The news=record., January 13, 1909, Wednesday Edition, Image 3

The Mystery
of
TheYellow Room
By GASTON LEROUX
Copyright. 1908. by Brentano's
CHAPTER II.
In Which Joseph RouIeUbille Ap
- pears Tor the First Time.
m FIRST knew Joseph Rouleta
bille pronounced Rule-ta-bee
when he wns a young re
porter. At that ttme I was
a beginner at the bar and often met
him In the corridors of examining
magistrates wheD I had gone to get a
"permit to communicate" for the pris
on of Mazas or for Salut-Lazare. He
had, as they say, "a good nut." He
seemed to have taUen his head, round
as a bullet, out of a box of marbles,
and it Is from that, I think, that his
comrades of the press, all determined
billiard players, had given him that
nickname, which was to stick to him
and be made illustrious by him. He
was always as red as a tomato, now
gay as a lark, now grave as a Judge.
How while still so young he was only
sixteen and a half years old when 1
saw him for the first time had he al
ready won bis way on the press?
That was what everybody who came
into contact with him might have ask
ed if they had not known his history.
At the time of the affair of the woman
cut in pieces In the Rue Oberskampf,
another forgotten story, he had taken
to one of the editors of the Epoque, a
paper then rivaling the Matin for in
formation, the left foot, which was
missing from the basket in which the
grewsome remains were discovered.
For this left foot the police had been
vainly searching for a week, and young
Rouletabille had found it in a drain
Where nobody had thought of looking
for it. To do that be bad dressed him
self as an extra sewer man, one of a
number engaged by the administration
of the city of Paris owing to an over
flow of the Seine.
When the editor in chief was in pos
session of the precious foot and in
formed as to the train of Intelligent
deductions the boy had been led to
make be was divided between the ad
miration he felt for sui b detective
cunning in a t;r:i In of n lad of sixteen
years and deli mit at being able to ex
hibit in the "morgue window" of his
paper the left foot of the Rue Obers
kampf. The boy faced reporter speedily
made many friends, for he was serv
iceable and gifted with a good humor
that enchanted the most severe tem
pered and disarmed the most zealous
of bis companions. He began to win
a reputation as flu uuraveler of intri
cate and obscure affairs which found
its way to the office of the chief of
police. When a case was worth the
trouble and Rouletabille be had al
ready been given his nickname bad
been started on the scent by his editor
Jn chief he often got the better of the
most famous detectives.
It was at the Bar cafe that I became
Intimately acquainted with him. Crim
inal lawyers uud Journalists are not
enemies; the former need advertise
ment, the latter Information. We chat
ted together, and 1 soon warmed to
ward him bis Intelligence was so
keen and so original, and he had a
quality of thought such as I have
never found lu any other person.
Nearly two years passed In this way,
and the better I knew him the more I
learned to love him, for lu spite of bis
(careless extravagance I bad discovered
In him what was, considering his age,
an extraordinary seriousness of mind.
Accustomed as 1 wa3 to seeing him
gay, and, indeed, often too gay, I
would many times Bud h'im plunged in
the deepest melancholy. 1 tried then
to question blm as to the cause of this
, change of humor, but each time be
laugueJ and made me no answer. One
day, having questioned him about his
parents, of whom he never spoke, he
left me. pretending not to have beard
what I said.
While things were in this state be
tween us the famous case of "the yel
low room" took place. It was this
case which was to 'rank blm as the
leading newspaper reporter and to ob
tain for blm the reputation of being
the greatest detective in the world.
Rouletabille entered my room on tun
morning of the 20th of October, 1802.
lie was looking redder than usual, and
his eyes were bulging out of bis bead,
as the phrase is. and altogether be ap
peared to be in a state of extreme ex
citement. He waved the Matin with
a trembling band and cried:
"Well, my dear Sainclalr, have you
read it?"
"The Glandler crime?"
"Yes; 'the yellow room! What do
you think of It?"
"I think that it must hare been the
devil or the Bete du Bon Dieu' that
committed the crime."
"Be serious!"
