Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-10
The
Abandoned
Room
By WADSWORTH CAMP
AUTHOR OF
.rHE HOUSE OF FEAR"
sWAR,s DARK FRAME" ETC.

THE HOUSE OF FEAR"
WARS DARK FRAME" ETC.
CHAPTER VII.
Tho Amazing Meeting in the shad-
ows of the Old Courtyard.
Bobby returned to his bed. He lay
there; still shivering, beneath the
heavy blankets.
Il don't darel" He echoed Gra-
hams words. There's nothing else
any one can say. must decide
/. what to do. I must think it over"
But, as always, thought brought
no release. It merely insisted that
the case against him was proved. AT
last he had been seen slipping I'M
consciously from his room-and at
the same hour. All that remained
was to learn how he had accom-
plished the apparent miracles. Then
no excuse would remain for not SO
ing to Robinson and confessing. The
woman at the lake and in the court
yard, the movement of the body and
s the vanishing of the evidence under
Ills hand, Paroles odd behavior, all
became in his mind puzzling details
that failed to obscure the chief fact.
After this something must be done
about Paroles detention.
He hadn't dreamed that his wear
mess could placate even momentar.ly
such reflections, but at last he slept
again. He was aroused by the tramp
ing Of men around the house, and
strange, harsh voices. He raised
himself ON his elbow and glanced
from the window. It had long been
daylight. Two burly fellows in over
alls. carrying pick and spade across
their shoulders, pushed thru tho u,a-
derbrush at the edge Of tho clearing.
He turned. Graham. fully dressed.
stood At the side Of the bed.
Those menu" Bobby asked wear
lily.
The grave disgsrs." Graham an
swered. .They arc going to work In
the old cemetery to prepare q plase
for Silas Blackburn with his fathers 8.
That's why I've come to wake you
up. The minister's telephoned Katll-
crime. He will be here before noon.
10 you know it's after 10 o'clock r.
For some time Bobby stared thru
the window at the desolate, ragged
Landscape. It was abnormally cold
even for the late fall. Dull clouds
oloscured tho sun and furnished s.n
illusion Of crowdinS earthward.
"A funeral day"
Tho words slipped into his min1.
He repeated them.
Graham answered softly. ''we1l all
feel happier"
'Why7" Bobby asked. 1T won't
lessen the fact Of his murder
Time" Graham said. lessons such
facts-k-An for the police.
Bobby bsanced at him, flushing.
You mean you've decided to stand
by' mo after what happened lat
-night7''
Graham smiled.
tive thought it all over. I sler,t
like . top last night. heard moth
ing. I saw nothing"
Ought I to want you to stand by
m,s Bobby said. "Oughtn't 1 to
make clean breast Of It? At least
I must do something about Paredes.,
Graham frowned.
It's hard to believe he had any
connection with your sleep-walkinly
laf't night yet it's as clear as ever
that Maria and he are up to SOM,
game in which you figure"
He shouldn't be in JAIL" Bobby
persisted. n
.sGet up" Graham advised. ..Bathe
and have some breakfast, then we
can decide. There's no use talkins.
Of the other thing. I've forgotten Il.
AZ far ~ possible you must"
Bobby sprang upright.
sHow can forget it7 II IL wast
hard 70 face sleep before, what dc
You thinl, It IL now7 Have I any
right"
Don't" Graham said. .Tll be, with
You again tonight. II were salts
fled beyond the shadow of q doubt
I'd advise you to confess, but cant
be until know what Maria ana Pa
redesfare doing
When Bobby had bathed and
dreWed he found, In spite Of his mem
tai turmoil, that his sleep had done
hint GOOD. While he breakfasted
Gra.han urged him to eat, tried to
drive from his brain the morbid
aftermath Of last nights revealing
moment
che manager took my advice, but
Malta's still missing. Her pictures
are In most Of the papers. There
have been reporters here this morn
ing, about the murders"
He strolled over and handed Bobby
q number Of newspapers.
where's Robinson7" Bobby asked.
saw him In the court a while
ago. I dare say he's wandering
arornd-perhaps watching the men
at the grave
tie learned nothing new last
night7s
Il was with him at breakfast. I
gather not"
Bobby looked up.
isn't that an automobile coming
thru tho woods?' he asked.
Maybe Rawlins back from Smith
town. or the minister
Tie car. stopped atSthe entrance of
the court. They heard the remote
tinkling Of the front door bell. Jen-
kins passed thru. The cold air in
vadi,ng the hall and the dining room
told them he had opened the door.
His sharp exclamation recalled How
ellis report which. at their direction,
he had failed to mail. Had his ex-
clamation been drawn by an accus-
er? Bobby started to rise. Graham
moved toward the door. Then Jen-
kins entered and stood to one side.