Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-18

mound. The trees from forniles,
masses took on individual shapes. A
row Of Expresses, on which the Ugh,
cleaned. were like somber sentinels
guarding the dead. The snow patch
es, clustered on their branches, were
like funeral decorations pointing theiI
morbid function. The light gave the
overturned stones an illusion Of
striving to struggle from their white
imprisonment. Robinson swung his
lamp back to the mound.
1.-THE snow isn't heavy" he said
land the ground isn't frozen. II
oughtn't to take long"
silas Blackburn commenced to
shake.
TITS dissertation of the dead.
I'VE have to know" Robinson said
who Is buried in that grave"
With spade Jenkins scraped the
snow from the mound. Rawlins join
ed him. They commenced to throw
to one side, staining the white car
pet. spadesful of moist, yellow earth
Their labor was rapid. Silas Black
burn watched with an unconquerable
fascination. He continued to shake
| I'm too cold. I'll never be warm
again." he whined. IF anything
happens to me, Bobby, try to forget
I've been hard, and don't let them
bury me. Suppose should be buried
alive?"
Suppose" Paroles said. -you were
buried alive today?"
He turned to Bobby and Kath-
crime
THAT also is possible. You re-
member the old theories that have
never been disproved of the disin-
tegration of matter into Its atoms, OF
Its passage thru solid substances. OF
its reforming In a far place?
wouldn't have to ask an East Indian
that"
Jenkins. standing In the excava-
ton, broke into torrential speech.
"AIr. Robinson! can't work with
the light. 1t makes the stones seem
to move. It throws too many shad-
ows. I seem to see people behind
you. and I'm afraid to look"
l A~oNhih6 aeet C0OANC
Rawlins' voice.
I'VE can work well enough with
out ii, SIR
Robinson snapped Off the light
The darkness descended eagerly upon
them. Above the noise Of the spades
In the soft earth Bobby heard ind,sf-
mite surrings In the graveyard at
such nm hour the supernatural le-
| gend OF the Cedars assumed an ines
capable probability. Bobby wished
for some way to stop the task on
which they were engaged. He fell
instinctively II would be better not
to tamper with the mystery OF, silas
Blackburn's return.
Bobby grew rigid.
There II Is again." Graham
breathed. to5
q A low keenirg came from the
| thicket. 1t increased In power "a trifle
then drifted into silence.
| It wasn't the wind. It was like
the moaning Bobby had heard at cthe
stagnant lake that afternoon, like the
cries Graham and he had suffered in
tho old room. Seeming at first to
come from . distance, It achieved a
sense Of intimacy. II was like an
escape Of sorrow from the dismantled
tombs. f5s.,ls .
Bobby turned 20 Katherine. Vie
couldn't see her for the darkness. He
reached out. She was not. there.
katherine" he called -softly.s-.
Hog hand stole into HE. He had
been afraid that the forest had TAX.
en- her. Under the reinsurance. OF
her handclasp he tried to make fiirn-
self believe there was actually a
woman near by. II not Maria. some
one who had a definite purpose there
Robinson flashed on his light. Old
Blackburn whimpered:
"The C1dArs IL at its tricks again
and there's nothing we can do"
1T was like lost soul" Katherine
sighed. ut seemed to cry from this
| place."
ut must be traced" Bobby said.
Then tell me its direction !, Ger
tainly." Robinson challenged. wed
founder Ia the thicket. A waste. OF
time. Let w set thru here. Hurry
lRawiins!''
The light showed Bobby that The
detective and, Jenkins had nearly
finished. He shrank from the first
hard sound OF metal against metal.
1t came. After moment the light
shone On the dull face Of the casket
which was streaked with dirt.
Jenkins rested on his spade. He
groaned. It occurred to Bobby that
the man couldn't have worked hard
enough in this cold air to have start
ed tho Precipitation that streamed
down his wrinkled face.
1T would be y touch job to lift /,
out" Rawlins said.
mo need" Robinson answered
'Get the soil away from the edsss.'
He bent over passing q screw
driver to the detective.
Take off the top plate. That will
let US see ell We want"
Jenkins climbed out.