? But I don't want to mix myself up in other peo ple's affairs." "And what do you think of tbe af fair?" "Of the attack on poor Mile. Stanger son? A good girl. Much loved every where In the country. That's what I think of It and many things besides. But that's nobndy's business." "Not even mlue?" insisted Rouleta bllle. The innkeeper looked at him side ways and said gruffly: "Not even yours." The omelet ready, we sat down at table and were silently eating when tbe door was pushed open and an old woman, dressed In rags, leaning on a stick, her bead doddering, ber white hair banging loosely over ber wrin kled forehead, appeared on tbe thres hold. "Ah, there you are, Mother Ange uoux! It's long since we saw you last," said our host. "I have been very ill, very nearly dying," said the old woman. "If ever you should have auy scraps for tbe Bete du Bon Dleu" And she entered, followed by a cat larger than auy I bad ever believed could exist. Tbe beast looked at us and gave so hopeless a mlau that I shuddered. I hud never heard so lugubrious a cry. As If drawn by tbe cat's cry a man followed the old woman In. It was the Green Man. He saluted by rais ing hla hand to his cap and seated himself nt a table near to ours. "A glass of elder. Daddy Mathleu," be said. As the Green Mm entered Daddy MatUieu had etui-ted violeutly. but vis ibly mastering III:.: c!f be said: "I've not mure ( Mor 1 served the last bottles to these fentlemen." "Then pi-e tv.e n glass of white wine." -V !'m ''reen Man without showing I lie I - t purprlse. "I've no n: re w'd'e wine no more anything." s Id iMi'dy Mathleu surlily. "How i "Tme. Mnthleu?" "Quite w -II. th:inli you." So the y.nrg wotrmn with the large, tender eye- v. was the r IT" brutnl riic!" to emph"-'- ' f!lnnin'l ' we had Just seen 'iH repugnant and p .leii lousy seemed l -ii I ugliness. r behind blm. tbe innkeeper left the room. Mother in genoux was still standing, leaning on her stiek, the tat nt ber feet. "You've been 111, Mother Angeuoux? Is that why we have , t seen you for tbe last week?" aked the On e i Man. "Yen M. Keeper. I have been able to get up but three times to go to r:iy to St. Genevieve, our good patroness, and the rest of the time I have been li'Ius on my bed. There was lio one to care for me but the Bete du Bon Dieu!" "Did she not leave you?" "Neither by day nor by night." "Are you sure of that?" "As I am of paradise." "Then how was It, Mme. Angenonx. that all through the night of tbe mur der nothing but the cry of tbe Bete du Bon Dleu was heard?" Mother Angenoux planted herself In front of the forest keeper and struck the floor with her stick. "I don't know anything about It" she said. "But shall I tell you some thing? There are no two cats In the world that cry like that Well, on the night of the murder I also beard tbe cry of the Bete du Bon Dleu outside, and yet she was on my knees and did not mew once, I swear. I crossed my H. E. MERRYMAN SURVEYOR AND ENGINEER t I U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. i numug ana Metallurgical Engl- T neer Enternrlse Oreenn T W. C. KETC1IU.M I DENTIST - ENTERPRISE x f lie Berland Building. Home X uidependent Phone. COLON R. EBERHARD X v AifORNEY AND COUNSELOR Practices In all Courts and In- '; terlor Dept. Notary Public. Iud. Home plio.ie. Josipb. E. T. ANDERSON. M. D. T titivniiu tvn nmrrftu X I Calls attended to day or night. J j Home phone. Enterprise, Ore. A self when 1 heir.l that, as If I Ind heard tbe devil." 1 looked nt the keeper wlien ho put the Inst iir.o'-ttun. niul I nni tmr-h mistaken If I did not Octe t nn evil smile on hU Hps. At thnt nmnrnt the noise of lov.d quarreling r:-n- hed us. We even thou-ht we heard n dull sound of blown, as If some one was being beaten. Tho Green Man quickly rose and liiirrlcd to the door hy the side of the fireplace, but It was opened by the landlord, who appeared and said to the keeper: "Don't alarm yourself, monsieur. It Is my wife. She has tho tootha-'ie." And he laughed. "Here. Mother Ange noux; here are some scraps for ycur cat." Ho held out n pneket to the old wo man, who took It eagerly and went out of the door, closely followed by her cat "Then you won't serve me?" asked tho Green Man. Daddy Mathleu's face was placid and no longer retained Its expression of hatred. "I've nothing for you nothing for you. Take yourself off." The Green Man quietly refilled hli pipe, lit It, bowed to us and weut ont No Booner was he over t'.ivt threahold than Daddy Mathleu Rlammed tbe door after blm, and, turning toward us, with eyes 1 loot! hot nud frotblnj at tbe mouth, be hlted to us, shaking his clinched fist at the door he had Just shut on the man be evidently hated: "I don't know who you are who tell me 'We shall have to ent red meat now,' but If It will interest you to know If thnt man Is tbe murderer!" With which words Daddy Mathleu immediately left us. Rouletabllle re turned toward the fireplace and said: "Now we'll grill our steak. How do you like tho cider? It's a llttlo tart but I like It." We saw no more of Daddy Mathleu that day, and absolute silence reigned in tbe inn when we left It after plac ing 0 francs on the table in payment for our feast Rouletabllle at once set 'off on a three mile walk around Professor Stangerson's estate. He bulled for some ten minutes at tbe comer of a narrow road black with soot near to some charcoal burners' buta in tbe forest of St. Genevieve, which touches on the road from Epluay to Cor bull, to tell me tliut tbe murderer bad certainly passed that way before entering the grounds uud couceullng himself in the little clump of trees. "You dou't think, then, that the keeper knows anything of It'" I asked. "We sh.ill see thut luter," be replied. "1'or the present I'm uot interested in v.iiai i be I i.on.id said about the tuan. T:.e lu.u.oiii hales him. 1 didn't take you ,o breakfast at the Donjon inn for t: e buUe of the Green Man." Tui u Kouletubllle, with great pre caution, gliled. followed by me, to wnrd the II. tie building which, stand tng'uear the park gate, served for the home of the concierges who hud been arret e l ih.it i.lorulng. With the skill of ti r . I iMt he i rot Into the lodge by an u;-;,er wl;.dow whl li hud been left open and returned ten minutes later. He said only "Ah!" a word which In his mouth signified many things. We were about to take tbe road lead ing to tbe chut en u when a considerable stir at the park gate attracted our at tentlen. A carriage had arrived, and some ep If hud come from tbe cha teau to meet IV Rouletabllle pointed out tu me a gentleman who descended from It "That's the chief of tbe Paris po lice," be said. "Now we shall see what Frederic Larsan has up his sleeve mid whether he l.i bo much clev erer than anybody clwe." The carriage of the i bief was follow ed by three other vehicles containing reporters, who were also desirous of entering the park. But two gendarmes stationed at tho gate had evidently received orders to refuse admission to anybody. Tbe chief of police calmed their Impatience by undertaking to furnish to tbe press that evening all the Information be could give that would not Interfere' with the judicial inquiry, to bk continued,! Read tbe advertisements.