South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-11

! T-TUUTTIT b Y ]
points to the guilt Of Bobby. who IS un-
able 70 establish an alibi as a result Of
loss OF memory after a night OF gay
NE In New York, spent in company
| Spanish woman. He awakes In de-
serted shack near the Cedars and goes
20 the house, where he meets his cousin.
Katherine, and Graham, friend All
Of the old man, who was one OF many
Blackburns 70 die In same manner.
| Strange signs Invariably mark the occa-
sion Of a death in the room.
II figured, since the murder had
been made to look so much like a
natural death. that he'd come out
here some time today, expecting to
carry it off. 1 wanted to go to the
station, anyway. TO find out if he'd
been seen coming through last night
or early this morning While I was
talking TO the station agent / had
my one piece Of luck. couldn't be-
lieve my eyes. Mr.. Robert walks up
from the woods. He'd been hiding
around the neighborhood all the
time. Probably had missed his hand
! kerchief md decided he'd better not
take any chances Yet it must have
seemed a pretty sure thing that the
station wouldn't be watched, and it's
those nervy things. doing the obvi-
GUS. that skilful criminals get away
with all the time. 1 needed only one
look at him, and 1 had the answer
TO the mystemy of the footprints.
/ gave him plenty Of time to come
here and change his clothes. then l
Unanswered him out OF his room
and went there and found the pumps
he'd worn last night md today. You
see, they'd be a little smaller than
his ordinary shoes Not only did they
fit the footprints exactly, but they
were stained with soil exactly like
that in the court. There you are. sir.
I've made a plaster cast of one of
the prints. I've got it here in my
pocket where 1 intend to keep il un-
til 1 clear the whole case up and
turn in my report"
Graham's tone was shocked and
discouraged.
What more do you want? Why
haven't you arrested kim?"
In this room the detectives salts
fed chuckle was an offence.
NO good detective would ask that,
Mr.. Graham. / want my report clean.
The coroner will tell us how the old
man was killed. ] want TO tell how
young Blackburn got into that room.
One Of the windows was raised a
trifle, but that's no use. I've figured
on the outside of the wing until I'm
dizzy. There's no way up for a nor
NAL man. An orangoutang would
make hard work of it, His latch key
would have let him into the house.
and IL would have been simple
enough for him to find out that the
old man had changed him room. I've
got to find out how he got past those
doors. locked on the inside"
He chuckled again.
Almost like a sleep-walker's
work"
Bobby shivered Was that where
the evidence pointed? Already the
net was too finely woven. The de-
tective continued earnestly:
I'm figuring on some scheme to
make him show me the way. I've a
sort of plan for tonight, but it's only
chance"
"What?" Graham asked.
"Oh. no. sir" Howells laughed.
You'll learn about that when tho
time comes"
II don't understand you" Ora
ham said. You're sure of your man
but you keep no close watch on
him. Do you know where he is
now
Haven't the slightest idea. Mr..
Gr~ham.''
What's to prevent his running
away?"
I'm Offering him every oppor-
tunity. He wouldn't get far. and I've
feeling that if he confessed by
running he'd break down and give
uo the whole thing. you've no idea
how it frets me, Mr.. Graham. I've
got my man practically in the chair.
but from a professional point of
view il isn't a pretty piece of work
until I find out how he got in and
out Of that room. The thing seems
impossible. and yet here we are,
knowing that he did it. Well. maybe
I'll find out tonight. Hello!"
The door opened. lobby from his
hiding place could see Paroles on
the threshold. yawning and holding
cigaret in his fingers.
Here you are" he said drowsily.
I've just been in the court. It made
me seek company. That courts too
damp. Mr.. Detective"
His laugh was lackadaisical.
when the sun Leaves il, the court
seems full of unfriendly things
what the ignorant would call ghosts
I'm Spanish and I know"
The detective grunted
Funny" Paroles went on. lob
servation doesn't seem to interest
you. I'd rather fancied il might"
He yawned again and put his Gig
aret to his lips. Putting placidly, he
turned and left.
What do you suppose he means
by that?" the detective said TO era
ham.
Without waiting for an answer he
followed Paroles from the room.
Graham went after him. Bobby
threw back the rug and arose. For
a moment he was curious as the
others as TO Paroles intention. He
slipped across the dining room The
70