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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1909)
Professional Ttitectoty of Wallowa County ffjhe Mysteirjr of The Yellow -'Koom A. M Hull anil duhtr Mra J I Edith Jennings, of Joseph, were here 1 Friday seeing about plana tor Mrs. THOS. M. DILL t ATTORSEY-ARAW W. C. K ETC HUM DENTIST - ENTERPRISE Of i ! Berland Building. Home Independent Phone. Jennings" new building. Leslie Lath rop was given the contract for mov ing her rsldnce. The excavation for the basement of the store build ing will be deferred for a few weeks. Office first door south of New Fraternal Bldg., Enterprise, Ore. n.. n A cmw i rrarsiiv CHAPTER XX Continued. Like Lnrsnn, Ranee thought thot Robert Darznc had something to do with the matter. He did not mention biro by name, but there was no room to doubt whom be meant He told us he was awnre of the efforts young Itoulo tabllle was making to unravel the tangled skein of the yellow room mys tery. He explained thnt M. Stanger son bnd related to blm ull that hnd taken plnce In the Inexplicable gnllory. He several times expressed his regret at M. Darzac's absence from the cha teau on all these occasions nud thought that M. Durzac had done cleverly In allying bliuself with M. Joseph Itonle tahllle. who could not fall sooner or later to discover the murderer. He spoke the lust cntence with uncon cealed Irony. Then he rose, bowed to us and left the Inn. Rouletubllle watched him through the window. "An odd fish, that!" be snld. "Do you think he'll pass the night at the Glandler?" I asked. To my amazement the young report er answered that It was a matter of entire Indifference to him whether be did or not. As to how we spent our time during the afternoon, all I need say Is that Rouletabllle led me to the grotto of Salute Genevieve and Oil the time talked of every subject but the one with which we were most Interested. Toward evening I was surprised to find Rouletabllle making none of the preparations I bad expected blm to make. I spoke to him about It when night had come 'on and we were once more In bis room. He replied that all bis arrangements bad already been made, and this time the murderer would not get away from him. I expressed some doubt on this, re minding him of bis disappearance in the gallery, and suggested that the same phenomenon might occur again. He answered thnt he hoped it would. He desired nothing more. I did not Insist, knowing by experience how use less that would have been. He told me that, with the help of the con cierges, the chateau had since early dawn been watched in such a way that uobody could approach it without bis knowing it and that be bad no con cern for those who might have left it and remained without. It was then G o'clock by his watch. Rising, be made a sign to me to follow him, and, without in the least trying to conceal bis movements or the sound of his footsteps, be led roe through the mllery. We reached the "right" gal lery and came to the landing place, which we crossed. We then continued our way In the gallery of the left wing, passing Professor Stangerson's apart ment At the far end of the gallery, before coming to the donjon, is the room oc cupied by Arthur Ranee. We knew that, because we bad seen him at the window looking on to the court. The door of the room opens on to the end ef the gallery, exactly facing the east window, at the extremity of the "right" gallery, where Rouletabllle had placed Daddy Jacques, and commands an uninterrupted view of the gallery from end to end of the chateau. "That 'off turning" gallery," said Rouletabllle, "I reserve for myself. When I tell you you'll come and take yonr place here." - And be made me enter a little dark, triangular closet built In a bend of the wall to the left of the door of Arthur Ranee's room. From this recess I could see all that occurred in the gal lery as well as if I bod been standing to front of Arthur Ranee's door, and I could watch that door too. Tbe door of the closet, which was to be my place of observation, was fitted with panels of transparent glass. In the gallery, where all the lamps bad been lit. It was quite light In the closet, however. U was quite dark. It was a splendid place from which to observe and remain unobserved. We returned along the gallery. On reaching the door of Mile. Stangerson's apartment It opened from a push given by the steward who was waiting at the dinner table, (M. Stangerson had for the last three days dined with his daughter in the drawing room on the first