Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-23
The Aband0nedR0Onn
By Wadsworth Camp

inson, therefore, everything he
knew, from the party with Maria
and Paroles in New York. through
his unconscious wanderings around
the house on the night of the first
murder, to the moment when Gra
ham had stopped his somnambulistic
excursion down the stairs.
Robinson turned his light away
from the grave.
There's nothing more to do here.
Let us go back"
The little party struggled through
the snow to the house. The hall
fire smouldered as pleasantly as it
had done before they had set forth.
yet an interminable period seemed
to have elapsed. Silas Blackburn
went close to the fire. He sank in
chair. trembling
I'm so cold" he whined. "I've
never been so cold. What is the
matter with me? For Gods sake
tell me what is the matterl Rather
ine-if-if nothing happens, we'll
close the Cedars. VIII go to the
city where there are lots of lights"
IF you'd only listened to Bobby
and me and gone long ago." she
said.
Robinson stared at the FIRE.
I'm about beaten" he muttered
YEARLY.
Rawlins, with an air of stealth,
walked upstairs. Graham, after a
moments hesitation, followed him.
Bobby wondered why they went. He
caught Robinson's eye. He indicat-
cd he would like to speak to hi III
the library. As he left the hall he
saw Paroles, who had not removed
his hat or coat, start for the front
door.
where are you going?" he heard
Robinson demand gruffly.
Paroles reply came glibly.
"Only to walk up and down in
the court. The house Expresses me
more than ever tonight. l feel with
Mr.. Blackburn that it is no place to
stay"
And while he talked to Robinson
in the library Bobby caught at times
the crunching of Paroles feet in
the court.
why does that court draw him?"
Robinson asked. why does he keep
repeating that it is full of ghosts?
He can't be trying to scare us with
that now"
But Bobby didn't answer.
"I've come to tell you the truth"
he burst out, Everything l know.
You may lock me up. Even that
would be better than this uncertain
ty. | must have an answer, if it
condemns me; and how could I have
had anything to do with what has
happened tonight"
He withheld nothing. Robinson
listened with an intent interest. At
the end he said, not unkindly:
IF the evidence and Howells' re-
port hadn't disappeared I'd have
arrested you and considered the case
closed before this miracle was
thrown at me. You've involved
yourself so frankly that / don't be-
lieve you're lying about what went
on in the old room when you en-
tered to steal those exhibits. Can't
say l blame you for trying that,
either. You were in a pretty bad
position-an unheard-of POSITION.
You still are, for that matter. But
the case is put on such an extraor-
binary basis by what has happened
tonight that I'd be fool to lock
you up on such confession. be-
lieve there's a good deal more in
what has gone on in that room and
in the return of your grandfather
than you can account for"
Thanks" Bobby said. 81 hoped
you'd take it this way, for if you will
let me help, l have plan"
He turned restlessly to the door
of the private staircase. In his men,
DRY Howll's bold figure was out
lined there, but now the face with
its slow smile seemed sympathetic
rather than challenging.
whats your plan?" Robinson
asked.
Ito Be Continued Tomorrow