South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-07
CHAPTER VII.
THE AMAZING MEETING IN THE
SHADOWS OF THE OLD COURT
YARD.

YARD.
Bobby returned 10 his bed He lay
there. still shivering. beneath the
heavy blankets. Il don't dare" He
echoed Graham's words. There's
nothing else any one can say. 1
must decide what to do. 1 must
think it over"
But. as always. thought brought
no release. 1t merely insisted that
the case against him was proved.
At last he had been seen slipping
| unconsciously from his room-and
at the same hour. All that remain
ed was 10 learn how he had accom-
| plished the apparent miracles. Then
no excuse would remain for not GO
| ing 10 Robinson and confessing. The
woman at the lake and in the court
yard. the movement OF the body and
the vanishing of the evidence under
his hand, Paroles odd behavior, all
| became in his mind puzzling details
that failed 10 obscure the chief fact.
After this something must be done
about Paroles detention.
He hadn't dreamed that his weari-
ness could placate even mOmentarily
such reflections, but at last ne slept
again. He was aroused by the tramp
ing OF men around the house, and
strange. harsh voices. He raised
himself on his elbow and glanced
from the window. II had long been
daylight Two hurley fellows in
overalls, carrying pick and spade
across their shoulders, pushed
| through the underbrush at the edge
Of the clearing. He turned. Graham.
! fully dressed. stood at the side of
the bed.
Those mem" Bobby asked
YEARLY.
THE grave diggers." Graham an
swered. They are going to work in
the old cemetery to prepare a place
for Silas Blackburn with his fathers.
| That's why l have come to wake you
up The minister's telephoned
Katherine He will be here before
noon Do you know it's after 10
o'clock ?"
For some time Bobby stared
! through the window at the desOlata
ragged landscape. 1t was abnormal-
ly cold even for the late fall. Dull
clouds obscured the sun and furnish
ed an illusion of crowding earth
| ward
"A funereal day"
The words slipped into his mind.
| He repeated them.
When your grandfather's buried, -
| Graham answered softly, well all
feel happier"
Why" Bobby asked 1T won't
lessen the fact of his murder"
Time" Graham said. lessons
such facts-even for the police"
you mean you've decided to
stand by me after what happened
last night?"
Graham smiled
i've thought it ali over. I slept
like a top last night. I heard moth
ing. / saw nothing"
Ought I want you 10 stand by
me?" Bobby said "Oughtn't I to
make a clean breast of it? At least
1 must do something about Paroles. -
Graham frowned.
IT'S hard 10 believe he had any
connection with your sleep-walking
last night. yet it's as clear as ever
that Maria and he are up TO some
game in which you figure"
He shouldn't be in jail Bobby
persisted.
Get up" Graham advised. Battle
and have some breakfast, then we
can decide There's no use talking
OF the other thing I've forgotten il.
As far as possible you must"
Bobby sprang upright.
How can l forget IL? If il was
hard to face sleep before. what do
you think It is now. Have I any
right"
Don't" Graham said. III be
with you again tonight If I were
satisfied beyond the shadow of a
doubt I'd advise you 10 confess, but
can't he until I know what Maria
and Paroles are doing"
When Bobby had bathed and
dressed he found. in spite Of his
mental turmoil. that his sleep had
done him good. While he breakfast
ed Graham urged him 20 eat. tried
70 drive from his brain the morbid
aftermath OF last nights revealing
moment
The manager took my advice. but
Maria's still missing. Her pictures
are in most of the papers. There
have been reporters here this morn
ing. about the murders
He strolled over and handed
Bobby a number Of newspapers.
where's Robinson ." Bobby ask
ed
4 saw him in the court while
ago. daresay he's wandering
around-perhaps watching the men
at the grave"
He learned nothing new last
night"
Bobby looked up.
Isn't that an automobile coming
through the woods" ne asked
Maybe Rawlins back from smith
town. or the minister"
CONTINUED TOMORROW