South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-04

abandoned and locked room OF his bone
ne Ssdars. Circumstsn.ial ev = n G Q
points 20 the guilt Of Bobby. who is un-
sole q establish an abb as q result %
loss Of memory after a night OF gay
1fe IN New York. spent IN company
~ Parades. from Psnama. and Marie. a
ssstsa shsc acne near the csdsrs and goes Ss
10 the house. whore he meets his cousin
kstherine, and Graham, 3 friend. Al
aETeo that mystery surrounds the death
81 TIE old man, who was ore Of many
strange sighs Invariably marx tie Occa-
sion Of a death IN fhe room.
Robinson's hesitation was easily
comprehensive. II Paredcs were re-
sponsible for the abnormaIties they
had experienced at the Cedars he
might find IL simple enough to trick
them now, but the mans hooking
smile brought the anger TO Robin
sons face.
cor course ne can't get away.
See IL there's anything on his
clothes. Rawlins. He ought TO have
the hatpin Then let him go"
The detective. however. failed TO
find the hatpin OF any other weapon.
You see" Paroles smiled.
That's something in my favor"
He stepped back. brushing HIS
clothing with his uninjured hand.
He lighted a cigaret. He drew back
the coat sleeve OF his left arm and
re8djusted the bandage. He glanced
Up as heavy footsteps heralded DR..
Groom.
Hello. Doctor" ne called cheer
"a . ID,
the snow. II seems the blOodhOunds
OF the law left us out OF their con
fdence."
What's all this ?" the doctor rum
bled
Paroles waved his hand
II am a prisOner."
The doctor gaped.
You mean you"
Young Blackburn caught him"
Robinson explained. He was in a
position to finish him just as he
did Howells."
Except that I had no hatpin,
Paroles yawned
The Doctors uneasy glance sought
the opening in the wall.
II thought you had examined all
these walls" he grumbled. How
did you miss this?'
Robinson ran his fingers through
his hair.
That's what I've been asking
myself" he said. Il went over that
panelling a dozen times myself"
Bobby and Katherine went closer.
Bobby had been from the first puz
zled by Paredes' easy manner. He
had a quick hope. He saw the mar
watch with an amused tolerance
while the district attorney bent over,
examining the face Of the panel.
IAN entire section" Robinson
said-"the thickness of the wall
has been shifted 20 one side. No
wonder we didn't see any joints or
get a hollow sound from this panel
any more than from the others. But
why didn't we stumble on the me
chanism? Maybe you'n tell us that,
Paroles"
The Panamanian blew a wreath Of
smoke against the ancient wall.
GLADLY, but you will find it humil-
Eating. I have experienced humility
in this hall myself. The reason you
didn't find any mechanism is that
there wasn't any. You looked for
something most cautiously concealed,
not realizing that the best conceal
ment is no cOncealment at all. It's
fundamental. 1 don't know how it
slipped my own mind. No grooves
show because the door is an entire
panel. There isn't even latch. You
merely push hard against its face.
Such arrangements are common
enough in colonial houses. and there
was more than the nature Of the
crimes to tell you there was some
such thing here. I mean if you will
examine the farther door closer than
YOU have done YOU will find that IL
has fewer coats Of paint than the
one leading TO the corridor that its
frame Is of newer wood In other
words, Il was cut through after the
wing was built. This panel was the
original door. designed. with the
private stairway and the hall, for the
exclusive use OF the master OF the
house. Try it"
Robinson hraCed himself and
showed against the panel It moved
AT 40 6@hNNfa WIN q NlAfA AllA ~ 1T
ring
Rusty" he said
Katherine started
That's what I heard each time.
she cried
Above his heavy black beard the
doctors cheeks whitened Robinson
made a gesture OF revulsion.
THAT gives the nasty game away"
Naturally" Paroles said. "and
you must admit the game IS as beau
tifully simple as the panel The i'm
strument or death wasn't inserted
through the bedding as YOU thought
inevita bic. Doctor Suppose YOU were
$ lying IN that bed. asleep or hale
asleep, and yOu were aroused bv
such a sound as that IN the wall be-
hind YOU What would YOU do
What would any man do first OF all 90
Robinson nodded
Il see what Won mean Ia get M
on nay elbow. I'd look around as
quickly as / could 20 see what il was
I'd expose myself 10 clean thrust.
I'd drop back on the bed. more