South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-29

L swear il, Robinson. Only a few
hours. Let me carry out my plan.
Let Inc offer myself 10 the dangers
of the old room as Howells and my
grandfather did. Your case is no
good unless you can explain the
chance. Then in the morning, If
nothing happens and you still think
I'm guilty. lock me up, but for Gods
sake, Robinson, leave her out of il. Z"
Graham walked to the window
and flung il open. A violent gust
of wind swept in, carrying a multi
tude of icy fakes.
The storm is worse" he said. NO
one is likely TO try to escape from
this house tonight"
Bobby stretched out his hand.
You can't expose her to that"
Rawlins hadn't forgotten the
sense of fellowship sprung from the
pursuit of Paroles through the
forest.
He's right. Mr.. Robinson. You
could lock up a dozen people. You
might send them TO the chair with
out uncovering the real mystery of
the Cedars. Maybe he might find
something, and he'd be as safe in
that room as in any Jail I know of.
l mean one of US would be in the
library and the other in the CORR
dor outside the broken door. How
could he reasonably get out? If
there was an attempt to repeat the
trick we'd be ready. AS for the girl,
it's simple enough to safeguard
against her getting away before
morning AS Mr.. Graham says. no
ones likely to run far in this storm,
anyway"
Robinson considered.
Il don't want to be hard" he said
finally, ''and / don't want to miss
any chance of cleaning up where
poor Howells failed"
He glanced at the extraordinary
array of evidence. The good nature
which, one felt, should always have
been in his face. shone at last.
Il don't believe you're guilty. As
far as you're concerned it's likely
enough a put-up job. 1 don't know
about the girl. Go ahead. anyway,
and tell us. if you can. how the
locked room was entered. Explain
the mystery of that old man who
looks as if he were dead, but who
moves and talks with US"
1.-The answer if it's anywhere,
Bobby said. lis in the old room"
Robinson nodded.
Under the conditions it seems
worth while. Go on then and clear
your cousin and yourself if you can.
You have until daylight tomorrow.
Bobbys gratitude was sufficiently
eloquent in his eyes, but he said
nothing. He hurried from the room
to find Katherine. AS soon as he had
stepped in the corridor he saw her
figure against the wall.
"Katherinel" he breathed.
i've heard everything" she said.
He led her 10 the main hall where
the greedy ears in her bedroom
couldn't Overhear them.
Then you suspected what they
were about?" he asked her.
Uncle Silas,' she answered,
seemed JUST DIS he ndO DCGn WITCH
1 went upstairs. so 1 wondered, and
remembered / had left my door
unlocked"
Then you knew those things
were there?"
Her face was white. She trembled
Her words came jerkily:
of course / didn't. L only kept
my door locked because they had
searched so thoroughly before. 1t
was an humiliation 1 couldn't bear
TO face again
You don't know" he asked, who
took that stuff from Howells; who
hid it in your bureau"
The trembling of her slender
body became more pronounced. She
spoke through chattering teeth:
Bobby! Why do you ask such
things? You believe 1 am guilty
as you thought 1 was the woman in
black You think now. because those
things were in my bureau"
stop. Katherine. You won't an
swer me?"
mo-" she said. backing away
from him. But you are going to an
swer me. We have come TO that
point already. Just an hour or two
Of trust, and then this. It's the
Cedars forcing US apart as il did
when we had our quarrel. Only this
! time il is definite. Do you think
I'm guilty OF these atrociou'
crimes. or don't you? Everything foI
us depends on your answer, and II
know whether you are telling me
the truth"
Then" he said. why should
| answer
And ne took her in his arms and
| held her close.
She didn't cry, but for a moment
she ceased trembling. and her teeth
no longer chartered.
My dear" he said. even if you
had hidden that evidence I'd have
known it was TO protect me"
Then she cried a little. and for g
moment, even in the unmercifu
| grasp OF their trouble. they were
nearly happy. The footsteps Of the
others in the corridor recalled them
/ Katherine leaned against the table
J drying her eyes. Graham, Robinson
and Rawlins walked into the hall.
Hello" Robinson said. II sup
pose that isn't an unfair advantage
/ Mr. Blackburn. STILL I'd rather sh,
/ hadn't been told"