"Well, I don't much believe in mur
derers who make their escape through
walls of solid brick. I think Daddy
Jacques did wrong to leave behind blio
the weapon with which the crime was
committed, and, as he occupied the at
tic immediately above Mile. Btanger
son's room, the builder's Job ordered by
the examining magistrate will give us
the key of the enigma, and It will not
be long before we learn by what natu
' ral trap or by what secret door the old
fellow was able to slip in and out and
return Immediately to the laboratory
to M. Stangerson without his absence
being noticed. That, of course. Is only
an hypothesis."
Rouletabille sat down In an armchair,
lit his pipe, which he was never with
out, smoked for a few minutes in si
lenceno doubt to calm the excitement
which visibly dominated him and then
replied:
"No trap will be found, and the mys
tery of the yellow room win become
more and more mysterious. That's
why It Interests me. The examining
magistrate is right Nothing stranger
than this crime has ever been known."
"Have you any idea of the way by
which the murderer escaped?" I asked.
"None." replied Rouletabille. "none,
for the present. But I have an idea as
to the revolver. The murderer did not
use it."
"Good heavens! By whom, then,
was It used?"
"Why. by Mile. Stangerson."
"I don't understand, or, rather, I have
never understood." I said.
Rouletabille shrugged his shoulders.
"Is there nothing in this article In
the Matin by which you were particu
larly struck?'
"Nothing. I have found the whole o
the story it tells equally strange."
"Well, but the locked door with
the key on the inside?"
"That's the only perfectly natural
thing In the whole article."
"Really! And the bolt?"
"The bolt?"
"Yes, the bolt, also Inside the room, a
still further protection against entry.
Mile. Stangerson took quite extraor
dinary precautions. It Is clear to me
that she feared some one. That was
why she took such precautions even
Daddy Jacques' revolver without tell
ing him of it No doubt she didn't
wish to alarm anybody and, least of
all, her father. What she dreaded
took place, aud she defended herself.
There was a struggle, and she used
the revolver skillfully enough to wound
the assassin in the hand, which ex
plains the Impression on the wall and
on the door of the large, blood stained
hand of the man who was searching
for a means of exit from the chamber.
But she didn't fire soon enough to
avoid the terrible blow on the right
temple."
."Then the wound on the temple was
not done with the revolver?"
"The paper doesn't say it was, and
I don't think it was, because logically
it appears to me that the revolver was
used by Mile. Stangerson against the
assassin. Now, what weapon did the
murderer use? The blow on the tem
pie seems to show that the murderer
wished to stun Mile. Stangerson after
he had unsuccessfully tried to strangle
her. He must have known that the
Ottic was inhabited by Daddy Jacques
and that was one of the reasons, I
think, why be must have used a quiet
weapon a life preserver or a ham
mer."
"All that doesn't explain how the
murderer got out of the yellow room,"
I observed.
"Evidently," replied Rouletabille, rls
Ing, "und that is what has to be ex-
plained. I am going to the Chateau
du dandier and have come to see
whether you will go with me."
"I?"
"es, my boy, I want you. The
Epoque has definitely intrusted this
case to me, and I must clear it up as
quickly as possible."
"But in what way can I be of any
uso to you?"
"M. Robert Darzac is at the Chateau
du Glandler."
"That's true. His despair must be
boundless."
"I must have a talk with him."
I knew M. Robert Darzac from hav
ing been of great service to him in a
civil action while 1 was acting as sec
rotary to Maltre Barbet Delatour. -M.
Robert Darzac, who was at that time
about forty years of age. was a pro
fessor of physics nt the Sorbouue. He
was intimately acquainted with the
Stangersons and after on assiduous
seven years' courtship of the daugh
ter had been on the point of marrying
her. Iu spite of the fact that she had
become, as the phrase goes, "a person
of a certain age," she was still re
markably good looking.
While I was dressing I called out to
Rouletabille. who was impatiently
moving about my sitting room:
"nave you any Idea as to the mur
derer's station in life?"
"Yes," he replied. "I think if he
Isn't a man In society, be is at least a
man belonging to the upper class. But
that, again. Is only an impression."
"What has led you to form It?"
"Well, the greasy cap, the common
handkerchief and the marks of the
rough boots on the floor." he replied.