floor.) As the door remain ed open, we distinctly saw Mile. Stan, gerson, taking advantage of the stew ard's absence and while her father was stooping to pick up something be had let fall, pour the contents of a rial into M. Stangerson's glass. CHAPTER XXL On iht Watch. mU act, which staggered me, did not appear to affect Route tabllle much. We returned to the room, and, without even re t erring to what we had seen, he gave me his final instructions for the night First we were to go to dinner. After dinner I was to take my stand In the dark closet and wait there as long as It was necessary to look out for what mleht happen. " "It jrou see nnytumg before I do, he explained, "you must let me know. I the man gejsjuto the 'rfgUf pl Icry bv any other way than' the 'ottf turning" gallery you will see him before I shall, because you have a view along the whole length of the "right gallery, while I can only command a view of the 'off turning" gallery. All you need do to let me know Is to undo the cord holding the curtain of the Tight" gal lery window nearest to the dark clos et The curtain will fall of itself and immediately leave a square of shadow where, previously there had been a square of light To do this you need but stretch your band out of the closet I shall understand your signal per fectly." "And thenr "Then you will see me coming round the corner of the 'off turning" gallery." "What am J to do then?" "You will immediately come toward me. behind the man, but I shall al ready be upon him and shall have seen bis face." ' I attempted a feeble smile. "Why do you smile? , Well, you may smile while you have the chance, but I swear you'll have no time for that a few hours from now." "And if the man escapes?" "So much the better," said Roulc tabllle coolly. "I don't want to cap ture him. He may take himself off any way he can. I will let him go- after I have seen bis face. That's alt I want I shall know afterward what to do, so that as far as Mile. Stanger son is concerned be shall be dead to her even though be continues to live. If I took him alive Mile. Stangerson and Robert Darzac would perhaps never forgive me. And I wish to re tain their good will and respect. "Seeing, as I have Just now seen, Mile. Stangerson pour a narcotic Into her father's glass, so that he might not be awake to interrupt the conver sation she is going to have with her assailant, you can Imagine she would not be grateful to me if I brought the man of the yellow room and the inex plicable gallery bound and gagged to her father. I realize now that If I am to save the unhappy lady X most silence the man and not capture him. To kill a human being is no small thing. Besides, that's not my business unless the man himself makes it my business. On the other hand, to render him forever silent without the lady's assent and confidence Is to act on one's own Initiative and assume a knowledge of everything with nothing for a basis. Fortunately, my friend, I have guessed no, I have reasons it 8.11 put. All that I ask of the man who Is ppmlng tonight is to bring me bis face so that It may enter" v "Into the circle?" "Exactly! And bis face won't sur prise me!" , "But I thought yon saw bis face oq the night when yon sprang into the chamber?" "Only imperfectly. The candle was on the floor, and bis beard" "Will he wear bis beard this even ing?" "I think I can say for certain that he will. But the gallery is light and now I know or at least my brain knows and my eyes will see." "If we are here only to see him and let him escape, why are we armed?" . "Eecause, if the man of the yellow room and the Inexplicable gallery knows that I know, be la capable of doing anything! We should then have to defend ourselves." "And you are sure be will come to night?" "As sure as that you are standing there! This morning, at half past 10 o'clock, Mile. Stangerson, q the clever est way In the world, arranged to hare no nurses tonight She gave them leave of absence for twenty-four hours, under some plausible pretexts, and did not desire anybody to be with her but her father, while they are away. Her father, who is to sleep in the boudoir, has gladly consented to the arrange ment. Darzac's departure and what be told me,' as well as the extraor dinary precautions Mile. Stangerson is taking to be alone tonight, leaves me no room for doubt She has prepared the way for the coming of the Bwn whom Darzac dreads." "And what we saw her do was done to send her father to sleep?" "Yes." "Then there are but two of us for tonight's work?" "Fours the