South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-20

the Cedars Circumstantial ev i d e e
points 10 the guilt Of Bobby, who Is IN
able % 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 de
serted shack near the Cedars and goes
10 the house. where he meets bis cousin,
Katherine. and GrahRm. a friend. All
agree that mystery Surrounds the death
Of the old man, who was one Of many
Blackburns 20 die ia same manner.
Strange sighs invariably mark tie coca
/ son Of a death In the foom.
ANY theory" Bobby answered,
involving Katherine is unthink-
able"
Paroles smiled.
II didn't understand exactls how
you felt'I rather took il for granted
that Graham Never mind. 1 taSe
IL back"
Then drop it," Bobby answered
sullenly, sorry that there was moth
ing else he could say
They continued in silence through
/ the deserted forest whose aggressive
| Loneliness made words seem trivial.
/
where he had stood last night when
he bad glimpsed for a moment the
straining trees and the fgure in
mask which he had called his con-
science. If he could only prove that
! figure substantial, Then Graham
would have some ground for his
suspicion of Paroles and the dancer
| Maria. He glanced at Paroles Could
there have been q conspiracy, against
him in the New York cafe? Did
| Paroles. in fact have some devious
purpose in remaining at the Cedars
The automobile took a sharp curve
In the road Bobby started gazing
, ahead with an interest nearly hypno-
tic. The headlights had caught in
! their glare the deserted farmhouse
In which he had awakened just be-
fore HOwells had told him of his
! grandfather's death and practically
placed him under arrest. In the
white light the frame of the house.
from which the paint had faxed
! appeared CHASTITY, unreal, like a
structure seen in a nightmare from
which one recOils with morbid hoc-
ror The light left the building As
the car tore past, Bobby could bare
ly make out the black mass in the
midst of the thicket
Paroles had observed it. too
Il daresay," he remarked sensual
". THE Cedars will become as de-
serted ss that 1t is just that it
should. for the entire neighborhood
Iimpresses one as unfriendly TO life.
as striving through death 10 drive
life out"
Have you ever seen that house
before" Bobby asked quickly.
81 have never seen It before. do
not care ever TO see il again
IL was a RELIEF when the forest
thinned and fields stretched. far and
pleasant, like barriers against the
stunted growth. Bobby stopped the
car in front of one of group of
houses at a crossroads. HS climbed
the steps and rang. Doctor Groom
opened the door himself His gil
gantic, hairy figure was silhouetted
against the light from within.
What's the matter now" ne de-
manded in his gruff voice. "Fortu-
nately l hadn't gone 10 bed. / was
reading some books Oh psychic man
Iifestations. Who's sick Or"
Bobbys face must have told him
a good deal for he broke off.
Get your things on" Bobby said
'and l will tell you as we drive back
for you must come. Howells has
been killed precisely as my grand
father was"
For a moment Doctor Groom:
bulky frame remained motionless il
the doorway. Instead of the surpris,
and horror Bobby had foreseen. tn,
old man expressed only a mute won.
= der. He got his hat and coat anC
D entered the runab bout. Paroles made
room for him. Sitting on the floor hi
feet on the running board
Bobby had told all he knew be
fore they had reached the forest
The doctor grunted then:
The wound at the back of tn
head was the same as in your grand
fathers case?"
Exactly"
Then what good am /? why an
/ routed out?"
\ lOIIudllA9. DODDA answered
; katherine thought If we got yol
$ quickly you might do something
, Anyway. she wanted your advice"
The woods closed about them Again
the lights seemed to push back
palpable barrier.
II can't work miracles. the doc
tor was murmurius. Il can't brinl
men back 10 life such a woun,
4 leaves no ground for hope You,
better have sent for the police a
once. Hello"
He strained forward, peerin
around the windshield.
+ Funny" Paroles called
Bobby's eyes were on the road.
What do you see ?"
''The house. Bobby" Parede
, cried.
H no one. TO my certain knowl
Il edge" the doctor said. has lived il
that house for ten years. You sa
y it was empty and falling TO piece
when YOU woke up there this morn
ing"
Bobby knew what they mean
then. and he reduced the speed O
4, the car and looked ahead 20 IN
= right. a pallid glow sifted throug
the frees from the direction Of III