"I understand," I said. "Murderers
don't leave traces behind them which
tell the truth."
"We shall make something out of
you yet my dear Sainclalr," concluded
Rouletabille.
to bc continued.
8elfsh Lad.
Mother (reading telegram) Henry
telegraphs that the football match is
over, and he came out of It with three
broken ribs.
Father (eagerly) And who won?
Mother ne doesn't say.
Father (impatiently) Confound it
all! That boy never thinks of any
body but himself. Now I must wait
until I get the paper tomorrow morn
lug. London Tit-Bits.
Knew the Business.
"Children, children! Don't make
such a frightful noise," said the dis
tracted mother.
"We're playing omnibus, mamma,"
said Mattle soberly.
"Yes. I know, dear, bnt it isn't real
ly necessary to make such a terrible
noise."
"Yes, it is, mamma. We're got to
where Mattle insists on paying the
fare and so do I." London Fun.
The
Scrap Book
The Tables Turned.
The amenities of political campaign
ing are amusingly illustrated by a story
told by a southern congressman.
It appears that during the course of
a stump speech delivered some years
ago by John Sharp Williams in Missis
sippi he was interrupted by a sudden
yell from a man In the audience:
"I have been robbed by pickpockets!"
"I did not know that there were anv
Republicans present" promptly sue
gested Mr. WU Hams in SSTto a
laugh
"Oh, there ain't, there ain't!" roared
the unhnppy man. "I'm the only one!"
Lipplneott's. ' ,
FREEDOM FOIt THE MIND.
High walls and huge the body may con
fine And Iron grates obstruct the prisoner's
gaze.
And massive bolts may baffle his design
And visitant keepers watch his devious
ways.
Tet scorns the mortal mind this base con
trol! No chains can bind It and no cell In
close. Swifter than light. It flies from pole to
pole.
And In a flash from earth to heaven It
goes.
It leaps from mount to mount. From vale
to vale
It wanders, plucking honeyed fruits and
flowern.
I It visits home to hear the fireside tale
or in sweet converse pass the Joyous
hours.
'T!s up before the sun. roaming afar.
And In Its watches wearies every star.
William Lloyd Garrison.
A Caustio Cut.
"I overheard this dialogue," said a
congressman, "at a reception that I
OI1PP Att-pnriort 4n WnolilniAn Tho
speakers were two grandes dames I
.........
Deiieve that is the word two powerful i lu,lB oaooams.
social leaders, one from Philadelphia, j JoIln was not duly abashed. "Na,"
the other from New York. I Bal1 ne- "I'8 00 tbat I'm growing
" 'Well,' said the first grande dame, ! remls3- I'm Jst tinkerin' nwa wl" ma
'I must be off. I've got to go and see i 80111 "ascl."-London News,
my mother.' j "What are you going out before the
The second put up her lorgnette : curtain again for?" demanded the
a,Tled i stage nmuK. clutching the arm of
Really-at-you don't mean to say j the new vaudeville artist, who had
you've got a mother living?' , just mode a dismal failure.
"The first grande dame laughed-a I "Somebody's clapped." blurted the
high, thin laugh, with something biting 1 actor, "und I want to find out who it
Illa oiM In 14- I i
U MX.SXA su 4 V.
" 'Oh, yes, she said. 'My mother is
still alive and she doesn't look a day
older than you do, I assure you.' "
Cart 8churz and Eugene Field.
When Carl Schurz was campaigning
through Missouri, Eugene Field, as a
reporter for a St. Louis newspaper, ac
companied him to report the meetings.
One night they came to n small towu
where Mr. Schurz was to speak. The
hall was packed with an expectant
crowd, but the presiding officer who
was to have Introduced Mr. Schurz did
not appear. Finally Mr. Schurz sug
gested quietly to Field that he should
fill in the part and introduce him
to the audience. Field acqulseced
readily enough. Advancing to the front
of the platform, bis baud pressed to
bis throat, he said, with a splendid
German dialect: "Ladles und gentle
men, I haf contracted such a very se
vere cold that It Is Impossible for me
to speak tonight, but I haf to Introduce
the great Journalist, Eugene Field, to
take my place. I am sure that you
will be b I eased and benefited by the
change."
