South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-15

points TO the guilt OF Bobby who is I'M
able 20 establish an alibi as a result Of
+ loss OF memory after a night OF gay
life" in New York, spent In company
OF Parades, from Panama. and Marie. a
Spanish woman. He awakes in a de-
serted shack near the Cedars and goes
to the house where he meets his cousin.
Katherine, and Graham, u friend All
agree that mystery surrounds the death
Of tie old man, who was one Of many
Blackburns 20 die in same manner.
Strange signs invariably mark the occa-
sion of a death in the room.
He started around the end Of the
lake. and for a moment he thought
that the shape Of a woman. clothed
in black, detached itseIf from the
shadow. The image dissolved. He
wondered if it had been more sub
stantial than fancy.
"Who is that he called.
The woods muffled his voice.
There was no answer. Nor was there,
he noticed. any cracking of twigs
or rustling OF dead leaves. If there
had been a woman there she had
fed noiselessly, yet, as he went On
around the lake his own progress
was distinctly audible through the
decay of autumn.
1t was too dark on the other side
to detect any traces Of a recent hui
man presence in the thicket. He
couldn't quiet, however, the feeling
that he had had a glimpse of a wom-
an clothed in black who had studied
him secretly across the stagnant
stretch Of the lake.
On the other hand. there was no
logic in a woman's presence here 1T
such an hour, no logic in a strangers
running away from him. While he
pondered the night invaded the for
est completely. making it Impossible
for him to search farther. It had
grown so dark. indeed, that he
found his way out with difficulty.
The branches caught at his clothing
The underbrush tangled itself about
his feet. 1t was as If the thickct
were trying to hold him away from
the house.
As he entered the court he noticed
through the curtains of the room Of
death
He opened the front door. Par
edes and Graham alone sat by the
fire.
Then they're not through YET
Bobby said.
Graham arose. He commenced 10
pace the length Of the hall.
They've had Katherine in that
room One would think she'd been
through enough. Now they've sent
fer the servants"
Paroles laughed lightly.
After this" he said, I'm afraid,
Bobby. you'll need the powers of the
police TO keep servants in your
souse."
Muttering. frightened voices came
from the dining room. jenkins en-
tered. and. shaking his head. went
up the stairs. The two women who
followed him, were in tears. They
paused. as if seeking an excuse to
linger on the lower floor, to post
pone as long as possible their en-
trance Of the room of death.
Ella. a pretty girl. Whose dark
hair and eyes suggested a normal
vivacity. spoke TO Bobby.
Its outrageous Mr.. Robert. He
found out all we knew this morn
ing. What's he after now? You
might think we'd murdered Mr.
Blackburn"
Jane was older. An ugly scar
crossed her cheek It was red and
like an open wound as she demand
ed that Bobby put a stop 70 these
inpuisitions.
ct can do nothing" he said. Go
on up and answer or they can make
trouble for you"
Muttering again to each other,
they followed Jenkins, and in the
lower hall the three men waited.
Jenkins came down first. His face
was white It twitched.
THE body" he mouthed IT'S
moved, I saw it before"
He stretched out his hands to
Bobby.
That's why they wanted us. 70
find out where we were this after
noon. and everything we've done.
as if we might have gone there, and
disturbed"
Angry voices in the upper hall in
terrupted him. The two women ran
down. as white as Jenkins. At an i'm
patient nod from Bobby the three
servants went on TO the kitchen.
HoweIIs. the coroner, and DR.. Groom
descended.
What ails you. doctor?" the cor
oner was squeaking. Il agree it's
an unpleasant room Lots of old
rooms are. I follow you when you
say no post-mortem contraction
would have caused such an altera-
ton in the position Of the body.
There's no question about the rest Of
| II. The man was clearly murdered
with a sharp tool Of some sort. and
the murderer was in the room again
| this afternoon. and disturbed the
! corpse. Howells says he knows who.
It's up to him 10 find out how He
saws he has plenty of evidence and
| that the guilty persons in this house,
so I'm not fretting myself I'm cross
with YOU HOwells, for breaking up