South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-10
The Room
A Mystery Story by Wads-
worth Camp.
CONTINUED
SYNOPSIS.

SYNOPSIS.
Bobby Blacxpuru - suspected OF the
murder OF his grandfather. Silas Black
burn, who was found dead with small
hole at the base Of his brain. In an
abandoned and locked room OF bis home
the Cedars. Circumstanttal evi Q
points 70 the guilt OF Bobby, who is IN.
able TO establish an abb az a result OF
loss OF memory after a night OF gay
life" In New York, spent In company
OF Parades. from Panama. and Marie.
Spanish woman. He awakes In de-
serted shack near the Cedars and goes
20 the house, where he meets his cousin.
Katherine, and Graham, q friend. All
agree that mystery surrounds the death
Of the old man, who was one OF many
Blackburns TO die in same manner.
Strange signs invariably mark the occa-
sioE OF q death In the room.
This necessary task on which
Bobby stumbled had made the
thicket less congenial than the
house. AS he walked back he fore
casted with a keen apprehension his
approaching ordeal. IL would,
doubtless. DE more difficult to en-
dure than Howells' experiment over
Silas Blackburn's body in the old
room. Could he witness the definite
| Imprisonment of his grandfather in
narrow box: could he watch the
covering earth fall noisily in that
bleak place Of silence without dis
playing for Robinson the guilt that
impressed him more and more?
A strange man appeared. walk
ing from the direction of the house.
His black clothing. relieved only
| by narrow edges OF white cuffs be-
tween the sleeves and the heavy
! mourning gloves. fitted with solemn
| harmony into the landscape and
Bobbys mood. Such a figure was ap-
propriate 10 the Cedars. Bobby
stepped TO one side, placing a
screen of dead foliage between him
self and the man whose profession
il was 20 mourn. He emerged from
the forest and saw again the lei
surely weaving of the smoke shroud
above the house. Then his eyes were
drawn by the restless movements of
a pair of horses. standing In the
shafts Of a black wagon at the court
entrance. and his ordeal became like
a vast morass which offers no like
ly path yet whose crossing is the
price Of salvation.
He was glad to see Graham leave
the court and hurry toward him.
II was coming TO hunt you up,
Bobby The minister's arrived SO
has DR.. Groom. Everything's about
ready"
DIR. Groom
Yes. He used TO see a good deal
| of your grandfather. It's natural
/ Il
Bobby agreed indifferently. They
walked slowly back to the house.
Graham made it plain that his mind
was far from the sad business
ahead.
What do you think Of Paroles
coming back as il nothing were
| wrong?" he asked He ignores
what happened yesterday. He settles
himself in the Cedars again"
Il don't know what TO think Of
it," Bobby answered. This morning
Carlos gave me the creeps.'
Graham glanced at him curiously
He spoke with pronounced delibera-
ton, startling Bobby; for this friend
expressed practically the thought
that Paroles arrival had driven in
to his owr mind.
Gave me the creeps. too. Makes
me surer than ever that he has an
abominably deep purpose In using
his wits to hang on here. He sug-
gests resources as hard TO under
stand as anything that has happen
ed in the old room. You'll confess
Bobby. he's had a good deal OF in
! fuence over you-an influence for
evil?"
1--WE liked TO go around with him
if that's what you mean"
Isn't he the cause of the last two
or three months nonsense i'm New
York ?"
81 won't blame Carlos for that,
| Bobby muttered.
"He influenced you against your
better Judgment" Graham persisted,
Ito refuse to leave with me the
night of your grandfather's death.
Maria did her share" Bobby
said.
! He broke off. looking at Graham.
What are you driving att"
! i've been asking myself since he
came back" Graham answered. IF
there's any queer power behind his
quiet manner. Maybe he is psychic.
/ Maybe he can do things we don't
| understand. I've wondered if ne had,
without your knowing ii. acquired
/ sufficient influence to direct your
body when your mind no longer
! controlled it, It's a nasty thought.
but I've heard of such things"
You mean Carlos may have
made me go to the hall last night,
| perhaps sent me TO the old room
! those other times? ?"
Now that another had expressed
the idea Bobby fought il with all
his might.
NO. / won't believe il. I've been
weak. Hartley, but not that weak.
And tell you I did feel Howells'
| body move under my hand
Don't misunderstood me-" Ora
ham said gently. II must consider
| every possibility You were excited
1 and imaginative when you went 10
f. the old room 10 take the evidence.
II was a shock TO have your candle
go out Your own hand. reaching
| out 10 Howells. might have moved
/ spasmodically. / mean, you may
have been responsible for the thing
without realizing it,"
And the disappearance OF the
| evidence ," Bobby defended him