South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-26

] AS BODDg started 10 cross the uln-
ing room he heard the slight scrap
! ing of the door leading 10 the kit
| chen. He knew there was someone
| in the room with him. He touched
a cold hand.
Bobby" Katherine breathed in
his ear.
He understood why the little light
| from the hall had failed 10 disclose
| her when she had come from the
| kitchen. She wore the black cloak.
Against the darkness at the end Of
the room he had made no silhOu-
cite. When he put his arms around
her and touched her cheek, he no.
I ticed that that, too, was cold; and
the shoulders of the cloak were
damp as if she had just come in
from the falling snow.
Where have you been?" he ask
ed.
Looking outside" she answered
| frankly. Il couldn't sit still I
wondered if the woman in black
would be around the house tonight.
Then ] was afraid, so 1 came in"
Doctor Groom's voice reached
them.
Have you found her? Is she in
| the dining room?
Without any thought Of disloyalty
Bobby recognized the menace of
coincidence.
Take your cloak off" he whis-
pered. Leave it here"
"Why?"
| While he drew the cloak from her
| shoulders he raised his voice.
Carlos has been hurt. The doc
tor asked me to find you"
His simple strategy was destroyed
| by the appearance Of Rawlins The
detective came directly 20 them;
| nor was the coincidence lost on him.
and it was his business to advertise
rather than TO conceal it. Without
I ceremony he took the cloak from
! Bobby. He draped it over his arm.
THE doctor" ne said to Kath-
/ crime. wants a basin of warm wa
/ ter, some old linen, carbolic acid
if you have it,"
! She nodded and went back 10 the
/ kitchen while Bobby returned with
the detective 10 the hall Paroles
eyes remained closed.
Where did YOU get the cloak.
! Rawlins2" Robinson asked.
THE young lady" Rawlins an
swered with soft satisfaction, Just
wore it in. At least it's still wet
from the snow"
Paroles opened his eyes. He
! looked for a moment at the black
cloak. He closed his eyes again.
You could recognize the woman
who attacked you?" Rawlins said
You've forgotten how dark it is.
Please don't ask me even TO swear
that it was a woman"
you've trying to say il wasn't
flesh and blood" Blackburn quaver-
ed.
Paroles smiled weakly.
I'm trying 70 say nothing at all"
Tell US each detail of the attack, q"
Robinson said.
But Katherine's footsteps reached
them from the dining room and Pa
| redes wouldn't answer. Under those
conditions Robinson's failure to
press the question was as disturbing
as the detectives matter of-fact cap
ture of the cloak.
Paroles glanced at Katherine once.
There was no softness in her atti-
tude as she knelt beside his chair.
| Neither. Bobby felt, was there the
| slightest uneasiness. With a facile
grace she helped the doctor battle
and bandaRe the slight wound
"A silk handkerchief for a sling
-" the doctor suggested.
Il won't have a sling" Paroles
said. Il wouldn't know what to do
without the use of both my hands 50
You ought to congratulate YOUR
self that YOU still keep it" the doc
tor grumbled.
Bobby took the pan and the bot
ties from Katherine and rang for
! Jenkins. 1t was clear that Robin
son had hoped the girl would go
out with them herself and so give
/ Paroles an opportunity to speak
This new development made him
wonder about Graham's theories as
to Paroles If it was Maria who
had struck the man there had aith4
I been a quarrel among thieves or
else no criminal connection had
ever existed between the two. Pa
| redes, however. aping the gestures
| OF ct invalid. was less 10 Bobby's
taste than his satanic appeasance
when he had come from the private
staircase.
Rawlins still held the cloak. Aft
/ er Jenkins had removed the doctor
/ paraphernalia. everyone seemed TO
wait. II was Silas Blackburn who
finally released the strain.
Katy where YOU been with that
cloak? What's he doing with it2''
Without answering she took the
cloak from Rawlins. and gave the
detective and the district attorney
the opportunity they craved. She
walked up the stairs. turning at the
landing. Her farewell seemed point
ed at the Panamanian who looked
languidly up at her
IF I'm wanted shall be in my
room"
who would want YOU. Rather
ine?" Graham blurted out. But il
was clear he caught the coincidence
too, and the trouble he had con-
I