Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-23
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Bobby Develops a Plan.

For a long time the little group
gathered in the snow-swept ceme-
terry remained silent. The lamp,
shaking in the district attorneys
hand, illuminated each detail of the
casket's interior Innings. Bobby
tried to realize that, except for these
meaningless embellishments. the box
was empty. That was what held
them all-the void, the unoccupied
silken couch in which they had seen
Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
Yet the screws which the detective
had removed and the mass of earth.
packed down and covered with
snow, must have made escape a
dreadful impossibility even if the
spark of life had terminated its oc-
cupant. And that occupant stood
there, trembling and haggard. sob
bing from time to time in an utter
abandonment to the terror of what
he saw.
To Bobby in that moment the
supernatural legend of the Cedars
seemed more triumphantly fulfilled
than it would have been through
the immaterial return of his grand
father. For Silas Blackburn was a
reincarnation more difficult to ac-
cept than any ghost. Had Paroles,
who all along had offered them a
spectacle of yelled activity and
thought, grasped the truth? At first
glance, indeed, his gossip of oriental
theories concerning the disintegra-
ton of matter, its passage through
solid substances, it's reassembly in
far places, seemed thoroughly justi-
fed. Yet, granted that, who, in the
semblance of Silas Blackburn. had
they buried to vanish completely?
Who, in the semblance of Silas
Blackburn, had drowsed without
food for three days in house at
Shutdown?
The old man stretched his shak-
ing hands to Bobby and Katherine.
Don't let them bury me again.
They never buried me. I've not
been dead! l tell you I've not been
deadw He mouthed horribly. I'm
alive. Can't you see I'm alive?"
He broke down and covered his
face. Jenkins sank on the heap of
earth.
Il saw you, Mr.. Silas. in that box.
And | saw you on the bed. Miss
Katherine and I found you. We
had to break the door. You looked
so peaceful we thought you were
asleep. But when we touched you
you were cold"
No, no, no." Blackburn GRIM
aced. Il wasn't cold. | couldn't
have been"
There's no question:" Bobby said
hoarsely.
NO question" Robinson repeated.
Katherine shrank from her uncle
as he had shrunk from her in the
library the night Of the murder.
What do you make of it," the
district attorney asked Rawlins.
The detective, who had remained
ClOuCHeu DIT tlC oluC VI tIC Sia'S'
arose, brushing the dirt from his
hands, shaking his head.
what is one to make of it, sir"
Paroles spoke softly to Graham.
"The Cedars wants to be left
alone to the dead. We would all
be better away from it."
you won't go yet awhile" Rob-
inson said grufay. Don't forget you
are still under bond"
The detail no longer seemed OF
importance to Bobby. The mystery.
centering in the empty grave. was
apparently inexplicable. He exper-
fenced a great pity for his grand
father; and, recalling that strength
ening moment with Katherine. he
made up his mind that there was
only one course for him. 1t might
be dangerous in itself; yet, on the
other hand, he couldn't 60 to Kath-
crime while his share in the mystery
of the Cedars remained so darkly
Swallowed. He had no right to with
hold anything and he wouldn't ask
Graham's advice. He had stepped
all at once into the mastery Of his
own destiny. He would tell Rob-