South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-18

4 e
points 90 the guilt Of Bobby. who Is IN
able 20 establish an alibi as result Of
loss Of memory after night OF gay
life" I'm New York, spent In company
OF Parades, from Panama. and Marie.
Spanish woman. He awakes In a de-
serted shack near the Cedars and goes
70 the house. where he meets his cousin.
Katherine and Graham, a friend. All
agree that mystery surrounds the death
Of tie old man, who was one az many
BlacIburns to die I'm same manner.
Strange signs invariably mark tire Occa-
sion OF death In the room.
Bobby smiled wanly.
1T isn't pleasant to confess il.
Hartley, but have read OF such
cases."
Fiction"
Scientific fact"
81 wish to the devil I had shared
your room with you tonight" era
ham muttered. II might have rurn-
ished you an alibi for this affair at
least"
Either that" Bobby answered
frankly "or you might have fol-
lowed me and learned the whole Sc
cret. Honestly, isn't that what YOU
were thinking of, Hartley? And
did go TO sleep, telling myself it
would help me if something of the
sort happened to Howells. Now
I'm not so sure that il will. IL sup
pose you've got to notify the police"
Graham held up his hand.
what's that in? In the CORRIDOR"
There were quiet footsteps in the
corridor. Bobby turned quickly.
Paroles strolled slowly through the
passage. a cigarette held in his
slender, listless fingers Bobby
stared at him. remembering his sur
prise a few minutes ago that the
Panamanian should have sat up so
late. should have been, probably.
in the court when they had followed
Katherine to the discovery Of this
new crime.
Paroles paused in the doorway.
He took in the tragic picture framed
by the sinister room without display
the slightest interest. He continu-
ed 10 hold his cigarette until It ex
pired. Then he crossed the thresh
old. Graham and Bobby watched
the expressionless face. Gracefully
Paroles raised his finger and pointed
to the bed. When he spoke his
voice was low and pleasant:
Appalling! 1 feared something Of
the kind when 1 heard you come TO
this room"
He glanced at the broken door.
The same unbelievable circum-
stance" he drawIed. II see you had
to break in"
The color flashed back to Gra-
hams face.
You have taken plenty of time to
solve your misgivings."
1T hasn't been so long. I fancied
everything was all right, and L was
Immersed in my solitaire. Then I
heard a stirring upstairs. AS I've told
you, the house frightens me. 1t IS
not natural or healthy. So 1 came
up to investigate this stirring, and
there was Miss Katherine in the hall.
She told me-"
Graham faced him with undis-
guised enmity.
Immersed in your solitaire, We
were attracted by a light in the
lower hall at such an hour. we look
ed down. You were not there. The
front door was open"
Paroles glanced at his cold Gig
aret. He yawned.
When Howells died precisely as
Mr.. Blackburn did," Graham hur-
ried on, you alone were awake
about the house. Weren't you at that
moment in the court?"
Paroles laughed tolerantly.
at is clear, in spite of my apollo
gies. that we are not friends. era
ham; but, may I ask, are you ac-
cusing me of this strange--acci-
dent"
Il should like to know what you
were doing in the court"
Perhaps" Paroles answered, ct
was attracted there by the sounds
that aroused Miss Katherine"
Graham shook his head
From her description I doubt IL
those sounds would have been audi
BILE in the hall"
mo matter" Paroles said. II
merely suggest that it's a case for
| Groom. His hint OF a spiritual en-
| nifty may De sdneI lndn you IIllnh.
Katherine appeared in the door
way. She had evidently overheard
Paroles comment, for she nodded.
The determination in her eyes sug-
gested that she had struggled with
the situation during these last mo-
ments and had reached definite
conclusion. That quality was in her
voice.
AT least. Hartley" she said, 'you
must send for Dr. Groom before you
notify the police"
Graham waved his hand.
''Why?" he asked. THE man is
dead"
With a movement. hidden from
| Paroles, she indicated Bobby.
last time there was a good deal
OF delay before the doctor came II
we get him right away he may he
able 10 do something for this poor
fellow. At least his advice would be
useful"
Bobby realized that she was fight
ing for time for him. Any delay
would be useful that would give
them a chance 10 plan before the
police with unimaginative efficiency
should invade the house and limit
their oppOrfunftfpS Graham showed