Mr. Schurz nearly had a stroke of
apoplexy, aud It took him some. time
to explain the situation.
Three Times and Out.
Professor John Stuart Blackle of Ed
inburgh, being suddenly called away
one day, posted this notice on his
class room door for his students:
"Professor Blackle will be unable to
meet his classes today."
Some waggish student came along
and rubbed out the "c" from the word
classes. The professor, reaching home
that evening, saw the erasure and
promptly erased the letter "L"
Wouldn't Take Chances.
A prominent New York physician
was sent for by a rich but avaricious
ffnatl Whl In antrtn ' 1. .1 .If- I ...
" " vuj- uuu uiBiocuiea
his jaw. The young surgeon promptly
put the member In place, and the man I
was profuse in his thanks. Then be
asked carelessly: :
" hat is your MIL doctor?"
"Fifty dollars, sir," was the answer.
"What!" cried the man. and in sav.
ing it he opened his mouth so wide as
to dislocate his Jaw a second tim. Tim I
surgeon again put things to rights. j
W hat did you say your bill was?"
again asked the patient
"I said it was $50." renlied tha Aac
tor, "but now it Is $100!"
The man started to onen hla month
again, but thought better of it anil
paid the bill without a word.
The Good.
He who wishes to exert a useful in-
fluence must be careful to insult noth
ing. Let blm not be troubled bv what
seems absurd, but let blm consecrate
his energies to the creation of what Is
good. He must not demolish, but build.
lie must raise temples where mankind
may come and partake of the purest
pleasures. Goethe.
A Mountain of 8ulphur.
The Soufiiere. or sulphurous moun
tain. Is considered to be the greatest
natural curiosity of St. L.,ct n,i i
fact of the West Indies. It is situated
. - '
about half an hour's ride from the
town of Soufrlere. to which it has giv
en Its name, and nearly two miles to
the east of the Pltons. and is at the
foot of two small bills, both of which
" ujuu urns, uom or wnicn
are quite bare of vegetation ou the
sides facing the crater. It covers a
space of about three acres and is crusty
ed over with sulphur and alum. Thore
are several caldrons in a perpetual
state of ebullition. The water Is quite
black In the larger ones, but in the
smaller ones It Is quite clear. Visitors
never fail to boil some eggs In one of
the smaller caldrons, obtaining them
from one of the Creole guides, who
keeps a supply on hand for that purpose.
Necessity, Not Choice.
A young man engaged board In a prl
vote family who were extremely de
vout. Before each meal grace was
said. To their dismay the new board-
m nun upright while the
fit 1irtto
i 'em,H WI their heads. When
I L"..1' passed and the young
the good lady of the house could en
dure the situation no longer.
"Atheism V" asked she sharply.
"No. madam." humbly responded the
boarder "boll."
" "'"ruBiiniii io uuuenu.
An Anachronism.
A curious old copper plate engraving
shows "Mrs. Hartley In the Character
of Cleopatra." The actress wears n
hooped petticoat, over which Is a pan
nier skirt with a long train and orna
mented with loons nf nrtm,.ll
j Tue stiffest of corsets Imprisons the
wune ncr Head Is graced with
an carl's corouet. aud from this Im
posing ornament streams an ostrich
plume.
Tambo-Say, Mistah Bones, what em
de three most uncertalnest things In
do world?
Bones Ah dunno. Mistah Tambo.
What am de throe most uncertalnest
things in de world?
Bones A woman an two other wo
men. Chicago News.
"I doubt ye are growing remiss,
John," said a Scotch parish minister.
1 ,lnve not see" J'ou ' the kirk these
: ci i.-ii..
was."
"I told her that I admired her for
her noble qualities of heart and mind,
for her intellect aud a lot more off
the same reel."
"Make a hit?"
"I dunuo. I think the best plan is
to tell 'em they're pretty." Washing
ton Herald.
Hlrum Was yer house damaged by
that there cyclone?
Ike Dunno. I hain't found it ylt
Cleveland Leader.
Howell -If I hadn't drawn that
queen I might have had a straight
flush. Powell That's right; always
blame the woman! Chicago News.
