Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-29
The Abandoned Room
By Wadsworth Camp.

ments upstairs persisted. At last
they became measured and dragging,
like the footsteps of men who car
ried some heavy burden.
They looked at each other then.
Katherine hid her eyes.
ITS like tomb here" Bobby
said.
He arranged kindling in the fire.
place and touched a match to it. 1t
hadn't occurred to him to ring for
jenkins. None on them wished to
be disturbed. Eventually it was the
detective who intruded. He strolled
in, glanced at them curiously for a
moment, then walked to the door of
the enclosed staircase. He grasped
the knob.
Tonight" he announced, ~ am
trying a small experiment on the
chance OF clearing up the last detail
of the mystery. Since it depends
on the courage of whoever muir
dered Mr.. Blackburn I've small
hopes for its success"
He indicated the ceiling. you've
heard, | dare say, what's been going
on up there. Mr.. Blackburn's body
has been removed to his own room.
The room where he was killed is
empty. | mean to go up and enter
and lock the doors as he did last
night. | shall leave the window up
as it was last night. | shall blow
out the candle as he did"
10 He lowered his voice. He looked
directly at Bobby. His words car
ried a definite challenge.
Il shall lie on the bed and await
the murderer under the precise con-
ditions Mr.. Blackburn did"
What do you expect to gain by
that?" Graham asked.
Probably nothing Howells an
swered, because, as l have said,
success depends upon the courage
of man who kills in the dark while
his victim sleeps. I simply give him
the chance to attack me- as he did
Mr.. Blackburn. OF course he real
ICES it would be a good deal to his
advantage to have me out of the
way. I ask him to come, therefore,
as stealthily as he did last night. l
beg him to match his skill with mine.
! want him to play his miracle with
the window or one of the locks.
But I'll wager he hasn't the nerve,
although don't see why he should
hesitate. He's a doomed man. l
shall make my arrest in the morn
ing. | shall publish all my evil
dence."
Bobby wouldn't meet the narrow,
menacing eyes, for he knew that
Howells challenged him to duel of
slyness with the whole truth at
stake. The detectives manner in
creased the hatred which had blazed
in Bobbys mind when he had stood
in the bedroom over his grandfath-
er's body. For a moment he wished
with all his heart that he might &C
cept the challenge. He did the best
he could.
81 gather" he said, "that you have
Mt unearther the motive for dis
turbing the body. And have you
found the sharp instrument that
caused death?"
The detective answered tolerantly:
81 have found number of sharp
instruments. None of them, how
ever, seems quite slender or round
enough. III get all that out of my
man when | lock him up. I'll get
it tonight if he dares come"
"Why," Graham said, do you an
nonuce your plans so accurately to
The detectives level smile wild
ened.
you shouldn't ask that, Mr.. Ora
ham. I've caused the Servants to
know my plans. Mr.. Paroles knows
them. l wish everyone in the house
to know them. That is in order that
the murderer, who is in the house,
may come if he wishes"
Katherine rose abruptly.
when you come down to it," she
said, you are accusing one OF us.
It's brutal. unfair-absurd."
II am a detective, Miss" Howells
answered. Il have my own meth
DDS"
Bobby stared at the slight protu-
berance in the breat pocket of the
detectives coat. The cast of his
footprint must be secreted there and
almost certainly the handkerchief
which had been found beneath the
bed. He shrank from his own
thoughts. If he had consciously
committed this murder he could un-
derstand a desire to get that evil
dence.
Katherine had gone closer to the
detective.
"In any case" she urged him, II
wish you wouldn't try to spend the
night in that room. 1t isn't pleas
ant. After what the doctor has said,
it-well, it isn't safe"
Howells burst out laughing.
"Never fear, Miss. I'm content
to give DR.. Groom's spirits as much
chance to take a fall out of me as
anybody. I'll be going up now" He
bowed. Goodnight to you all, and
pleasant dreams"
He opened the door and slipped
into the darkness of the private
staircase. They heard him, after he
had closed the door, climbing up
ward. Katherine shivered.
"He has plenty of courage, Hart