Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-22
CHAPTER IV.-Continued.
Bobby shook his head.

thougnt OF that right away,
but it won't do. If / had been
drugged | wouldn't have moved
around, and l did come out some
how; managed to get to the empty
house to sleep. It's more as if my
mind had simply closed, as if it had
gone on working its own ends with
out my knowing anything about it.
And that's dreadful, because the de-
tective has practically accused me
OF numbering my grandfather. How
was it done? You see l know moth
ing. Tell me how-how he was
killed. | can't believe I'm such a
beast. Tell me. If | was in the
house. some detail might start my
memory"
So Katherine told her story while
Bobby listened, shrinking from some
disclosure that would convict him.
AS she went on, however, his sense
OF bewilderment increased. and when
she had finished he burst out:
\ But where is the proof OF muir
der? Where is there even sugges-
ton? You say the doors were locked
and he doesn't show mark"
That's what we can't under
stand" Graham said. There's no
evidence we know anything about
that your grandfather's heart didn't
simply give out, but the detective is
absolutely certain, and-there's no
use mincing matters, Bobby-he be-
lieves he has the proof to convict
you. He won't tell me what. He
simply smiles and refuses to talk"
THE motive?" Bobby asked.
Graham looked at him curiously.
Katherine turned away.
"Of course" Bobby cried with a
sharpened discomfort. I'D forgot
ten. The money-the new will he
had planned to make. The moneys
mine now, but if he had lived until
this morning it never would have
been. see."
1T is a powerful motive" Graham
said, for any one who doesn't know
you"
But" Bobby answered, "Howells
has got to prove first that my grand
father was murdered. The autopsy"
"Coroners' out of the county,"
Graham replied, "and Howells won't
have an assistant. DR.. Groom's
waiting in the house. We're expect
ing the coroner almost any time"
Bobby spoke rapidly.
If he calls it murder, Hartley.
there's one thing we've got to find
out: what my grandfather was
afraid of. Tell me again, Katherine.
everything he said about me. |
can't believe he could have been
afraid OF me-"
He called YOU" Katherine an
swe-ed, "a waster. He said: God
knows what he'll do next He said
he'd ordered you out last night and
he hadn't had word from you, but
that he'd make up his mind anyway.
He was going to have his lawyer
this morning and change his will.
leaving all his money to the Bedford
Foundation, except little annuity
for me. He grew sentimental and
said he had no faith left in his flesh
and blood. and that it was sad to
grow Cid with nobody caring for
him except to covet his money. |
asked him if he were afraid of you
and all he answered was: You and
Bobby are thicker than thieves Oh,
yes. When | saw him for the last
time in the hall he said there was
nothing for me to worry about ex-
cept you. That's all. remember
perfectly. He said nothing more
about you"
Il wonder" Bobby muttered, IF a
jury wouldn't think it enough"
Katherine shook her head.
There seemed so much more than
that behind his fear" she said. "As
I've told you, he gave me feeling
of superstition. | never once was
afraid of a murderer-of a man in
the house. was afraid of something
queer and active, but not human"
Bobby Strengthened.
would you," he asked, cali a
man going about in an asphasia quite
human? Somnambulists do unae-
countable things--such % overcom-
ing locked doors"
Don't. Bobby Don'tr Rather
Inc cried.
"Sh--hi Quietr' Graham warned.
A foot scraped on the gravel.
Maybe the detective" Bobby sug-
gested.
He stared at the bend, expecting
to see the stiff, plain figure of the
detective emerge from the forest. In
stead with a dawning amazement he
watched Carlos Paredes stroll into
view. The Panamanian was calm and
immaculate. His Van Dyke beard
was neatly trimmed and combed. AS
he advanced he pulled in leisurely
fashion at a cigaret.
Graham flushed.
After last night he has the nerve
-"
BE decent to him." Bobby urged
"He might help Mcknight clear up
last night"
81 wonder" Graham unused. ito
what extent he could clear it up il
he wished"
Paroles threw his cigaret away as
he came closer. Soleiunly he shook
hands with Katherine and Bobby,
expressing profound sympathy.
Even then Bobby remarked that
those reserved features let slip no
possible emotion. The man turned
to Graham. -
CHAPTER ".
Enter the Detective.
"Our little difference of last eve
ming" he said suavely, will, hope