"They say that Cholly has lost his
mind."
"Is that so? Does he know It?"
Boston Courier.
Madge What is the object of hazlna
In college? Marjorie I guess it's to
teach the boys brutality for use in th
football games. Puck.
"Does your husband forget to mall
the letters you give him?"
"Never. I put them in his cigar
case." Cleveland Leader.
"I came In to see if I can get some
fire insurance."
"On your home?"
"No, on my Job." Houston Post
He (at the opera) Just going out for
a little fresh air, my 'dear. She A
slight draft, you mean, I suppose.
London Punch.
Jennie She puts lots of feeling In
her singing, doesn't she?
James Yes, but It must be awful
to reel that way. Tatler.
The largest hanging bell in the world
is near Canton, China. It is eighteen
feet high and forty-five feet In cir
cumference at the bottom.
Shakespeare, among his many allu-
.
lUK oeeui.-H, me muoceuce
aud tue "clP'essncss of the lamb, only
ouco cites it as nn article of food.
If any member of the family Is veYy
sick at the stomach beat up the white
of an egg and let blm swallow It. It
acts like a charm.
A solution of an ounce of saltpeter
In ten of sulphuric add will remove
the silver from plated goods without
affecting the other metal.
Wife My father always used to say
It wns n pity I wasn't born a boy.
Husband I think so too. London
Mail.
Atmospheric electricity Is believed to
encourage plant life in the arctic re
gions, where there is but little sun
light. In Spain boys under sixteen are not
allowed to lift or carry more than six
teen pounds or push or draw heavy
loads.
Bathing machines, used almost ex
clusively ou the English coast, were
invented in 1T.V), but were not used
extensively until 1803.
Mother Tott le. vou mnst he ffpnpr.
0,18 wlth your ca"dy- r8S 11 around,
?ott,e to Suest)-Take all you want
Talra fwrt T Ifn
Man Do you believe that story
about her? Woman I'd believe any
thing about her unless she told it to
me herself. Loudon Plck-Me-Up.
'
t?A11la Tlll fY.itttluf tf.11. n.A n ... '
. uvi.wm ,v... u
that I have a large cavity which needs
filling. Madge What course of study
did be suggest for this purpose?
------ - - -
i)
wasfiington
The Career of Philander
Chase Knox. Who Will
Bc Taft's Secretary of
State-His Family j
T
II R choice of Senator riillander
Chase Knox as secretary of
stale lu the cabinet of Presi
dent Elect Taft Is notable as
an honor bestowed by a successful
candidate- for presidential honors upon
Hi
... i.1 r-
an unsuccessful rival. Senator Knox
was an open and avowed candidate
for the nomination which Judge Taft
obtained, but his ambition did not re
sult in creating any ill feeling between
I he two nun. The Pennsylvania sena
tor has rendered cabinet service be
fore as attorney general iu the second
McKlnley administration and during
part of President Roosevelt's first term,
and he did not seek the post of secre
tary of state, preferring. It Is said, to
hold his seat In the senate. But Judge
Taft's strong feeling in the matter Im
pelled him to accept the proffered post.
In becoming head of the cabinet bo
will not only administer the foreign
affairs of the government, but will be
able to give the next president the
benefit of ills counsel lu many mut
ters pertaining to internal adminis
tration respecting which his knowl
edge of the law, the constitution and
the legislative branch of the govern
ment will be valuable.
Senator Knox was born fifty-five
years ago in the town of Brownsville,
IllillilSi
L , i'ii .,' , - .. w-l
Citvto"JT iV4cr'a o.e
M1!S. KNOX AND OltANDSO.N.
Pa. At nineteen lie was irrailuafcrf nt
Mount Union college. Alliance. O.. and
while at tills lnslllutlnn formed the
jacqtmlntuiK-e with William McKlnley
which was to have such nn Important
effect laler on tipnii his career, lie en
tered a bank after leaving college and
there earned enough money to pursue
study to lit li i in for. practice at the bar
In l.SSl) he married Miss I.lllic Smith,
daughter of Andrew 1). Smith, a
pioneer Iron manufacturer of Pitts
burg. For a short lime lie was an as
sistant United States district attor
ney, but nbout thirty vchim ago Ik
en
of ed a partnership fur the orai-tlcc
law and continued lu these relations
until Mr. McKlnley invited him t,,
head the department of Ju -tin- lu hi
cabinet In HMH.