concierge and bis wife will watch at all hazards. I don't set much value on them before, but the concierge may be useful after, if there's to be any killing!" "Then you think there may be?" "If he wishes it." "Whv haven't you brought In Daddy Jacques? Have you made po se ef him today?" "No,'' replied Rouletabllle sharply, I kept silence for awhile: then, anx ious to know his thoughts, I asked blm oolnt blank: . "Why not tell Arthur Ranee T He, mnv im of irreat assistance to ub?" -J "Oh,", said Rouletabllle crossly,? "then you want to let everybody Into Mile. Stangerson's secrets? Come, let us go to dinner. It is time. This (enliig we dine In Frederic Larsan's room at least if he Is not on the heels of Dnrzac. He sticks to him like a leech. But, anyhow, t he Is not there now I qui quite sure he will be to- COPYRIGHT. 1008. BY BRENT ANO'S night. He's" the one I am going to knock over!" At this moment we heard a noise in the room near us. "It must be be," said Rouletabllle. "I forgot to ask yon," I snld, "If we are to make any allusion to tonight's business when we are with this police man. I take It we are not Is that r "Evidently. "We are going to operate lone, on our own personal account." "So that all the glory will be ours?" Rouletabllle laughed. . We dined with Frederic Larflan in his room. He told us he had Jrjrt come in and Invited us to be seated at table. We ate our. dinner in the best of humors, and I had no difficulty in appreciating the feelings of certainty which both Rouletabllle and Larsan felt Rouletabllle told the great Fred that I hnd come on a chance visit and -hat he had asked me to stay and help him In the heavy batch of writing be had to get through for the Epoque. I Was going back to Tarls, he Baid, by the 11 o'.clock train, taking his copy, which took a story form, recounting the prlucipal episodes in the mysteries of the Glandler. Larsan smiled at the explanation like a man who was not fooled and politely refrained from mak ing the slightest, remark on matters which did not concern him. With infinite, precautions as to the Words they psed and even as to the tones of their voices, Larsan nnd Rouletabllle discussed for a long time Mr. Arthur Ranee's appearance at the chateau and his past In America, about which they expressed a desire to know more, at any rate , so far as his relations with the Stangersons. At one time Larsan, who appeared to me to be unwell, said, with an effort) "I think, M, Rouletabllle, that we've not much more to do at the Glandler and that we shan't sleep here many more nights." "I think so, too, M. Fred." "Then you think the conclusion of the matter has been reached?" "I think, indeed, that we have noth ing topre to find out," replied Rouleta bllle. "Have you found your criminal?" asked Larsan. "Have your "Yes." "So have I," said Rouletabllle. "Can It be the same, man?" . .-. "I don't know if you have swerved from your original idea," said the young reporter. Then he added with emphasis, "M. Darsac Is an honest man!" "Xtp you sure of that?" asked Lar san. 'Vell, I am pure he is pot. So It's a fight, then?" "Yes, It is a fight But I shall beat you, M. Frederio Larsan," "Youth never doubts anything." said the Brest Fred laughingly and held out bis band to me by way of conclusion. Rppletabliie's . answer came like an eeboi "Not anything I" Suddenly Larsan, who bad risen to wish' us good night,, pressed both his hands to his chest and staggered. He was obliged to lean on Rouletabllle for support and to save himself from fall ing. "Oh, oh!" he cried. "What is the matter with me? Have I been poison ed?" He looked at us with haggard eyes. We questioned hm vainly. Re djfl not answer us. He had sunk into an armchair, and we could not get a word from him. We were extremely distressed, both on his account and on our own, for we had partaken of all the dishes he had eaten. He seemed to be out pf pain, but bis. beavy beafl had fallen on his shoulder ana his eye lids were tightly closed. Rouletabllle bent over him, listening for the beat ings of the heart My friend's face, however, when he Stood up, was as calm as it had beeq a moment before fife'ltfited, - "He is asleep," be said. He led me to hl3 chamber, after clos ing Larsan's room. "The drug?" I asked. "Does Mile. Stangerson wish to put everybody to sleep tonight?" "Perhaps," replied Rouletabllle. But I could see he was -thinking .of some thing else. "But what about us?" I exclaimed. "How do we know that we have not been drugged?" "Do you feel indisposed?" Rouleta bllle asked me