South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-11

/ dazed by the realization that he had
/ spoken to Graham as ne might have
done TO an enemy. as he had spoken
10 Howells in the old bedroom. He
felt the touch of Graham's hand on
his shoulder.
I'm only working in your serv-
ice" Graham said kindly. I'm sorry
1 If I've troubled you by seeking ply
steal facts in order to escape the
ghosts. For Groom has brought the
! ghosts back with him. Don't make
any mistake about that. You want
the truth, don't your
Yes" Bobby said, "even if it
does for me. But L want it quickly
| can't go on this way indefinitely"
Yet that fash of temper had Civ
en- him courage to face the ordeal
A lingering resentment at Graham's
| suggestion lessened the difficulty Of
his position. Entering the court, he
scarcely glanced at the black wagon.
There were more dark-clothed
men in the hall Rawlins had re-
turned. From the rug in front OF the
| fireplace he surveyed the group with
| a bland curiosity Robinson sat
near by, glowering at Paroles. The
| Panamanian had changed his cloth
| ing. He too was sOmbrely dressed,
/ and instead of the vivid necktte
he had worn from the court house
a jet-hlack scarf was perfectly ar
| ranged beneath his collar. He lOung-
ed opposite the district attorney. his
eyes studying the fire. His fingers on
/ the chair arm were restless.
L. 60 - H.
stairs. talking with the clergyman,
stout and unctuous figure. Bobby
/ noticed that the great stolid form or
the doctor was i'll at ease. From his
| thickIy bearded face his reddish
eyes cleaned forth with a fresh in
stability.
The clergyman shook hands With
Bobby.
I'VE need not delay. Your cousin
is upstairs"
He included the company in his
| circling turn of the head.
ANY one who cares to 60"
Bobby forced himself to walk up
the staircase, facing the first phase
| of his ordeal. He saw that the dis
trict attorney realized that, too, for
he sprang from his chair and, fol
lowed by Rawlins. started upward.
The entire company crowded the
stairs. At the top Bobby found Par
edes at his side.
Carlos! Why do you Gomez"
Il would like to be of some com
] fort" Paroles answered gravely.
His fingers on the banister made
that restless, cropping movement.
Graham summoned Katherine.
One Of the black clothed men
opened the door of Silas Blackburn's
room. He stepped aside, becKoning
He had an air of a Snowman crav-
ing appreciation for the surprise he
has arranged.
Bobby went in with the others.
| Automatically through the dim light
he catalogued remembered objects,
all intimate TO his grandfather, each
oddly entangled in his mind with his
dislike of the old man. The iron bed;
the chest of drawers, scratched and
| with broken handles; the closed
colonial desk: the miserly rag car
pet-au seemed mutely asking, as
Bobby did, why their owner had de-
! serted them the other night and de-
livered himself 10 the ghostly mys-
terry of the old bedroom.
Reluctantly Bobby's glance went
10 the center Of the floor where the
casket rested on trestles. From the
chest Of drawers two candles. the
only light. played wanly over the
still figure and the ashen face. SO
/ for the second time the living met
the dead. and the law watched
hopefully
Robinson stood opposite, but he
didn't look at Silas Blackburn who
could no longer accuse. He stared
instead at Bobby and Bobby kept
repeating TO himself;
II didn't do this thing. didn't
do this thing"
And he searched the face OF the
dead man for confirmation. a chill
thought. not without excuse under
the circumstances and in this vague
light. raced along his nerves. Silas
Blackburn had moved once since his
death If the power TO Uove and
speak should miraculOusly return to
him now, In this house there APP
peared 10 be no impOssibilities. The
cold control Of death had been twice
broken
Katherine's entrance swung his
thoughts and released him for mo-
,ment from Robinson's watchfulness.
He found he could turn from the
wrinkled face that had fascinated
him. that had seemed 10 question
him with calm and complete
knowledge. TO the lovely one that
was active with a little smile OF en-
couragement. He was grateful for
that. II taught him that in the
heavy presence Of death and from
the harsh trappings of mourning the
magnetism Of youth in unconquer-
liable So in affection he found an
lantidote for fear. Even Graham s
quick movement 10 her side couldn't
make her presence less helpful 10
Bobby. He glanced at his grand
father again. He glanced at Robia-
son. AS in a dream he heard the
Clergyman say:
The service viii be read at the
grave"
Almost indinerently he saw the
dark-clothed man side forward. lift
| a grotesquely shaped plate Of metal
from the door. and M il in place. hid
ing from his eyes the closed eyes
nodded and