Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-16
CHAPTER XVI.
Strange Things Happen

Strange Things Happen
Hello, Katy! Hello, Bobby
You've shown your face at last?
hope you've come sober"
The thin, quarrelsome voice O.
Siias Blackburn echoed in the
mouldy court. The stout, bent fig
ure in the candlelight studied them
suspiciously. Katherine chung tc
Bobby, trembling, startled beyond
speech by the apparition. They
both stared at the gray face, at the
thick figure, which, three days at
ter death, they had seen buried thai
noon in the overgrown cemetery
Bobby recalled how Doctor Groom
had reminded him that an activity
like this might emerge from such
places. He had suggested that the
hcondition of the family buria
ground might be an inspiration tc
such strayings. Yet,why should the
spirit of Silas Blackburn have es-
capped? Why should it have re,
turned forthwith to the Cedars, TN
less to face his grandson as his muir.
derer?
Afterward Bobby experienced nc
shame for these reflections. The en-.
counter was a fitting sequel to the
moment in the~dark room when he
had felt Howells move beneath his
hand. He had a fleeing faith that
the void between the living and the
dead had, indeed, been bridged.
Then he wondered that the famil-
lar figure failed to disintegrate, and
he noticed smoke curling from the
blackened briar pipe. He caught its
pungent aroma in the damp air OF
the court. Moreover, Silas Black
burn had spoken, challenging him
as usual with sheer.
LET us go past" Katherine
whispered.
But Silas Blackburn stepped out
blocking their way. He spoke
again. His whining accents held
a reproach.
whats the matter with you two:
You might "a seen a ghost, Or
maybe you're sorryto have me
back. Didn't you wonder where I
was, Katy? Reckon you hoped |
was dead, Bobby"
Bobby answered. He had a fancy
of addressing emptiness.
"Why have you come? That is
what you are to us-dead"
Silas Blackburn chuckled. He
took the pipe from his mouth and
tapped the tobacco down with a
knotted forefinger.
"I'll show how dead I am! Try.
ing to be funny, amt you? III
make you laugh on the wrong side
of your face. It's cold here. I'm
going in
The same voice, the same man.
ner! Yet his presence denied that
great fact which during three days
had been impressed upon them with
a growing fear.
The old man jerked his thumb
toward the dimly lighted windows
of the wing.
What you got the old room
lighted up for? What's going or
there? I tried to sleep there the
other night"
Uncle"
Katherine sprang forward. She
stretched out her hand to him witt
a reluctance as pronounced as Ora
hams when he had touched How
ellis body. Her fingers brushed hi
hand. Her shoulders dropped. Sh'
chung to his arm. To Bobby thi
resolution was more of a shock, les
to be explained, than his first as
surance of an immaterial visitor
What did it mean to him. Was i
an impossible assurance of safety?
The old man patted Katherine'
shoulder.
"Why what you crying for, Katy
Always seems something to scar
you lately"
He Jerked his thumb again to
ward the lighted windows.
"You amt told me yet what's 60
ing on in the old ROOM"
Bobby's laugh was dazed, ques
tioning.
They're trying to account 70
your murder there"
His grandfather looked at hin
with blank amazement.
you out of your head3"
NO." Katherine cried. 1--WE say
you lying there, cold and still. L
found you"
you've not forgotten, Rather
ine," Bobby said breathlessly, "tha
he moved afterward."
Silas Blackburn took his han
from Katherine's shoulder.
! Trying to scare me? What's tn
matter with you? Some scheme t
get my money!"
you slept in the old room tn
, other night?' Bobby asked helpless