Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-16
The
Abandoned
Room
By WADSWORTH CAMP
AUTHOR OF
THE HOUSE OF FEAR"
WARS DARK FRAME" ETC.
CHAPTER ii.
The Case Against Bobby.

TIC NsalSt -NStRA'SN AN''''
Bobby hurried down the road in
the direction OF the Cedars. Always
he tried desperately to recall what
had occurred during those black
hours last night and this morning
before he had awakened in the
empty house near his grandfather's
home. All that remained were his
sensation of travel in swift We
hicle, his impression OF standing in
the forest near the Cedars, MS
glimpse OF the masked figure which
he had called his conscience, the
echo In his brain of dream like
voice saying: Take off your shoes
and carry them in your hand. Al
ways do that It's the only safe
way"
These facts, then, alone were clear
TO him: He had wandered. uncon-
scious. in the neighbOrhood. His
grandfather had been strangely muir
dered. The detective who had met
him in the village practically ac-
cused him OF the murder. And he
couldn't remember.
ne lti ISu bi1h ~ ms AtANN NASN@A
recollections. When he had eX-
perienced his first symptoms OF Slip
ping consciousness he had been in
the cafe in New York with Carlos
Paroles, Maria, the dancer, and a
strange man whom Maria had
brought to the table. Thru them he
might, to an extent, trace his move
ments. unless they had put him in a
cab. thinking he would catch the
train. OF which he had talked, for
the Cedars.
Already the forest crowded the
narrow, curving road. The Black
burn place was in the midst OF an
arid thicket of stunted pines, oaks,
and cedars. Old Blackburn had new
er done anything TO improve the
estate or its surroundings. Steadily
during his lifetime it had grown
more gloomy. less habitable.
With the silent forest thick about
him Bobby realized that he was no
longer alone. A cracking twig or
loose stone struck by a foot might
have warned him. He went slower,
glancing restlessly over his shoulder.
He saw no one, but that idea of
stealthy pursuit persisted. Undoubt-
eddy it was the detective, Howells,
who followed him, hoping, perhaps,
that he would make some mad eff
fort at escape.
That" he muttered, lis probably
the reason he didn't arrest me at the
station"
Bobby, however, had no thought of
escape He was impatient 10 reach
the Cedars, where he might learn all
that Howells hadn't told him about
his grandfather's death.
A high wooden fence struggled
thru the forest. The driveway swung
from the road thru a broad gate
way The gate stood open. Bobby
remembered that it had been old
Blackburn's habit to keep it closed.
He entered and hurried among the
trees to the edge of the lawn in the
center Of which the ho:.-- stood.
Feeling as guilty as the detective
thought him. he paused there and
examined the house for some sign of
life. At first it seemed as dead as
the forest stripped by autumn-al-
most as gloomy and arid as the
wilderness which struggled close
about il. He had no eye for the
symmetry of its wings which formed
the court in the center OF which an
abandoned fountain stood. He stud
led the windows. picturing Rather
Inc alone, surrounded by the compli-
cations of this unexpected tragedy.
His feeling of an inimical watch
fuiness persisted A clicking sound
swung him back to the house. The
front door had been opened, and in
the black frame of the doorway, as
he looked, Katherine and Graham
appeared, and he knew the resolu-
ton of his last doubt was at hand.
Katherine had thrown a cloak over
her graceful figure Her sunny hair
strayed in the wind but her face,
while it had lost nothing of its
beauty, projected even at this dis
lance q sense of WEAKNESS, of anxi-
ETY., of utter fear.
Bobby was grateful for Graham's
presence It was like the man to
assume HIS responsibilities, 10 sac
rifice himself in his service. He
Strengthened. He must meet these
two. Thru his own wretched ap-
pearance and position he must de-
velop for Katherine more clearly
than ever Graham's superiority. He
stepped out, calling softly:
"katherine,"
She started. She turned IN his d.
rection and came swiftly toward
him. She spread her hands.
Bobby Bobby! Where have
you beenT'
There were tears in her eyes They
were like tears that have been too
long coming. He took her hands.
Her fingers were cold. They twitched
in his.
Look at me, Katherine" he said
hoarsely. I'm sorry"
Graham came up. He spoke with
apparent difficulty.
you've not been home. Then
what happened last night? Quick!
Tel! us what you did everything"
I've seen the detective" he an
swered. He's told you, too? Be
careful. I think he's back there,
watching and listening"