Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-10
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Amazing Meeting in the
Shadows

ouduOWSs
Bobby returned to his bed. He
lay there, still shivering, beneath
the heavy blankets. Il don't dare!
He echoed Graham's words.
There's nothing else any one can
say. must decide what to do.
| must think it over"
But. as always, thought brought
no release. 1t merely insisted that
the case against him was proved.
At last he had been seen slipping
unconsciously from his room-and
at the same hour. All that remained
was to learn how he had accom-
plished the apparent miracles. Then
10 excuse would remain for not
going TO Robinson and confessing.
The woman at the lake and in the
courtyard, the movement of the
body and the vanishing of the eti-
dence under his hand, Paroles odd
behavior, all became in his mind
puzzling details that failed to, OBJ
scure the chief fact. After this
something must be done about
Paroles detention.
He hadn't dreamed that his weari-
ness could placate even momentar-
lily such reflections, but at last he
slept again. He was aroused by
the tramping of men around the
house, and strange, harsh voices.
He raised himself on his elbow and
glanced from the window. 1t had
long been daylight. Two burly fell
lows in overalls, carrying pick and
spade across their shoulders, pushed
through the underbrush at the edge
of the clearing. He turned. Gra-
ham, fully dressed, stood at the side
of the bed.
Those menu" Bobby asked wear
lily.
"The grave diggers," Graham
answered. They are going to
work in the old cemetery to prepare
a place for Silas Blackburn with his
fathers. That's why I've come to
wake you up. The minister's tele-
phoned Katherine. He will be here
before noon. Do you know it's
after 10 o'clock.
For some time Bobby stared
through the window at the desolate,
ragged landscape. 1t was abnor-
mally cold even for the late fall.
Dull clouds obscured the sun and
furnished an illusion of crowding
earthward.
"A funeral day."
The words slipped into his mind.
He repeated them.
when your grandfather's bur
led" Graham answered softly, well
all feel happier" .
Why" Bobby asked. 1T won't
lessen the fact of his murder"
Time" Graham said, lessons
such facts-even for the police"
Bobby glanced at him, flushing.
you mean you've decided to
stand by me after what happened
last night?"
NldHdHl S1lllleQ.
1--WE thought it all over. I slept
like top last night l heard moth
ing. | saw nothing"
Ought I to want you to stand
by me?" Bobby said. "Oughtn't |
to make clean breast of it At
least l must do something about
Paroles.
Graham frowned.
ITS hard to believe he had any
connection with your sleep-walking
last night, yet it's as clear as ever
that Maria and he are up to some
game in which you figure"
HE shouldn't be in JAIL" Bobby
persisted.
Get up" Graham advised. Battle
and have some breakfast, then we
can decide. There's no use talking
of the other thing. I've forgotten
it. As far as possible you must"
"How can l forget it? If it was
hard to face sleep before, what do
you think it is now Have l any
"Don't," Graham said. s1'n be
with you again tonight. If I were
satisfied beyond the shadow of a
doubt I'd advise you to confess,
but I can't be until I know what
Maria and Paroles are doing"
When Bobby had bathed and
dressed he found, in spite of his
mental turmoil, that his sleep had
done him good. While he break
tasted Graham urged him to eat,
tried to drive from his brain the
morbid aftermath of last nights re-
vealing moment.
THE manager took my advice, but
Maria's still missing. Her pictures