coolly. "Not in the least." "Do you feel any inclination to go to sleep r "None whatever." "Well, then, my friend, smoke this excellent cigar." And he handed me a choice Havana, one M, Darzac h4d given him, while be IK bis brlerwood bis eternal brier wood. . ' We remained in bis room until about 10 o'clock without a word passing be tween us. Burled In an armchair. Roule tabilie sat and smoked steadily, his brow In thought and a faraway look In his eyes. On the stroke of 10 he took off his boots and signed me to do the same. Standing in our socks, he said in so low a tone that I guessed rather than heard the word: "Revolver." I drew my revolver from my Jacket I BURLEIGH & BOYD X ATTORNEYS-ARAW Practice lu a'.l State Courts and f lnlain. 1 .... C t. mienor L-eiifariruent 'Arful t ! teucion to all business. A D. W. SHEAIIAN I LAWYER - ENTERPRISE I Practice In State and Federal f Courts and Interior Department. t 5 C. T. HOCKETT. M. D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Office upstairs in Bank Build- S ing. Ind. Home phone in office f and residence. po?ket "Cock It." he said. I did as he directed. ' Then, moving toward the door of his room, he opened it with Infinite pre caution; it made no sound. We were in the "off turning" gallery. Rouleta- i bllle made another sign to me which I understood to mean that I was to take up my post in the dark closet. j When I was some distance from him ' be rejoined uie and embraced me, and then I saw him, with the same precau tion, return to his room. Astonished by his embrace and somewhat disquiet ed by It, I arrived at the "right" gal lery Without difficulty, crossing the landing place and reaching the dark closet Before entering It I examined the curtain cord of the window and found that I had only to release It from its fastening with my fingers for the cur tain to fall by Its own weight and hide the square of light from Roule tabllle, the signal agreed upon. The sound of a footstep made me bait be fore Arthur Ranee's door. He was not yet in bed, then) How was It that. being in the chateau, be bad not dined with M. Btangerson and his daughter? I hnd not seen him at table with them St the moment when we looked In. I retired Into the dark closet. 1 ' ound myself perfectly situated. 1 1 could see along the whole length of ' the gallery. Nothing, absolutely totb Ing, could pass there without my see Ing It. ' I waited about an hour, and diiruu all that time I saw nothing unusual The rain, which had begun to coim down strongly toward 9 o'clock, bao qow ceased, My friend bad told me that prob ably nptlting would occur before mid night or 1 o'clock lu the morning. It was not more than half past 11, how ever, when I heard the door of Arthui Ranee's room opeq very slowly. Tht floor remained open for a minute whKU seemed, to we a long time. At It opened Into the gallery that Is to say, outward I could not see what was passing In the room behind the door. At that moment I noticed a strange sound, three times repeated, coming from the park. Ordinarily I should not have attached any more Impor tance to it than I would to the noise of cats on the roof. But the third tme the BIPW was so sharp and pene trating that I remembered what 1 bad heard about the cry of the Bete du Bon Dieu. As the cry bad accompanied all tho events at the Glandler I could not refrain from shuddering at the thought Directly afterward I saw a man ap pear PH the outside of the door and close it after him. At first I could not recognize him, for his back was to ward me, and he was bending over a rather bulky package. When be had closed the door and picked up the package, he, tur-PPd toward the dark fiostjt, and then I saw who he was. He was the forest keeper, the Green Man. lie was wearing the same cos tume that he had woru when I first saw blm on the road lu front of the Donjon Inn. There was no doubt about bis being the keeper. As the cry of the Bete du Bon Dieu came for the third time he put down the pack age and went to the second window, counting from the dark closet I dared not risk making any movement, fear ing l ml:-'ht betray my presence. Arrived nt the window, lie peered out on to the park. The night was now li;;ht. tho noon showing at intervals. The Green Man raised lib arms twice, making sijens which I did not under stand; then. leaving the window, he again took up his package and moved along the gallery toward tho laud'g place. - Rouletabllle had Instructed me to undo the curtain cord when I saw any 1 thing. Was Rouletabllle expecting this? - It