Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-03
CHAPTER XIV.
Jenkins Tells What he Knows.

Jenkins Tells What he Knows.
Katherine got a cloak and threw
it across the woman's sholders,
Maria looked up at her with a dumb
gratitude. Then Rawlins came back
With jenkins. The butler was left
and haggard. His surrender to fear
was more pronounced than it had
teen at the grave or when they had
last seen him in the kitchen. He
grasped a chair and breathing
heavily, looked from one to the
other, moistening his lips.
Paroles faced the man, completely
master of the situation. Through
the old butler it became clear. he
would make his revelation and an
nounce that simple fact they all had
missed. 4
ct was Mr.. Silas, of course who
came back?"
"Oh Ny God" the butler moaned,
what do you mean?"
Il know everything, Jenkins,
Paroles said evenly.
The butler collapsed against The
chair. Paroles grasped his arm.
Pull yourself together. man.
They won't want you as more than
an accessory"
Maria started to rise. She shrank
hack again, shivering close to the
FIRE.
as your master hiding" Paroles
asked, "or has he-left the house?"
Jenkins answer came through
trembling lips.
He's gone! Mr.. Silas is gone!
How did you find out? Ny God!
How did you find out?"
He said nothing to your" Paroles
asked.
Jenkins shook his head.
Tell me how he was dressed"
The old servantscovered his face.
"Mr. Silas stumled through the
Kitchen" he answered hoarsely. 81
tried to stop him, but he pushed me
away and. ran out" His voice rose.
Il tell you he ran without coat
or hat into the storm"
Paroles sighed.
THE Cedar's final tragedy, yet il
was the most graceful exit he could
have made"
Maria struggled to her feet. Her
eyes were the eyes of a person with
out reason. That familiar, hysteri-
cal quality which they had heard
before at distance vibrated in her
voice.
Then he was the one! I wanted
to kill him, l couldn't kill him be-
cause | never was sure"
did you see him go out an hour
or so ago?" Paroles asked.
~ saw him." she cried feverishly
run from the back of the house and
down the path to the lake. II
tried to each him, but my feet were
frozen, and the snow was slippery
and / couldn't find my shoes. But
J called and he wouldn't stop. / had
to know, because | wanted to kill
him if it was Silas Blackburn. And
saw him run to the lake an splash
in until the water was over his
head"
She flung her clenched hands out
Her voice became a scream. shot
with all her suffering, all her doubt
all her fury,
"You don't understand. He cant
be punished | tell you he's at the
bottom of the lake with the man he
murdered. And | can't pay him.
tried to go after him, but tit was
too cold"
She sank in one of the chairs
shaking and sobbing.
sunless we want another tragedy
the doctor said, "this woman must
be put to bed and taken care Of
She has been terribly exposed
You've heard her. She's delirious.
Not so delirious that she hasn't
told the truth" Paroles said.
The doctor lifted her in his arm:
and with Rawlin's help carried hel
upstairs. Katherine went with them
Almost Immediately the doctor ant
Rawlins hurried down.
Il have told Katherine what tc
do" Doctor Groom said. "The wo
inan may be all right in the morning
What's she been up to here!"
"Then," Bobby cried, there was &
connection between the dinner party
and the murders. But what abou
my coming her unconscious? VIVA
about my handkerchief"
IL can see no answer yet" Ora
hem said.
Paroles smiled.
Not when you've had the answer
TO everything? | have shown yo,
that Silas Blackburn was the muir
derer. The fact stared you in thu
face. Everything that has happened
at the Cedars has pointed to hi
guilt"
Except" the doctor said, chi
own apparent murder which made
his guilt seem impossible. And In
rot sure you're riht now, for Their
is no other Blackburn he could hav'
murdered, and Blackburns look alik'
You wouldn't mis- take another mai
for one of them."
This house." Paredes smiled
''has all along been full of the pres
ence of the other Blackburn. Their,