Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-10
The AbandonedRoon
R Wadsworth Camp

aiS AZ AAOSt VI lhS pdPSlo. 1HCIC
have been reporters here this morn
ing, about the murders.
He strolled over and handed
Bobby a number of newspapers.
Where's Robinson?" Bobby
asked.
81 saw him in the court a while
ago. l daresay he's wandering
around-perhaps watching the men
at the grave"
"He learned nothing new last
night"
Il was with him at breakfast. I
gather not" !
Bobby looked up.
Isn't that an automobile coming
through the woods?" he asked.
Maybe Rawlins back from
Smithtown, or the minister"
The car stopped at the entrance of
the court. They heard the remote
tinkling of the front door bell. Jen-
kins Aassed through. The cold air
invading the hall and the dining
room told them he had opened-the
door, His sharp exclamation re-
called Howells' report which, at
their direction, he had failed to mail.
Had his exclamation been drawn
by an accuser? Bobby started to
rise. Graham moved toward the
door. Then jenkins entered and
stood to one side, Bobby shared
his establishment, for Paroles
walked in, unbuttoning his over
coat, the former easy-mannered, I'M
communicative foreigner. He ap-
peared, moreover, to have slept
pleasantly. His eyes showed no
WEAKNESS, his clothing no disar-
rangement. He spoke at once, quite
as if nothing disagreeable had
Swallowed his departure.
Good morning. If l had dreamed
of this change ip the weather l
would have brought heavier over
coat. I've nearly frozen driving
from Smithtown."
Before either man could grope
flor a suitable greeting he faced
Bobby. He felt in his pockets with
whimsical Encouragement.
Fact is, Bobby, | left New York
too suddenly. I hadn't noticed until
a little while ago. You see l spent
a good deal in Smithtown yester-
day"
Bobby spoke with an obvious con-
fusion: '
What do you mean, Carlos? I
thought you were"
Graham interrupted with a fiat
demand for an explanation.
How did you get away"
Paroles waved his hand. l.
Later, Mr.. Graham There is
hack driver outside who is even
more suspicious than you He wants
to be paid. l asked Rawlins to
drive me back, but he rushed from
the courthouse, probably to tele-
phone his rotund superior. Fact is,
this fellow wants five dollars-an
outrageous rate. I've told him So
but it doesn't do any good. Sol
will 20 lend me, Bobby"
Bobby handed him a banknote.
He didn't miss Graham's meaning
glance. Paroles gave the money to
the butler.
PAY him, will you, jenkins?
Thanks"
He surveyed the remains of
Bobby's breakfast. He sat down.
MAY II My breakfast was early,
and prison food, when you're not
in the habit"
Bobby tried to account for Par
edes' friendly manner. That he
should have come back at all was
sufficiently strange, but it was hard
er to understand why he should ex-
press no resentment for his treat
ment yesterday, why he should fail
to refer to Bobby's questions at the
moment of his arrest. or to the
openly expressed enmity of Graham.
Only one theory promised to fit at
all. 1t was necessary for the Pan
amanian to return to the Cedars.
His purpose, whatever it was, COM
ptlleu Hill 10 leIlldlll lOI tHe present
in the mournful, tragic house.
Therefore, he would crush his justi-
fable anger. He would make it
practically impossible for Bobby to
refuse his hospitality. And he had
asked for money-only a trifing
sum, yet Graham would grasp at the
fact to support his earlier suspicion.
Paroles arrival possessed one
virtue. 1t diverted Bobby's thoughts
temporarily from his own dilemma,
from his inability to chart a course.
Graham, on the other hand, was
i'll at ease. Beyond a doubt he was
disarmed by Paroles good humor.
For him yesterdays incident was