was not my business to ques tlon. All I bad to do was obey Instruc tions. I unfastened the window cord, my heart beatlp? the while as If it would burst. The man reached the landing place, but, to my utter sur prise I bad .expected to see him con tinue to pass along the gallery I saw him descend the stairs leading s the . vestibule. " ' What was I to do? I looked stupidly at the heavy curtain .which .had sbutl Appointed Government Hunter. Deputy Sheriff W. C. Moore of Flora has been appointed aovern- ment nunter. attached to the station at tha K!o- nnat IH I. - V , at the big pasture in the Chesalm- nus. Swept Over Niagara. This terrible ca'amlty often hap Pens because a careless boatman Ig nore the river's warnings growing ripples and faster current. Nature's warnings are kind. That dull pain or ache In the back warns you the kidneys need attention If you would escape fatal maladies Dropsy, Dia betes or Bright's disease.' Take Elec tric Bitters at once and see Back ache fly and all your best feelings return." After long suffering from weak kidneys and lame back, one fl bottle wholly cured me," writes J. R. Blankenshlp, of Belk, Tenn. Only 50c at a'.l druggists. tllb light from the window. The signal had been given, and I did not see Roule tabllle appear at the corner of the "off turning" gallery. Nobody appeared. 1 was exceedingly perplexed. Half an hour passed, an age to me. What was I to do now, even if I saw something? The signal once given, I could not give It a second time. To venture Into the gallery might upset all Rouletabllle's plans. After all, I bad nothing to re proach myself with, and If something bad happened that my friend bad not expected be could only blame himself. Unable to be of any further assistance to blm by means of a signal, I left the dark closet and. still In my socks, picked my steps and made my way to the "off turning" gallery. There was no one there. I went to the door of Rouletabllle's room and lis tened. 1 could hear nothing. . I knock ed gently. There was no. answer. I turned the door handle and. the door opened. I entered, Rouletabllle lay extended at full length on the floor. CHAPTER XXII. The lacredible Body. mBENT In great anxiety over the body of the reporter and bad the Joy to find that be was deeply sleeping, the same un healthy sleep that I bad seen fall upon Frederic Larsan. lie hnd succqmbed to the Influence of the same drug that had been mixed with our food. How was it, then, that I also had not been overcome by it? I reflected that the drug must have been put Into out wine, because that would explain my condition. . I never drink when eating. Naturally Inclined to obesity, 1 am re stricted to a dry diet 1 shook Roule tabllle, but could not succeed In wak ing him. This, no doubt, was the work of Mile. Btangerson. .. She bad certainly thought It neces sary to guard herself against this young man as well as her father. I recalled that the steward la serving us had recommended ; an excellent Chablls which, no doubt, bad come from the professor's table, . More than a quarter of an hour passed. I resolved under the pressing circumstances to resort to extreme measures, I threw a pitcher of cold water over Rouletabllle's head. Be opened his eyes. I beat his face and raised him up. I felt blm 'stiffen in my arms and heard blm murmur, "Go on, go on, but don't make any noise." I pinched blm and shook blm until he was able to stand up. We were saved! "They sent me to sleep," be said. "Ah, I passed an awful quarter of an hour before giving way.. But It la over now. Dont leave me." He had no sooner uttered those words than we were thrilled by frightful rry that rang through' the chatasa, a veritable death cry. "Malheur!" roared Rouletabllle. "We I hall be too late!" He tried to rusb to the door, bat ke was too dazed and fell against the wall. I was already In the gallery, re volver in band, rushing like a mad man toward Mile. Stangerson's room. The moment I arrived at the Intersec tion of the "off turning" gallery and the "right" gallery 1 saw a figure leaving ber apartment, which In a few strides bad reached the landing place. I was not master of myself, I flred. The report from the revolver made a deafening noise, but the man continued bin flight down the cUirs. Z ran be hind bim, shouting: "8top( Stop, or I will kill you!" As I rushed after blm down the stairs I came face to face with Arthur Ranee coming from the left wing of the chateau, yelling: "What is It? What Is Itr We ar rived almost at tbe same time at the foot of the staircase. Tbe window of tbe vestibule was open, ,We distinctly saw the form of a man running away. Instinctively we Bred our revolvers In his direction. He was not more than ten paces in front ' of us. He stag gered, and we thought be was going to fall. We had sprung out of the win dow, but tbe man dashed off with re newed vigor. I was in my socks, and the American was barefooted. There being no hope of overtaking him, we flred our last cartridges at bim. Bat be still kept on running, going along the right side. of the court toward fa 'M ! COLON R. EBERHARD ? ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR f Practices In all Courts and In i ?terior Dept. Notary Public a a u Ind. Home phone. Josenh. - 4 E. T. ANDERSON. M. D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON I Calls attended to day or night. J riuiue yuone. enterprise, u.e. DR. C. A. AULT i PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON X Office in Bank Building, t Home phone both office and!) residence. end of the right wing of the chateau, which had no other outlet than the door of the little chamber occupied by the forest keeper. The man, though he was evidently wounded by our bullets, was now twenty yards ahead of us. Sudden!?, behind us, and above our beads, a win dow In the gallery opened and we heard the voice of Rouletabllle crying out desperately: "Fire, Bernlerl Fire!" At. that moment the clear tminllght -night was further lit by a bro.id flash. By Its light we saw Daddy Horn It with bis gun on the threshold of the donjon door. He bad taken good aim. Tbe nhadow fell But as It bad reached the cud of the right wing of the chateau. It ell on the other side of the angle of thi building that is to say, we saw It about to fall, but not the actual sink ing to tbe ground. Bernler, Arthur Ranee and myself reached the other side twenty seconds later. Tbe shadow was lying desd at our feet. Aroused from his lethnrgy by tbe cries and reports. Larsan opened the window of his chamber and called out to us. Rouletabllle, quite awake now, joined us at the same moment, and I cried out to him: "He Is dead-Is dead r "So much the better." he snld. "Take blm into the vestibule of the chateau." Then as If on second thought, be said: "No not Let ns put blm In bis own room." Rouletabllle knocked nt the door. Nobody answered. Naturally, this did not surprise me. "He is evidently not there, otherwise he would have come out," said tbe re porter. "Let ns carry blm to tbe-vestibule then." Since reaching tbe dead shadow, a thick cloud bad covered the moon nnd darkened the night, so thst we were unable to make out the features. Dad dy Jacques, who had now Joined us, helped us to carry tbe body Into the vestibule, where we laid It down on the lower step of the stairs. On the way, I had felt my bands wet from the wsrm blood flowing from the wounds. Daddy Jacques flew to tbe kitchen and returned with a lantern. He held it close to the face of the dead shad ow, and we recognized the keeper, the man called by the landlord of tbe Donjon inn the Green Man, whom au hour earlier I bad seen come out of Arthur Ranee's chamber carrying a parcel. But what I bad seen 1 could only tell Rouletabllle later when we were alone. , Rouletabllle and Frederic Larsan ex perienced a cruel dissppolntmeut at tbe result of tbe night's adventure. They could only look In consternation and stupefuction at tbe body of the Green Man. Daddy Jacques showed a stupidly sorrowful face and with silly lamenta tions kept repeating that we were mis takenthe keeper could not be tbe as sailant We were obliged to compel him to be quiet, lie could not have shown greater grief had the body been that of his own son. I noticed, while all the rest of us were more or less un dressed snd barefooted, that be was fully clothed. Rouletabllle bad not left the body. Kneeling on the flagstones by tbe light of Daddy Jacques' lantern, he removed the clothes from tbe body and laid bare Its breast Then, snatching the. lantern from Daddy Jacques, be held it over tbe corpse and saw a gaping wound. Rising suddenly, be exclaimed In a voice filled with savage irony: "The man you believe to have been shot was killed by tbe stab of a knife In bis heart!" I thought Rouletabllle bad gone mad. but, bending over tbe body. I quickly satisfied myself thst Rouletabllle was right Not a sign of a bullet anywhere. The wound, evidently made by a sharp blade, bad penetrated the heart (Continued next week.) A. B. Conaway. O. M. Corklns. CONAWAY ft CORKINS, LAWYERS Enterprise, Oregon. -
