South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-18
The AbandonedRoom
A Mystery Story BY Wsds-
worth Camp.
CONTINUED
SYNOPSIS.

49, VI us HsulAtAluEAa GAA4n DAA n
rGrus who was found dead with a small
hole 1t the base OF his brain. IN an
abandoned and locked rgom OF his home.
Tsg Ceasrs Cireumst@nd2l eytdenes
able 20 establish an abb a. a result Of
loss OF memory after a night OF gay
NE. In New York, spent In company
81 Parades, from Panama. and Marie. a
spanish woman. He avakes IN a de-
serted shack near the Cedars and goes
% the house, where be meets his cousin.
Katherine, and Graham. a friend. All
agreo that mystery surrounds the death
Blackburns TO die in same manner.
Strange sighs invariably mark tie occa-
sion Of a death in Ee room
And that night" Graham contin-
ued, when ne went to the old room,
he was terrified of something which
he wouldn't define for Miss Per.
rine."
II warned me not to mention
he'd gone there Katherine put in,
He told me he was afraid-afraid
TO sleep in his own room any
longer"
Robinson turned.
What about that. Mr.. Black
burn?"
EOA a AlOAlAGhI bODDE = C0LAOSAlE
overcame the confusion rouse by
his grandfather's apparently occult
return. All along they had craved
the knowledge he was about TO give
them, the statement on which Bob
by's life had seemed TO depend.
Blackburn. however, was unwilling.
The question seemed TO have re-
turned TO him something Of his nor
NAL manner.
NO use" he mumbled. going in
TO that"
"A good lea of use" Robinson
insisted.
Blackburn shifted MS feet He
gazed at his pipe do%ubtfully.
I don't see why. That didn't
come. and seems it wasn't what 1
ought TO have been afraid of after
all. All along 1 ought to have been
afraid only Of the Cedars and the
old room. I've been accused of be-
ing unjust. l don't want to do an
injustice now"
Please answer" Robinson said
impatiently.
You must answer Graham
urged.
Il don't see that it makes the
slightest difference Paroles drawl-
ed. What has it got to do with the
case as it stands tonight?"
Robinson snapped at him.
You keep out of it. Don't forget
there's a lot you haven't answered
yet"
Silas Blackburn looked straight at
DnhIv~ C11.~I.- ~ --Fg,I he H,,I
pointing an accusing finger at his
grandson.
IF you want to know, 1 was
afraid of that young rascal"
Katherine started impulsively for
ward in an effort to stop him. Black
burn waved ner away.
You trying Ia scare me, Katy?"
Re asked suspiciously.
Evidently" Robinson comment
ed TO Graham, "Howells wasn't as
dull as we thought him. Go on, Mr..
Blackburn. Why we're you afraid OF
your grandson ?"
Maybe he can tell you better
than 1 can" the old man answered.
Don't see any use raking up such.
things, anyway. Maybe I'd been
BIGLLN harsh WIFI llAtl. Ally way 4
knew he hated the ground 1 walked
on and would DE glad enough to see
me drop in my tracks"
THAT isn't So Bobby said.
You keep quiet now. You al
ways talked too much"
So the old feeling survived.
go on" Robinson urged.
I'D always been a hard worker"
Blackburn whined. land he was q
waster. Naturally We didn't get
along. I'd decided TO make a new
will, leaving my money TO the Bed
ford Foundation, and ] wrote him
that, thinking it would bring him
hot foot TO make it up with me. I'd
been nervous about him before. be-
| cause I didn't know what might
come into his head when he was oil
these wild parties. So I'D spoken TO
Howells, thinking I'd trip him if he
tried any funny business. When he
didn't come that night 1 got scared.
lie knew ! wouldn't make the new
will until morning, and since
couldn't see any man throwing all
that money away, l figured ned
guessed he couldn't turn me and
wouldn't waste any time talking.
when you got a lot Of money
and a grandson who hates you. you
have TO think of such things. Sup
pose. I thought, he should come out
here drunk when 1 was sound
asleep. l knew he had a latch key.
and he might sneak up to my room
before 1 could even get TO the tele-
phone. Or l was afraid he might
hire somebody. You a buy men
for that sort Of work in New York
tell YOU the more 1 thought of it
the more / was sure he'd do some
thing. You'd understand IL you
lived in this lonely place with all
hat money and nobody you wanted
to will IT to. 1 nearly sent for How
ellis right then. But if nothing had
happened I'd have looked a fool"
II wanted YOU to send for a man.
Katherine crie0.
Bobby leaned against the wall, re-
peating TO himself the words of Ma
ria's note which accused him of hav-
ing made the very threat his grant
I 20 4hnr ha1 foarnd