Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-20
The
Abandoned
Room
By WADSWORTH CAMP
AUTHOR OF
1.-THE HOUSE OF FEAR"
"WAR'S DARK FRAME" ETC.
CHATTER II.

CHATTER IL.
81 figured, since the murder had
been made 10 look so much ike
natural death. that he'd come out
here some time to-day, expecting 10
carry IL off. ] wanted to go TO the
station, anyway, to find out II ne Il
heen seen coming thru last night or
early this morning. While | was talk
ing TO the station agent had my one
niece of luck. l couldn't believe my
eyes, Mr.. Robert walks up from the
woods. He'd been hiding around the
neighborhood all the time, Probably
had missed his handkerchief and de-
cided he'd better not take an!
chances. Yet II must have seemed u
pretty sure thing that the station
wouldn't be watched. and it's those
neryy things, doing the obvious that
skilful criminals get away with all
the time. l needed only one look AT
him. and | had the answer TO the
mystery of the footprints. | gave him
nlenty OF time 10 come here and
change his clothes, then ! maneu-
vered him out OF his room and went
there and found the pumps he'd worn
last night and today. You see, they d
he a little smaller than his ordinary
shoes. Not only did they mt the foot
prints exactly, but they were stained
with soil exactly like that in the
court There you are, sir. I've made
a plaster cast OF one of the prints.
I've got II here in my pocket where
/ intend to keep it until | clear the
whole case UP and turn in my re-
port"
Graham's tone was shocked and
discouraged.
What more do you want? Why
haven't you arrested him.
In this room the detectives salts
fed chuckle was an offence.
NO good detective would ask that,
Mr.. Graham. | want my report clean.
The coroner will tell us how the old
man was killed. I want to tell how
young Blackburn got into that room.
One of the windows was raised a
trife, but that's no use. I've figured
on the outside OF the wing until m
dizzy. There's no way up for nor
NAL man. An orangoutang would
make hard work of it. His latch key
would have let him into the house,
and 1t would have been simple
enough for him to find out that the
old man had changed his room. I've
got to find out how he got past those
doors, locked on the inside"
He Chuckled again.
Almost like sleep-walker' 8
work"
Bobby shivered. Was that where
| the evidence pointed? Already the
net was TOO finely woven. The detec-
| tive continued earnestly:
I'm figuring on some scheme TO
make him show me the way. I've a
sort OF plan for tonight, but it's only
chance"
What" Graham asked.
"Oh. no, sir" Howells laughed.
You'll learn about that when the
| time comes"
"I don't understand you" Graham
said. You're sure of your man but
you keep no close watch on him. Do
! you know where he is now?"
Haven't the slightest idea, Mr..
| Graham"
What's 10 prevent his running
away"
I'm offering him every opportun-
! ity. He wouldn't get far, and I've
a feeling that if he confessed by
running he'd break down and give UP
the whole thing. You've no idea how
1t frets me, Mr.. Graham. I've got
my man practically in the chair, but
from a professional point Of view 1t
isn't a pretty piece Of work until l
find out how he got in and out OF
that room The thing seems imnos-
sible, and yet here we are, knowing
that he did 1t. Well maybe I'll find
out tonight. Hello"
The door opened. Bobby from his
! hiding place could see Paroles on the
| threshold, vawning and holding a
cigaret in his fingers.
Here you are" he said drowsily.
I've just been in the court. 1t made
me seek company. That courts too
damp, Mr.. Detective
! His laugh was lackadaisical.
when the sun leaves 1t, the court
seems full Of unfriendly things -
what the ignorant would call ghosts.
I'm Spanish and I know"
The detective grunted.
| Funny" Paroles went on. "Ob-
servation doesn't seem to interest
you. I'd rather fancied it might"
He yawned again and put his Gig
aret to his lips. Putting placidly he
turned and left
! What do you suppose he means
by that?" the detective said to Ora
ham.
| Without waiting for an answer he
followed Paroles from tho room. Ora
| ham went after him. Bobby threw
back the rug and arose. For a mo-
ment he was as curious as the 9TH
ers as to Paredes' intention He
slipped across the dining room. The
hall was deserted. The front door
stood open From the court came
Paredes' voice, even, languid, wholly