Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-20

without expression;
Mean to tell me you don't react to
the proximity Of unaccountable
forces here, Mr., Howells7"
The detectives laugh was dis
agreeable.
You trying to make fool OF meF
That isn't healthy"
As Bobby hurried across the han
and up the stairs he heard Paroles
answer:
you should speak to DR.. Groom,
He says this place Is too crowded by
the unpleasant past
Bobby climbed out of hearing. He
entered his bedroom and locked the
door. He resented Paroles words
and attitude which he defined as
studied TO draw humour out of
tragic and desperate situation. He
thought of them in no other way. His
tired mind dismissed them, He threw
himself on the bed, muttering:
"If run away I'm done for. II
| stay I'm done for"
He took a fierce twisted Joy in one
phase of the situation.
IF I was there last night he
thought, "Howells will never find out
how got into the room, because no
matter what trap he sets, I can't tell
HIM"
His leaden WEAKNESS closed his
ewes. For few minutes he slept
again
Once more II was a voice that
awakened him-this time a womans
raised in a scream. He sprang up
flung open the door. and stumbled
into the corridor Katherine stood
there, holding her dressing gown
about her with trembling hands. The
face she turned to Bobby was white
and panic stricken. She beckoned,
and he followed her to the main hall
The others came tearing up the stairs
Graham, Paredes, the detective. and
the black and gigantic doctor.
In answer to their quick questions
she whispered breathlessly:
81 heard. 1t was just like last
night. 1t came across the court and
stole in at my window"
She shook She stretched out her
hands in a terrified appeal.
"Somebody-something moved in
that room where he-he's dead"
Nonsense" the detective said.
Both doors are locked, and I have
the keys III my pocket"
Paroles fumbled with a cigarette.
you're forgetting what I said
about my sensitive apprehension of
strange things"
The detective interrupted him
loudly, confidently:
II tell you the room is empty eX-
cept for the murdered man-unless
someone's broken down a door"
Katherine cried out:
No I heard that same stirring
Something moved in there"
The detective turned brusquely
and entered the old corridor.
Wen see"
The others followed Katherine
was close to Bobby. He touched her
hand.
Hes right, Katherine. No ones
there. No one could have been
there. You mustn't give way like
this. I'm depending on you-on
your faith
She pressed his hand, but her as
surance didn't diminish.
The key scraped in the lock. They
crowded thru the doorway after the
detective. He struck a match and
lighted the candle. He held 1t over
the bed. He sprang back with a
sharp cry. unlike his level quality
his confident conceit. He pointed
They all approximated his helpless
gesture, his blank amazement. For
on the bed had occurred an abomin-
able change.
The body of Silas Blackburn no
longer lay peacefully on it's back. 1t
manned in a stark and awkward at
titude. For the first time the back
of the head was disclosed.
Their glancss focused thereon
the tiny round hole at the base Of
the brain, on the pillow where the
head had rested and which they saw
now was stained with an ugly and
Irregular splotch of blood. 'a.
Bobby saw the candle CULVER at
last in the detectives hand. The
man strobe to the door leading to
the private hall and examined the
lock.
Both DOORS" he said. were lock-
ed. There was no way in"
He turned to the others. spread
ing his hands in justification. The
candle, which he seemed to have
forgotten, cast gross. moving shad-
ows over his face and over the face
Of the dead man.
AT least you'll all grant me now
that he was murdered"
They continued to stare at the
body of Silas Blackburn. Cold for
many hours, 1t was as If he had
| made this atrocious revealing move
ment to assure them that he had,
indeed, been murdered; to expose to
their startled eyes the sly and deadly
method.
(To be continued.)
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