South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-22
The Room
A Mystery Story by Wads-
worth Camp.
CONTINUED
SYNOPSIS.

/
I Bobby BLACKBURN - suspected OF the
murder OF his grandfather. Silas Black
i burn, who was found dead with a small
/ hole at the base II his brain. in an
I abandoned and locked room Of his home.
4 the Cedars. Circunstaneial ev e &c
/ points TO the guilt Of Bobby. who 10 IN
able % establish an slibl "a result. Of
loss Of memory, after a night OF gay
| life" IN New Sbrk, spent In company
| Of Parades, from Panama. and Marie. A
serted shack near the Cedars and gOes
20 the house, where be meets bis cousin,
| Katherine, and Graham, a friend. All
agree that mystery surrounds the death
OF the old man, who was one Of many
Blackourns to die In same manner.
Strange signs Invariably mark the occs-
sioG Of death in the room.
Robinson snapped of the light
The darkness descended eagerly
upon them. Above the noise of the
spades in the soft earth Bobby
heard indefinite STRINGS In the
graveyard at such an hour the SUI
pernatural legend of the Cedars as
sumed an inescaps BILE probability
Bobby wished for some way to stop
the task on which they we're en-
gagged. He felt instinctiveIy that it
would be better not 10 tamper with
the mystery of Silas Blackburn's re-
turn.
Bobby grew rigid.
There it is again" Graham
breathed
A low keening came from the
| thicket 1t increased in power a
trifie, then drifted into silence.
1t wasn't the wind 1t was like
the moaning Bobby had heard at the
stagnant lake that afternoon, like
the cries Graham and he had suf-
fered in the old room. Seeming at
first TO come from a distance, it
achieved sense of intimacy. 1t
was like an escape of sorrow from
the dismantled tombs.
Bobby turned TO Katherine. He
couldn't see her for the darkness.
He reached out. She was not there.
Katherine" he called softly.
Her hand stole into his. He had
been afraid that the forest had
taken her. Under the reinsurance
of her handclasp he tried to make
himself believe there was actually "A
woman near by, if not Maria, some
one who had definite purpose
there.
Robinson flashed on his light Old
Blackburn whimpered:
The Cedars is at its tricks again.
and there's nothing we can do"
1T was like a lost SOUL" Kath-
crime sighed. 1T seemed to cry
from this place"
1T must be traced" Bobby said.
Then tell me its direction GER
tainly," Robinson challenged. Wed
founder in the thicket. A waste Of
time. Let us get through here.
Hurry Rawlins!"
The light showed Bobby that the
detective and Jenkins had nearly
| finished. He shrank from the first
| hard sound of metal against metal.
1t came. After a moment the light
| shone on the dull face of the casket
which was streaked with dirt.
Jenkins rested on his spade. He
groaned 1t occurred to Bobby that
the man couldn't have worked hard
enough in this cold air to have start
ed the perspiration thai streamed
down his wrinkled face.
1T would be tough job to lift
it out" Rawlins said.
mo need" Robinson answered.
! Get the soil away from the edges. -
He bent over. passing a screw
driver to the detective.
Take off the top plate. That will
let us see all we want"
| IapLipc clfpo bod ont
Il shan't look. 1 don't dare look q"
Silas Blackburn touched Bobby's
arm timidly.
i've been a hard man, Bobby"
He broke off, his bearded lips
twitching
The grating Of the screws tore
through the silence. Rawlins
glanced up.
LEND a hand, somebody
Groom spoke hoarsely:
1T isn't too late TO let the dead
rest"
Robinson gestured him away.
| Graham. Paroles, and he knelt in
the snow and helped the detective
raise the heavy lid They placed it
at the side of the grave.
They all forced themselves to
glance downward.
Katherine screamed. Silas Black
burn leaned on Bobbys arm, shak-
ing with gross, impossible sobs.
| Paroles shrugged his shoulders. The
light wavered in Robinson's hand.
They continued to stare. There was
| nothing else TO do.