South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-02

process Of trying to draw from the
black pit useful memories.
He started, recalling the strange
voice and its warning. for his shoes
lay near by as though he might have
dropped them carelessly when he
had entered the room and stretched
himself on the floor. Damp earth
adhered to the soles The leather
above was scratched.
Then" he thought, that much
is right. 1 was in the woods. What
was l doing there? That dim figure
My Imagination"
He suffered the agony Of a man
who realizes that he has wandered
unawafes in strange places, and re-
tains no recollection of his actions.
of his intentions He went back 10
that last unclOuded moment in the
cafe with Maria. Paroles, and the
stranger. Where had he gone after
he had left them? He had looked at
his watch. He had told himself he
must catch the twelve-fifteen train
He must have gone from the restau-
rant proceeding automatically, and
caught the train. That would account
for the sensation Of motion in a swift
vehicle, and perhaps there had been
a taxicab to the station. Doubtless
in the woods near the Cedars he had
decided it was too late to go in. or
that ii was wiser not to. He had an
swered TO the necessity Of sleeping
somewhere. But why had be come
here? Where. indeed, was he?
At least he could answer that. He
drew on his Shoes-a pair of patent
leather pumps. He fumbled for his
handkerchief. thinking he would
brush the earth from them. He
searched each of his pockets. His
He got TO his feet, lurching for a
moment dizzily He glanced with dis
taste at his rumpled evening cloth
ing. To hide IL as far as possible ne
buttoned his overcoat collar about
his neck. On tip-toe he approached
the door, and, with the emotions of
a thief. opened 1t quietly. He sigh
ed. The rest of the house was as
empty as this room. The hall was
thick with dust. The rear door by
which he must have entered stood
half open. The lock was broken and
rusty.
He commenced to understand.
There was a deserted farmhouse less
than two miles from the Cedars.
Since he had always known about
it, it wasn't unusual he should have
taken shelter there after deciding
not to go in to his grandfather.
He stepped through the doorway
to the unkempt yard about whose
tumbled fences the woods advanced
thickly. He recognized the place.
For some time he stood ashamed,
yet fair enough to seek the cause
CT his experience in some mental
unhealth deeper than any reaction
from last nights folly.
He glanced at his watch. II was
after 2 O'Clock. The mournful neigh
borhood. the growing chill in the air,
the sullen sky, urged him away. He
walked down the road. OF course he
couldn't go to the Cedars in this con-
dition. He would return TO his apart
ment in New York where he could
bathe change his clothes, recover
from this feeling Of physical I'll, and
remember, perhaps, something more.
It wasn't far to the little village
on the railroad, and at this hour |
there were plenty Of trains. He
hoped no one he knew would see
him at the station. He smiled wear |
ilv What difference did that make /
He might as well face old Black ]
burn, himself, as he was. BY this
time the thing was done. The new
will had been made. He was penni-
less and an outcast. But his furtive
manner clung. He didn't want Kath-
crime to see him like this.
From the entrance OF the village II
was only a few steps TO the station.
Several carriages stood at the plat
form, testimony that a train was
nearly due. He prayed that il would
be for New York. He didn't want to
wait around. He didn't want TO risk
Katherine's driving in on some err
rand.
His mind, intent only on escaping
prying eyes. was drawn by a man
who stepped from behind a carriage
and started across the roadway in
his direction, staring at him incred-
ulously. His quick apprehension van
ished. He couldn't recall that sur
prised face. There was no harm be-
ing seen, miserable as he was. dress
ed as he was, by this stranger. He
looked at him closer. The man was
plainly clothed. He had small, sharp
eyes. His hairless face was intricate
" wrinkled. His lips were thin,
making a straight line.
To avoid him Bobby stepped aside.
thinking he must be going past, but
the stranger stopped and placed a
firm hand on Bobby's shoulder. He
spoke in a quick. authoritative voice:
Certainly you are Mr.. Robert
Blackburn"
For. Bobby. in his nervous, be-
wildered condition, there was an ON
inous note in this surprise. this as
surance, this peremptory greeting.
What's amazing about that ?" he
jerked out.
The strangers lips parted in a
straight smile
"Amazingi That's the word I was
OF. Hoped you might come
in from New York. Seemed you were