South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-01

y
able @ establish an abb "a a result OF /
loss q memory after a night OF gay /
life in New York, spent In company /
Of PaFades. from Panama, and Marie. |
se4a sh woman near de k. c.dsss and
20 the house, where he meets bis cousin:
Katherine, and Graham, friend. All
agree that mystery surrounds the death
Blackburns to die in same manner.
Strange signs invariably mark tie COCA
sioE of a death In the room
Robinson opened the front door
You know he might have gone
this way"
But already the snow had ob.
liberated the signs of their own pas
sage in and out. II showed no fresh
marks.
"silas Blackburn has not gone
that way in the body DR.. Groom
rumbled.
The storm was more violent. II
discouraged the idea of examining
the graveyard again before morn
ing.
Robinson glanced at his watch.
He led Bobby and the detective to
the library.
Then try your scheme if you
want" he said. but understand ]
assume no responsibility. Honestly,
I doubt if il amounts TO anything.
You'll shout out if you are attack
ed. or the moment you suspect any
real cause for fear. Rawlins viii be
in the corridor, and I'll be in the
library or wandering about the
house-always within call. Rawlins
will guard the broken door. but be
sure and lock the other one"
The two officers went upstairs
with BOBBY. Graham followed.
J You understand" Robinson
said. I'D rather Paroles and the
doctor didn't suspect what you are
going 10 do. Change your mind he
fore it's too late, II you want
Bobby walked on without reply
ing
You can't dissuade him" era
ham said, because of what viii
happen tomorrow unless the truth
is discovered tonight"
In the upper hall they found
Katherine waiting. Her endeavors
were hard TO face.
You shan't go there for me, Bob
by" she said.
Isn't it clear must go in my own
service?'' he said. trying TO smile
He wouldn't speak to her again.
He wouldn't look at her. Her anX-
iaty and the affection in her eyes
awakened him, and he needed all
his strength. for at the entrance of
the dark, narrow corridor the fear
met him.
Rawlins brought a candle and
guided him down the corridor. Gra-
ham came, too. The detective lock-
ed the door leading 10 the private
hall and slipped the key in his peck
ct.
Nobody will get through there
any more than they will through
the other door which I'll watch"
With Graham's help he made a
quick inspection of the room, search
ing closets and glancing behind the
bed and behind the furniture.
There's no one" he said, prepar-
ing 10 depart Il tell you there's no
chance OF a physical attack
His unimaginative mind cried out.
Il tell you you'll find nothing.
learn nothing. for there's nothing
here TO learn"
Just the same" Graham urged.
you'll call out. won't you, Bobby,
at the first sign of anything out OF
the way? For Gods sake take no
foolish chances"
Il don't want the light" Bobby
forced himself TO say. My grand
father and Howells both put their
/ candles out 1 want everything as it
was when they were attacked"
Rawlins nodded and, followed by
! Graham, carried the candle from
the room and closed the broken
door.
The sudden solitude and the dark
ness crushed Bobby, taking his
/ breath. yellow flames. the response
OF his eyes 10 the disappearance of
tho candle. tore across the blackness
cen. using him He felt his way 70
Tie wall near the open window. lie
| sat dawn there, facms; the ped.
At first he couldn't see the bed. He
| saw only the pccie ctiors Of his fancy
stimulated by Sofas Blackburn
story. against the black screen of the
night He understood at last what
the old man had meant. The dark
ness did appear TO possess n physical
Resistance and as the minutes length
ened il seemed to encase all the suf-
fe~ing the room had ever harbOured
But he wouldn't close his eyes as his
/ grandfather had done. II was a de-
| fence 10 keep them on the spot
whore the bed stood while his mind
in spite of his VII pictured. lying
,htlt, still forms with bandaged
/ HEADS He wouldnt close his eyes
even when those fancied shapes com
menced to struggle in grotesque AMI
/ inipOtent motion, like ants whose hill
has been demolished. Nor could ht
| drive from his ears the echoes OF de-
lirium that seemed 10 have fingered
/ in the old room. he continued 20
watch the darkness until the outlines
of the room and OF its furniture dim
/ ~ detached themselves from the
/ black pail The snow apparently
caught what feeble light the moon
forced through, rejecting it with a
disconsolate ineffeciency. He could
see after time the pallid frames OF
. IN. 4