Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-24

also put 1t up to Miss Perrine."
1.-THE details will straighten all that
out" Robinson said. II don't pre-
tend to have them yet"
Il gather not" Paroles unused.
with old Blackburn's ghost still in
the offing."
THAT talk" Rawlins said, won't
go down from you any more. l dare
say you've got most of the details in
your head"
II dare say" Paroles answered
dryly.
He fought farther back against
the OBTAINING hands.
us there any necessity for this ex-
hibition of brute strength? You must
find 1t very exhausting. You may
think me dangerous, and l thank
you; but l have no gun, and I'm no
match for four men and a woman.
Besides. you hurt my arm. Bobby
was none too tender with that. l
ought to have used my good arm.
Youth get no details from me unless
you take your hands off"
Robinson's hesitation was easily
comprehensive. II Paroles were
responsible for the abnormalities
they had experienced at the Cedars
he might find it simple enough to
trick them now, but the mans mock
ng smile brought the anger to Rob-
inson's face.
of course he can't get away. See
If there's anything on his clothes,
Rawlins. He ought to have the hat
pin. Then let him 60"
The detective, however, failed to
lind the hstpin or any other weapon.
: You see," Parades smiled. That's
something in my favor"
He stepped back, brushing his
clothing with his uninjured hand. He
lighted a cigaret. He drew back the
coat sleeve of his left arm and re-
adjusted the bandage. He glanced
up as heavy footsteps heralded Doc
tor Groom.
Hello, DOCTOR" he called cheerily.
Il was afraid you'd nap thru the
show. 1t seems the bloodhounds of
the law left us out of their conf
dence."
What's all this?" the doctor rum
Sled.
Paroles waved his hand
II am prisoner"
The doctor CAPPED,
You mean YOU" s.,
young Blackburn caught him.
Robinson explained. HE was in a
position to finish him just as he did
Howells"
Except that had no hatpin.'
Paroles yawned.
The doctors uneasy glance sought
the opening In the wall.
II thought you had examined all
these walls" he grumbled. "How
did you MISC this?"
Robinson ran his fingers thru his
hair.
That's what I've been asking my
SELF" he said. 81 went over that
panelling dozen times myself"
Robby and Katherine went closer.
Bobby had been from the first puz-
zled by Paroles easy manner. He
had quick hope. He saw the man
watch with an amused tolerance
while the district attorney bent over,
examining the face of the panel.
An entire section" Robinson said
the thickness Of the wall-has
been shifted to one SIDE No won
der we didn't see any joints or get a
hollow sound from this panel any
more than from the others But why
didn't we stumble on the mechan.
ism? Maybe youth tell US that, Pa
redes"
The Panamanian blew a wreath of
smoke against the ancient wall.
Gladly, but you will find it hui
initiating. have experienced humil-
ity in this hall myself. The reason
you didn't find any mechanism is
that there wasn't any. You looked
for something most cautiously con-
cealed. not realizing that the best
concealment is no concealment at all
It's fundamental. l don't know how
it slipped my own mind. No grooves
show because the door is an entire
panel. There isn't even a latch, You
merely push hard against its face.
Such arrangements are common
enough in colonial houses, and there
was more than the nature of the
crimes to tell you there was some
sdch thing here. l mean If you will
examine the farther door closer than
you have done you will find that 1t
mas fewer coats of paint than the one
leading to the corridor, that its frame
is Of newer, wood. In other words.
1t was cut thru after the wing was
built. This panel was the original
door. designed, with the private stair
way in the hall, for the exclusive
use OF the master of the house. Try
It,"
Robinson braced himself and SHOW
ed against the panel. ItNmoved in its
grooves with vibrant stirring.
Rusty" he said
Katherine started.
That's what l heard each tfmey
she cried.
Above his heavy black beard the
doctors cheeks whitened. Robinson
made gesture OF revulsion.
That gives the nasty game away
Naturally" Paroles said, "and
you must admit the game is as beau
tifully simple as the panel. The in
strument of death wasn't inserted
thru the bedding as you thought in
evitable. doctor. Suppose you were
lying in that bed, asleep, or half
asleep. and you We're aroused by
such sound as that in the wall be-
hind you? What would you do?
What would any man do first IL all ?'
Robinson nodded.
I see what you mean. I'd get up
on my elbow. I'd look around a.
quickly as I could to see what 1t was.
I'd expose myself to a clean thrust.
I'd drop back on the bed. more thor
oughly out of 1t than tho I'd been
struck thru the heart"