Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-03
The
Abandoned
Room
By WADsWORTH CAMP
AUTHOR OF
srHE HOUSE OF FEAR"
WARS DARK FRAME" ETC.
CHAPTER ".

A vague diScOmIOrt Seoao va
pobby's surprise. He had never heard
Paroles speak SO seriously. In spite
IF the mans ,,nruffled manner there
was nothing Of mockery about his
words. What then, was their IN
tenuon?
Paredes said no more. but for sew
eral minutes he paced up and down
the hall, glancing often with languid
ewes toward the stairs. He had the
appearance OF ono who expects ana
waits.
katherine, Graham, and the doc
tor. Bobby could see, had been mace
an uneasy as himself by the change
in the Panamanian. The doctor clear
ed his throat. His voice broke the
silence tentatively:
III this house makes you SO I'M
happy, young man, why DO you
stay7"
Paroles paused in his walk. His
thin lips twisted. He indicated
Bobby.
"For the sake Of my very good
friend. What are mans personal
fears and desires II he can help his
friends2"
Graham's distaste was evident. Pa
redes recognized II with a SMILE
Bobby watched him curiously, real
izinx more and more that Graham
was right to this extent: they must
somehow learn the real purpose OF
the Panamanian's continued presence
here.
Paroles resumed his walk. He
still had that air Of expectancy. He
seemed to listen. This feeling OF
imminence reached Bobby; Increased
his restlessness. He thought ne
heard an automobile horn outside.
He sprang up, went to the door,
opened II, and stood gazing thru the
damp and narrow court. Yet, ne
confessed, he listened for a repeti-
ton Of that unearthly crying thru
the thicket rather than for the ap-
proach of those who would try to
condemn him for two murders. Pa
redes was right. The place was I'M
healthy. Its dark walls seemed to
draw closer. They had desolate
and unfriendly secretiveness. They
might hide anything.
The whirring of q motor reached
him. Headlights flung gigantic. dis
torted shadows Of trees across the
walls of tho old wing. Bobby faced
the others.
They're coming" he said, and his
voice was sufficiently apprehensive
now.
Graham Joined him at tho door.
sYes" he said. 'There will be an
other inquisition. You all know that
Howells for some absurd reason sus-
pected Bobby. Bobby, 1t goes with
out saying, knows no more about the
crimes than any Of us. dare say
you'll keep that in mind II they try
to confuse you. After all, there's
very little any Of us can tell them"
Except" Paroles said with q
yawn, "what went on upstairs when
the woman cried and Howells' body
moved. OF course I know nothing
about that"
Graham glanced at him sharply.
Il don't know what you mean,f but
you have told us all that you are
Bobby's friend"
"Quite so. And am not spy
He moved his head in his grave
and dignified bow.
The automobile stopped at the en-
trance to the court Three men step
ped out and hurried up the path. AS
they entered the hall Bobby recog-
nized the sallow, wiZened features OF
the coroner. One of the others was
short and thick set. His round and
florid face, one felt, should have ex-
pressed friendliness and good humor
rather than the intolerant anger that
marked it now. The third was a
lank, bald headed man, whose sharp
face released more determination
than intelligence.
Il am Robinson, the district attor-
ney," the stout one announced, land
this is Jack Rawlins, the best de-
tective I'VE got now that Howells Is
gone. Jack was q close friend of
Howells, so he'll make q good job Of
1t, but thought 1t was time I came
myself to see what the DEVILS going
on in this house"
The lank man nodded.
you're right, Mr.. Robinson. Therell
be no more nonsense about the case.
n Howells had made an arrest he
miSht be alive this minute"
Bobby's heart sank. These men
would act from a primary instinct Of
revenge. They wanted the man who
had killed Silas Blackburn principal
ly because 1t was certain he had
also killed their friend. Rawlins'
words. moreover. suggested that
Howells must have telephoned a
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