Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-09
CHAPTER XIX.
Bobby Walks in His Sleep.

ing with unDelleVlng eyes at the &C
customed picture they had least ex-
pected to see.
Parades lounged on the divan
smoking with easy indifference. His
clothing and his shoes were spot
less. He had shaved, and his beard
had been freshly trimmed. Rawlins
and the district attorney stood in
front of the fireplace, studying him
with perplexed eyes. The persis-
tence of their regard even after
Bobby's entrance suggested to him
that the evidence remained secret
ed, that the officers, under the Cir
cumstances, were scarcely interest
| ed in his return. He was swept
himself into an explosive amaze
ment.
| "Carlosl What the deuce are you
doing here?"
The Panamanian expelled a cloud
of smoke. He smiled
Resting after a fatiguing walk"
| In his unexpected presence
Bobby fancied demolition of the
hope Graham and he had brought
back from the city. He couldn't
imagine guilt lurking behind that
serene manner.
Where did you come from?
What were you up to last night"
There was no accounting for
Parades' daring, he told himself,
no accounting for his easy gesture
now as he drew again at his cigaret
and tossed it in the fireplace.
These gentlemen" he said, have
been asking just that question. I'm
honoured. | had no idea my move
ments were of such interest. I've
told them that | took a stroll. The
night was over. There was no
point in going to bed, and all day
] had been without exercise"
yet" Graham said harshly, you
have had practically no sleep since
you came here"
ParadeS nodded.
very distressing, isn't it,"
Maybe" Rawlins sneered, you'll
tell us why you went on tiptoe, and
| suppose you didn't hear woman
crying in the woods"
That's just it." Parades answer
ed. Il did hear something like that,
and it occurred to me to follow such
curious sound. So l went on tip
toe, as you call it."
why" Robinson exclaimed
angrily, "you walked in the lake to
hide your tracks"
Parades smiled.
at was very dark. That was
chance. Quite silly of me. My feet
got wet"
Il g., her." Rawlins said, lit was
chance that took you to the de-
serted house
Paroles shook his head
Don't you think | was as much
puzzled as the rest by that strange,
disappearing light2 1t was as good
place to walk as any"
where have you been since"
Graham asked.
when l had got there I was
tired" Paroles answered. Since
it wasn't far to the station | thought
Id 60 on into Smithtown and have
bath and rest. But assure you
I've trudged back from the station
Just now"
Suddenly he repeated the appar-
entity absurd formula he had used
with Howells.
you know the court seems full
of unfriendly things-what the ig-
norant would call ghosts. I'm Span
ish and | know" After a moment
he added: THE woods, too. |
shouldn't care to wander through
them too much after dark"
Robinson stared, but Rawlins
brushed the question aside.
What hotel did you go to in
Smithtown?"
tits called the New Nothing
could be farther from the fact"
Shall see if that's straight,
sir?"
The district attorney agreed, and
Rawlins left the room. Paroles
laughed.
"How Interestingly I'm under
suspicion. 1t would be something,
wouldn't it, to commit crimes with
the devilish ingenuity Of these? No,
no, Mr.. District Attorney, look to
the ghosts. They alone are suffi-
GENTLY clever. But / might say,
since you take this attitude, that |
don't care to answer any more ques-
tions until you discover something
that might give you the right to
ask them"
He lay back on the divan, languid-
" lighting another cigaret. Graham
beckoned Robinson. Bobby follow
ed them out, spspecting Graham's
purpose, unwilling that action should
be taken too hastily against the
Panamanian; for even now guilty
knowledge seemed incompatible
with Paredes' polished reserve,
When he joined the others, indeed,
Graham with an aggressive ait was
demanding the district attorneys
intentions.
IF he could elude you so easily
last night, it's common sense to
put him where you can find him in
case of need. He's given you ex-
cuse enough"
1.-THE mans got me guessing"
Robinson unused, "but there are
other elements"
Whats happened since we left?"
Graham asked quickly. Have you
got any trace OF Howells' evidencei"
Robinson smiled enigmatically,
but his failure was apparent.
"I'm like Howells," he said. "I'd
risk nearly anything myself to learn
how the room was entered, how the
crimes were committed, how those
poor devils were made to alter their
positions"
49," Bobby said, you had my
rooms in New York searched. You
had me followed today. It's ridicu-
lous."