South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-14

OF the NAu man. VINO WIS one OF many
Blackburns 20 die I'm same manner.
Strange sighs invariably mark the occa-
sion of a death in the room.
"A little here and there" he an
swered reluctantly.
Has he ever paid you back p"
II don't recall" Bobby answered
flushing. You know I've never been
exactly calculating about money.
Whenever he wanted it was always
glad to help Carlos out Why do you
ask ?"
If any one" Graham answered,
looked on you as a certain source
of money, there would be a motive
in conserving that source, in increas-
ing it. Probably lots Of people knew
Mr. Blackburn was out of patience
with you; would make a new will
today"
DO you think" Bobby asked.
that Carlos is clever enough to have
got through those doors? And what
about this afternoon-that ghastly
disturbing of the body?"
He smiled wanly.
1T looks like me or the ghosts
of my ancestors"
IF Paredes," Graham insisted,
tries TO borrow any money from you
now. tell me about it. Another thing,
Bobby. We can't afford TO keep your
experiences of last night a secret
any longer"
He stepped to the door and ask
ed DR.. Groom to come out.
He won't be likely 20 pass your
condolences on to Howells," he said.
Those men are natural antag-
onists"
After a moment the doctor ap-
peared. a SLOUGH hat drawn low over
his shaggy forehead.
What you want?" he grumbled.
This courts a first-class place TO
catch cold Dampest hole in the
neighborhood. Often wondered
why"
Il want to ask you" Graham be-
gan, something about the effects IF
such drugs as could be given in
wine. Tell him, will you, Bobby, what
happened last night?"
Bobby vanquished the discomfort
with which the gruff, opinionated
physician had always filled him. He
recited the story of last nights din
ner, of his experience in the cafe, of
his few blurred impressions OF the
swaying vehicle and the woods
Hartley thinks something may
have been put in my wine"
What for?" the doctor asked.
What had these people to gain by
drugging you? Suppose for some far
fetched reason they wanted TO have
Silas Blackburn put out of the way.
They couldn't make you do it ~
drugging you. At any rate, they
couldn't have had a hand in this
afternoon. Mind, I'm not saying you
had a thing TO do with il yourself
but don't believe you were drugged.
Any drug likely 10 be used in wine
/ would probably have sent you INFO
a deep sleep. And your symptoms on
waking up are scarcely sharp
enough Sorry, boy. Sounds more like
aphasia. The path you've been tread
/ ing sometimes leads to that black
country. and it's there that hates
sharpen unknown. remember a
/ case where a tramp returned and
! killed a farmer who had refused him
food. Retained no recollection of the
! crime-hours dropped out of his life
| They executed him while he stil'
tried to remember
II read something about the case,
Bobby muttered.
Been better if you hadn't" the
doctor grumbled. Suggestions WORK
in a mans brain without his know
ing it.
He thought for a moment, his
heavy. black brOws coming closer
together. He glanced at the Windows
of the old room. His sunken, infused
eyes nearly closed.
Il know how you feel, and that's
a little punishment maybe you de.
serve. I'll say this for your com
fort. You probably followed the plan
that had been impressed on your
brain by Mr.. Graham. You came
here. no doubt, and stood around
With an automatic appreciation OF
your condition you may have taker
that old precaution Of convivial mer
returning home. and removed your
! shoes. Then your automatic Judg'
ment may have warned you that ycU
weren't At 10 go in at all. and you
probably wandered off to the empty
house"
Then" Bobby asked. you dom
think I did it?"
God knows who did IT, Goo
knows what did it. The longer I live
the surer 1 become that we scientist:
can't probe everything. whenever
go near Silas Blackburn's body ] re
ceive very powerful impression
that his death in that room from
such a wound goes deeper than or
binary murder. deeper than case
Of recurrent aphasia."
His eyes widened. He turned witt
Graham and Bobby at the sound
OF an automobile coming througs
the woods.
Probably the coroner at last" h'
said
The automobile. a small runabout
! drew I'D at the entrance TO the court
4 little wizened man, with yellow
ish skin stretched across high cheek
bones. stepped out and walked uT