Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-20
CHAPTER XXI
The Scar on the Neck

That's what l meant" Parede.
whispered.
Graham moved back.
Good Cod"
Robinson stared. The fear hac
found him, too.
Doctor Groom touched Black
burns shoulder tentatively.
whats the matter with the bach
70 your neck"
Blackburn drew fearfully away
He raised his hand and fumbled al
the top of his collar. He held his
fingers to the freight.
Why" he said blankly. Il been
bleeding back there"
TO an extent the doctor controlled
himself
Sit down here, Silas Blackburn
he said. Il want to get the lamp
light on your head
Il amt badly hurt:' Blackburn
whined.
Il don't know" the doctor an.
swered. Heaven knows"
Blackburn sat down. The light
shonc full on the stained collar and
the dark patch of hair at the base Of
the brain. Doctor Groom examined
the wound minutely. He straight.
ened. He spoke unsteadily:
1T is healed wound. 1t was
made by something sharp
Robinson thrust his hands in his
pockets.
You're getting beyond my
depths, Doctor. Bring him up to the
old bedroom. | want him to sec
that pillow
But Blackburn covered in hi
chair
II wont 80 to that room again
They don't want me there. I'll have
work started in the cemetery to-
morrow"
Mr.. Blackburn Robinson said
the man we buried in the cemetery
today. the man these membc-s Of
your family identify as yourself, dice
of Just such a wound as the doctor
says has healed in your hea d.
Blackburn covered farther in his
chair.
you're making fun of me-" he
whimpered. lou're trying to scare
all old man"
NO" Robinson said. How was
that wound made
The crolched figure waggcd its
head from side to side.
II don't know Nothing's touched
me there. | remember | had a head,
ache when | woke up. Wry doesn't
Groom tell me why | slept so long?'
Il only know Groom rumbled
that the wound eXomined upstairs
must have caused instant death.
Paroles W hispered to him. The
doctor nodded reluctantly.
What do you mean" Blackburn
cried. you trying to tell me |
can't stay with you?'
He pointed to Paroles.
That's what he said-that
might have to 90 back, but | never
heard of such thing. I'm all right
NV neck doesn't hurt. I'm alive.
tell you I'm alive. I'll teach you
Rawline returned from the telc-
phone.
His story's straight he said in
his crisp manner I've been talking
to Waters himself Says Mr.. Black
burn turned up about $50, looking
queer and acting queer. Wouldn't
shake hands, just as he says. He
went to the spare room and slept
practically all the time until this f.
ternoon. No food. Waters couldn't
rouse him Mr.. Blackburn wouldn't
answer at all or else seemed half
asleep. He'd made up his mind to
call in a doctor this afternoon. Then
Mr.. Blackburn seemed all right
again, and started home"
Robinson gazed at the fire.
whats to be done now, sir?
Rawlins asked.
Find the answer if we cam
RObinso nsaid.
ParedeS spoke as softly as he had
done the other night while reciting
his sensitive reaction to the Cedars
gloomy atmosphere. Only now his
voice wasn't cropping.
Call me a dreamer if you want
Mr.. District Attorney. but l have
given you the only answer This
mans soul has dwelt in two plac-
es.'
Robinson grnned.
I'm going slow on calling any
body names, but l haven't forgotten
that there's been another crime in
this house. Howells was killed in
that room, too. I would like to be-
lieve he could return as Mr.. Black
burn has"
Blackburn looked up.
whats that? Who's Howells?"
And as Robinson told him of the
second crime he sank back in his
chair again. whimpering from time
to time. His fear was harder to
watc.
Might I suggest" Graham said,