Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-14
The
Abandoned
Room
B., WADSWORTH CAMP
AUTHOR OF
THE HOUSE OF FEAR.
WARS DARK FRAMIs" ETC.
CHAPTER VIII.
What Happened at the Grave.

CHAPTER VIII.
What Happened at the Grave.
Hello. Katy! Hello, Bobby! You
shown your face at last? hope
you'vs come sober"
The thin, Quarrelsome voice OF
Silas Blackburn echoed In the moulds
court The stout, bent figure in the
candl slight studied them suspicious.
~. Katherine chung to Bobby, trem.
bling. startled beyond speech by the
apparition. They both stared ut the
gray lace, at the thick fisurc, which
three days after death, they had seer
buried that noon in the overgrown
cemetery, Bobby recalled how Doc.
tor Groom had reminded him that
an activity like this might emerge
from such places. He had suggested
that the condition Of the family bur-
ial ground might be an inspiration
to such strayings. Yet why should
the spirit OF Silas Blackburn have
escaped Why should It have re-
turned forthwith to the Cedars, un.
less =, face his grandson as his MUIR
derer!
Afterward Bobby experienced nc
shame for these reflections. The en-
counter was a fitting sequel to the
moment in the dark room when he
had felt Howells move beneath hi,
hand. He had flseting faith that
the void between tho living and tbs
dead had, indeed. been bridssd.
Then he wondered that the famil-
lar figure failed to disintesrats. and
he noticed smoke curling from the
blacf;ened brior pipe. He caught its
punsent aroma In the damp air OF
the court Moreover, Silas Black
burn had spoken. challenging him a
usual with sneer.
Let VI 30 past" Katherine whis-
peret.
But siias Blackburn stepped out
blocking their way. He spoke again
His whining accents held I reproach
hats the matter with you two!
You might a. seen a ghost. or may.
be you're sorry to have me back
Didn't you wonder where I was
Katy? Reckon you hoped I wal
dead. Bobby"
Bobby answered. He had . fame,
OF addressing emptiness.
Why have you come? That 1,
what you are to us-dead."
Silas Blackburn chuckled. He tool
the I'ipe from his mouth and tapped
the tobacco down with knotted
forsfinser.
TIL show you how dead am!
Trying 70 b funny, ain't your ri
maxi, you laugh ON the wrong aid,
Of your face. It's cold here. I'm 70.
Ing In"
Tie same voice. the same manner!
Yet his presence denied that grear
fact which during three days hat
been impressed upon them with ,
growing fear.
Tie old man jerked his thumb to,
ward the dimly lighted windows o,
the wing.
What you got the old room lirht.
Cd I'D for? What's going on there
! tried to sleep there the othel
night
'Ttncle!~
...n ne spfans forward. sht
. ."''. guy nor mana to him Will
49,. ce pronounced A. Ora
body. Her fingers brushed his hand
Her shoulders dropped. She clunr Il
his :trm. To Bobby this RESOLUTION
was more OF q shock, leas 10 he ex.
.nAn az. .'rst assurance o.
80, ~ 49,. y,Itor what did \
. ..,,..S :. 80. w. IN impossioit
M . VI sisty.
Su A p@tted Aatnerine'i
.c1rsa
WY. Wnst you crying Tor, Katy
istsi.. "' '0"s'nins TO scare you
~. ..-,..., -. 49,.
~ ,',.h,.S ~ snu"o e'h soware
..va,. 49,. oW
o,e no ys Wnars 90
49,. e v'o soo
a.. 'usn Wa oa1ed. question.
am
aos - tly.ns 70 account for your
H,s -.
..n suner looked at him
s1.o,, ont :, no,,r sn
out OF your nead
vo,, ,,,,s .sn CRED; We saw
49,. - ~ coio ana stih. I'll
w.
p..,. ~ " NO. ioreotten. Katherine
nouss sa.u ureatniessiy' that he
'nevsu siterward.
-s Diackourn TOOK his hand from
..1sru,ns snou!asr
.t,. ~. soaae me WHAT'S the
90, ~, ... yom some scheme to
.sy'nv .,sn.
o+har n;a,.. >. ne 'ne oio room the
ias.I,, y asked help
.N;a As.
.ronS,o tho. III SEED taere. his
p 1870 wmhed. went in and
snv, ~ W. : uiunt sleep defy