South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-23
CHAPTER TX.
BObbys Vigil i'm the Abandoned
Room.

Room.
For a long time the little group
gathered in the snow-swept Gene
terry remained silent The lamp,
shaking in the district attorneys
hand. Illuminated each detail OF the
Baskets interior Innings. Bobby tried
10 realize that, except for these mean
ingless embellishments, the box was
empty. That was what held them
all-the void, unOccupied silken couch
i'm which they had seen Silas Black
burns body imprisoned. Yet the
screws which the detective had re-
moved, and the mass of earth, pack
ed down and covered with snow,
must have made escape a dreadful
impOssibility even If the spark of life
had terminated its occupant And
that occupant stood there, trembling
and haggard, sobbing from time TO
time in an utter abandonment to the
terror Of what I've saw.
To Bobby in that moment the su-
perpetual legend Of the Cedars
seemed more triumphantly fulfilled
than it would have been through the
immaterial return of his grandfath-
er. For Silas Blackburn was a re-
incarnation more difficult TO accept
than any ghost. Had Paroles, who
all along had offered them a spec
tacle of yelled activity and thought
grasped the truth? At first glance.
indeed his gossip of oriental theories
concerning the disintegration of
matter. its passage through solid
substances. its reassembly in far
places, seemed thoroughly justified.
Yet, granted that, who, in the sem
blance of Sitas Blackburn had they
buried TO vanish completely? Who,
in the semblance Of Silas Blackburn.
had drowsed without food for three
days in the house at Smithtown?
The old man stretched his shak-
ing hads TO Bobby and Katherine.
Don't let them bury me again.
They never buried me. I've not been
dead! 1 tell you I've not been
dead!' He mouthed horribly. I'm
alive. Can't you see I'm aliver'
He broke down and covered his
face. Jenkins sank on the heap Of
earth.
Il saw you. Mr.. Silas. in that box.
And l saw YOU on the bed. Miss
Katherine and l found you. We had
to break the door. You looked so
peaceful we thought you were asleep.
But when we touched you you were
cold"
No. no, no." Blackburn grimaced.
Il wasn't cold. 1 couldn't have
been"
There's no question" Bobby said
hoarsely.
No question" Robinson repeated
katherine shrank from her uncle
as he had shrun< from her in the
library the night of the murder.
What do you make Of it," the
district attorney asked Rawlins.
The detective, who had remained
| crouched at the side of the grave.
arose, brushing the dirt from his
hands, shaking his head.
Parades spoke softly 10 Graham.
THE Cedars wants to be left alone
/ to the dead We would all be bet
ter away from it,"
you won't go yet awhile" Rob
| inson said gruffly. Don't forget
you're still under bond"
The detail no longer seemed OF
Importance 10 Bobby The mystery.
centering in the empty grave. was
| apparently inexplicable. He experi-
enced great pity for his grandfath-
/ er; and, recalling that strengthen
! ng moment with Katherine. he made
| up his mind that there was only one
/ course for him. Ii might be danger
Gus in itself, yet, on the other hand,
ne couldn't go 20 Katherine while
his share in the mystery Of the Ce-
| dars remained so darkly shadowed
He had no right to withhold any
thing. and he wouldn't ask Graham's
advice He had stepped all al once
into the mastery of his own destiny
He would tell Robinson, therefore
everything he knew. from the party
with Maria and Paroles in New
! York. through his unconscious wan
! derings around the house on the
/ night of the first murder. 10 the mo.
| ment when Graham had stopped hi.
somnambulistic excursion down the
stairs
Robinson turned his light ava,
/ from the grave.
There's nothing more TO do here
Let us go back"
The little party staggled through
the snow 10 the house. The hall fir,
smouldered as pleasantly as it had
done before they had set forth. We
an interminable period seemed I,
have elapsed. Silas Blackburn wen.
close TO the fire. He sank in a chair
trem bling.
I'm so cold he whined. CIV.
never been so cold. What is tn.
matter with me? For Gods SAX,
tell me what is the natter Katbe
tiff nothing happens. vel
close the Cedors. Wen go TO N.
city where there are lots OF lights
If you'd only listened to Bobb,
and me and gone long ago" she said
Robinson stared at the fire
I'm about beaten" he muttere,
YEARLY