Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-15
The
Abandoned
Room,
By wADswoRTH CAMP
AUTHOR OF
1.-THE HOUSE OF FEAR"
WARS DARK FRAME" ETC.
CHAPTER VIM.
What Happened at the Grave.

CHAPTER WIN.
What Happened at the Grave.
The tensity OF the little group In
creased. but no one interIosed the
obvious questions. Robinson was
right. It would be quicker to let the
pr0tagonist of this unbelievable adj
venture recite its details In his own
fashion. Paroles ran his slender
fingers gropingly over the faces of
several Of the cards he had picked
up.
when I got in bed" silas Black
burn continued. II thought I'd let the
candle burn for company's' sake, but
there was wind, and 1t came In the
open window, and it made the queer
est black shadows dance all over the
walls until couldn't stand it q min
ute longer. I blew the candle out
and lay back in the dark
He drew harshly on his cold pipe.
He looked at it with an mir Of sur
prise, and slipped it in his pocket.
TT was the funniest darkness.
didn't like It You put your hand
out and closed your fingers as II you
could feel 1t. But It wasn't all black.
either. Some moonlight came in with
the wind between the curtains. It
wasn't exactly yellow, ami it wasn't
white. After q little 1t seemed alive,
and wouldn't look at 1t any more.
Tho only way could stop myself
was to shut my eyes, ana that was
worse. for IL made me rscollect my
father the way saw him lying there
when was q boy. God grant mono
of you viii ever havo to SEQ anything
like that. Then seemed to see
Katy's father, too: and + remember
ed his Screams. The room got thick
with things like that-'vith those
two. and with q lot OF others come
out Of the pictures and the stories
I've heard about my family
His experience when he had gone
TO the room to take the, evidence
from HowsllI body became active in
Bobby's memory.
There lay with my eyes shut"
Silas Blackburn went ON In his
strange, inQuiring voice. "And yet
seemed to SEQ those dead people all
around me- and thought they were
IN pain again, and wore mad at me
because I didn't do anything. guess
maybe I must q been doing Z lit
tie, for I thought
He broke Off. He railed his hand
slowly and pointed In the direction
Of the overgrown Cemetery where
they had seem his coffin covered
that noon. His voice WIS lower and
harshsr whsn hs continued:
TT thought heard them say
that things were Ill brollsn out there,
and-anA q awful-So ,Awfll they
couldn't stay
His voice became defiant.
amt eoing - ton you what
dreamed. Il was too horrible. but
made up NY mind I would do what
I could II I ever escaped from that
room. I'll was afraid they'd take
me back with them underneath those
broken stones. And ycu-you stand
there trying 70 tell me that they
did,
He paused again. looking around
with = more de6ant STARE in his
bloodshot eyes, He appeared to be
surprised not 10 una thSm laughing
at him.
whats ne matter With you AIR
he cried. why amt you making
me out foolf You seen something
In that room, too7"
''Go on" Robinson urged what
happened thsnf What did you do7''
Blackburn,s voice resumed its
throaty monotone. AZ he spoke he
glanced shout slyly. srspscting, per-
hAps, the wAtohfulness Of the fancies
that had intinidated him.
Z rsaliksd ! had to got out II they
would let me. So left the bed. I
went.'
he osassd, intimatins that he had
told svsrythins.
Z know. Robinson said, but ten
~ how ygu got cut on the room, for
when yp,l-whsn the murder was dis
covered, both doors we're locked on
the inside and You lnow how Inn
possible the Windows are"
r ten you" katherine said hys-
tFically, 1T was his body in the
nod
Bobby knew her assurance WIS
Justified. but ~ motioned her to III
lencA.
Let him answsr,~ Robin.on ..ia
9ilas Blackburn Tall his knotted
fingers thru his hair He shook his
hand A0nAAfhdliN
That's what doltt understand
myself. That's what's beer worry
Ing me while these y,,lng ones have
been talking ~ Il I was dead and
buried. recollect telling myself 1
must %. seem to remember leav-
Ing The bed III right, but / don't
seem TO remember walking on the
floor or going thru the door. You're
sure the doors were locked7''