Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-24
"But when I knocked you were
sleeping so soundly."

"But when knocked you were
sleeping so soundly."
"Too soundly. perhaps"
"Come. We're growing imasina-
tive" Graham said. "Howells would
take care OF himself. He'll probably
give us the deuce for disturbing him.
but to satisfy you. Katherine, well
wake him up"
III you can" she whispered.
They entered the main hall. Light
came thru the stair well from the
lower floor. Graham walked to the
rail and glanced down. Bobby fol-
lowed him. On the table by the fire.
place the cards were arranged In
neat piles. A strong draft blew Gig
aret smoke up TO them.
"Paredes," Graham said, amazed,
as still downstairs. The front doors
open. He's probably in the court"
at must be very late" Bobby
said.
Katherine shivered.
"Half-p past two. | looked at my
watch. The same time as last night
With a gesture of resolution she
shrank from the damp and musty
atmosphere of the narrow passage.
why do you come, Katherine?'
he asked.
Il have to know, as l had TO know
last night"
Graham raised his hand and
knocked at the door which again
was locked on the inside. The
echoes chartered back at them. Gra-
ham knocked again. With pas
sionate revolt Katherine raised her
hands, too, and pounded at the pan
els. Suddenly she gave up. She let
her hands fall listlessly.
ITS no use"
"Howells! Howells." Graham
called. why don't you answer"
when he boosted tonight" Kath-
crime whispered. the murderer heard
him"
Suppose he's gone down to the Ii.
braryT' Graham said.
Bobby gave katherine the candle.
mo. He'd have stayed. We've
got TO break in here. We've got 10
find out"
Graham placed his powerful Shout
der against the door. The lock
strained. Bobby added his weight.
With a splintering of wood the door
flew open. precipitating them across
the threshold. Thru the darkness
Graham sprang for the opposite
door.
Its, locked" he called, and the
keys on this side"
Bobby took the candle from Kath-
crime and forced himself to approach
the bed. The flame flickered a lit
tie in the breeze which stole past
the curtain OF the open window. II
shook across the body of Howells,
fully clothed with his head on the
stained pillow. His face, intricately
lined, was as peaceful as Silas
Blackburn's had been. Its level
smile persisted.
Bobby caught his breath.
.Howells-"
He set the candle on the bureau.
It's no use. We must look at the
back of his head
THE back of his head" Katherine
echoed.
IT'S Illegal" Graham said.
Look" Bobby cried. We've got
to look!"
Graham tiptoed forward. He
stretched out his hand With mo-
ton of adherence he drew it back.
Bobby watched him hypnotically,
thinking:
II wanted this. I hated him.
thought Of it just before 1 went to
sleep"
Graham reached out again. This
time he touched Howells' head. 1t
rolled over on the pillow.
Good God" he said.
They stared at the red hole, near
the base of the brain. at fresh
crimson splotch. straying beyond the
edges of the darker one they had
seen that afternoon.
Graham turned away. his hand
still outstretched, as if it had touch
ed some poisonous thing and might
retain a contamination.
He was prepared against it." he
whispered, expected it, yet it got
him"
He glanced rapidly around the
room whose shadows seemed crowd
ing about the candle to stifle it,
Unless we're all mad" he cried,
the murderer must be hidden in
this room now. Don't you see? He's
got to be, or Groom's right, and
we're fighting the dead. Go out
Katherine. Stand by that broken
door, Bobby. I'm going to look"