Sonic most important suits agilnsi
trusts and other big corporaiiniH wep
Instituted In the following three year
notably that against th: Northern Se
curities company, mill Mr. Knox maile
remarkable record In the conduct of
these proceedings. He succeeded the
late M. S. Quay In the Kcmite In 1!K)4
by appointment of Governor Penny
packer and was subsequently elected
lo that body by the Pennsylvania leg
islature for the term expiring lu 1!11.
lie has accumulated a fortune In the
practice of law and has several beau
tiful homes, one being an estate of U00
acres. at Valley Forge. IV The fami
ly spend as much of their lime as pos
sible at this country seat. Mrs. Knox
Is a woman of- many accomplishments
and social graces, ami her daughter
Uebekah. n ho married James It. Tin
tile of Pittsburg four years ago. win.
ulte popular before her marriage In
Washington society. There nre sev-t-ral
sons In the family, and u recent
arrival Is a little grandson.
.The n-w f : runt n ambassador to
W'll till I IH't.ltl f'i.lltlt f.. I. ... II..I..I..I.
- "uni uuu lll-lljrilll
.. . .M .
.von i.iniHionr. n;is an .Mnerlcan wife,
Hhe was Miss Joanne I.ttckeineyer and
; met the count while traveling in Ku-
rope iu 1887. The couple huve two
'v''vw-w'es&Qe-
T
Celebrities
6
New German Ambassador,
Count von Bernstorff.
Senator Carter's Popu
larity With Cartoonists
children, a son of twenty and a daugh
ter, Alexandra, who Is scviateen. The
count, who is forty-six years old, be
gan his diplomatic career in 1SS!,
when he was made nttache ot Con
stnntinople. From Turkey ho wns
transferred to the Gorman foreign of
fice, after which he advanced from
one grade to another, serving as n
representative iu many of the great
capitals of Europe.
lie was counselor of the German
embassy and first secretary in London
six years ago.
The count's work in creating good
feeling between Great Britain and
COUNT JOHANN nErNJUOn VON nnilNSTOBFF.
Germany brought him for the first
time under the notice of the emperor,
and after four years' service lu a mi
nor position In London ho was trans
ferred to Cairo ns amlmssador. This
position Is regarded In the German
diplomatic service as a stepping stone
io one or tue greater ambassadorial
j portfolios, and his present appoint
ment, therefore, did not cause much
surprise In Berlin.
I President Elect Taft's possible pat
ronnge will amount to more than 8,700
ollices, Including only those classed as
"presidential." This army, composed
solely of ollielnls, equals the combined
force of ollicers, clerks and other sub
ordinates drawing government salaries
under President Monroe. These "pres
idential" ollices have more than dou
bled since Cleveland first entered the
While House. Since then two new
departments have been added, also
many new bureaus and such great un
dertakings as the digging of the Pun
ntna canal and tho administration of
insular possessions.
Mr. Taft cannot Independently ap
point these olliclais. He merely can
nomlmito them. Under the first article
of the constitution senators are part
of tho appointing power, and an ap
pointment to a "presidential" olilce
under Mr. Taft will represent an agree
ment between blm and tho upper
house of congress. Appointees of this
class will not receive their commls
Blons until "confirmed" by that body.
Senator Thomas II. Cnrter of Mon
tana Is a good subject for tho cartoon
ist because of the long whiskers he
sports, n possession the like of which
Is not often found nowadays In legis
lative halls at Washington. Tho sena-
B1
i y !
m
THOMAS H. CAHTKR AND A CAIttCATf II K OP
II 1M.
tor resembles a New England deacon
of the type now famous lu song and
lory. He has been a big gun in his
party In days gone by and was chair
man of Its national committee when
Benjamin Harrison ran for re-election
as president.
How He Found Out.
"I never bet on a horse race."
"But this Is a sure thing."
"It was bettlug on a sure thing that
cured me."
7
7T
ft ' ffii
-W ; : .