South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-09

hole az the base Of his brain. in an
abandoned and locked room OF bis home.
the Cedars. Circumstantial evil ice
points TO the guilt Of Bobby, who is IN:
able 10 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.
serted shack near the Cedars and goes
20 the house, where he meets his cousin,
Katherine, and Graham. q friend AL
agree that mystery surrounds the death
OF the old man, who was one or many
Blackburns 20 die In same manner.
Strange signs invariably mark the occa-
aiOn OF death in the room.
Paroles blew a wreath OF smoke.
His eyes still smiled, but his voice
was harder:
"Bygones are bygones. Isn't that
so. Bobby"
Since you wish it," Bobby said.
But more important than the
knowledge Graham desired. loom
ed the old question. What was the
eman's game? What held him here ?
Robinson entered. The flesh
around his eyes was puffier than il
| had been yesterday. Worry had in
creased the incongruous discomfort
of his round face. Clearly he had
slept little.
Il saw you arrive" he said.
'Rawlins warned me. But I must
say l didn't think you'd use your
! freedom 10 come TO US"
Paroles laughed
Since the law won't hold me at
your convenience in Shutdown 1
keep myself at your service here
if Bobby permits it. Could you ask
more2"
Bobby shrank from the man with
whom he had idled away so much
time and money. That fieeting sa-
tanic impression of yesterday came
back, sharper. more alarming Par
AIDES clear challenge TO the district
attorney was the measure Of his
strength. His mind was subtIer tnan
theirs. His reserve and easy daring
mastered them all; and always. as
now. he laughed at the futility of
their efforts TO sound his purposes,
to limit his freedom of action. Bob
by didn't care TO meet the un-
communicative eyes whose depths
he had never been able to explore.
Was there a special power there
that could control the deStinies of
other people, that might make men
walk unconsciously 10 accomplish
the ends of an INSCRIPTIONS brain
The district attorney appeared as
much at sea as the others.
Thanks" he said dryly to Par
edes.
And glancing at Bobby. ne asked
with hollow scorn:
You've no objection TO the gem
tleman visiting you for the present ?"
IF he wishes" Bobby answered,
trife amused at Robinson's OBJ
Paroles and himself.
Robinson jerked his head toward
the window.
I've been watching the prepara
tions out there. I guess when he's
laid away you'll be thinking about
having the will read"
NO hurry" Bobby answered with
quick intake of breath.
Il suppose not" Robinson sheer
ed" since everybody knows well
enough what's in it."
Bobby arose. Robinson still sheer
ed.
you'll be at the grave-as chief
mourner?"
Bobby walked from the room.
He hadn't cared to reply. He feared
as it was. that he had let slip his
increased self-doubt. He put on his
coat and hat and left the house. The
raw cold, the years first omen Of
winter. made his blood run quicker.
forced into his mind a cleansing
stimulation. But almost Immediately
even that prophylactic was denied
him. With his direction a matter of
indifference, chance ed him into the
thicket at the side of the house.
He had walked some distance. The
underbrush had long interposed a
veil between him and the Cedars
above whose roofs smoke wreathed
in the still air like fantastic figures
weaving a shroud TO lower over the
time-stained, melancholy walls For
once he was grateful to the forest
because il had forbidden him to
glance perpetually back at that dis
NAL and pensive picture. Then he
became aware OF twigs hastily lopp-
ed off. of bushes bent and torn, of
the uncovering. through these care
less means. Of an old path. Stimuli
taneously there reached his ears the
scraping of metal implements in the
soft soil, the dull thud OF earth fall
ing regularly. He paused. listening
The labour of men was given an I'M
couth rhythm by their grunting ex-
pulsions Of breath. Otherwise the
nature OF their industry and its sur
roundings had imposed upon them
a silence. in itself beast-like and
unnatural.
At last a harsh voice came TO
Bobby. Its brevity pointed the pre-
vious dumbness of the speaker:
Deep enough"
And Bobby turned and hurried
back along the roughly restored
path. as if fleeing from an imma-
terial thing suddenly quickened with
/ the power OF accusation.
He could picture the fresh oblong
excavation in the soil of the family
burial ground. He could see where
the men had had TO tear bushes
/ from among the graves in order to
/ insert their tools. These was an
/ ironical justice in the condition of
.ba old cepaatarv II had racaivad M