Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-17
The
Abandoned
Room
AUTHOR OF
1.-THE HOUSE OF FEAR"
WARS DARK FRAME" ETC.
CHAPTER VIII.
By WADSWORTH CAMP

CHAPTER VIII.
Katherine started impulsively for
ward in an effort to stop him. Black
burn waved her away.
You are trying to scare me.
Katy?" he asked suspiciously
Evidently" Robinson commented
to Graham, "Howells wasn't as dull
as we thought him. Go on. Mr..
Blackburn. Why were you afraid OF
your grandson"
Maybe he can tell you better than
cam" the old man answered. Don't
see any use raking up such things.
anyway. Maybe I'd been pretty
harsh with him. Anyway. I knew he
hated the ground walked on and
would be glad enough to see me drop
In my tracks"
THAT isn't So" Bobby said.
I You keep quiet now. You always
talked too much"
So the old feeling survived.
60 on" Robinson urged.
I'D always been a hard worker"
Blackburn whined, land he was a
waster. Naturally we didn't get
| along. I'd decided to make a new
| will, leaving my money to tho Bed
ford Foundation, and I wrote him
that, thinking 1t would bring him hot
foot to make 1t up with me. I'd been
nervous about him before, because I
didn't know what might come into
his head when he was on these wild
parties. So I'd spoken to Howells,
thinking I'd trip him II he tried any
funny business. When he didn't
come that night got scared. He
knew l wouldn't make the new will
until morning, and since couldn't
see any man throwing all that money
away, figured he'd guessed he
couldn't turn me and wouldn't waste
any time talking"
when you got a lot OF money and
grandson who hates you. you have
to think OF such things. Suppose, l
thought, he should come out here
drunk when was sound asleep. /
knew he had latch key. and he
might sneak up to my room before I
could even get to the telephone. or
was afraid he might hire somebody.
You can buy men for that sort Of
work In New York. tell you the
more thought OF It the more / was
sure he'd do something. You'd un-
derstand II you lived in this lonely
place with all that money and no.
body you wanted to will 1t to. I near
" sent for Howelis right then, But
il nothing had happened I'd have
looked fool"
Il wanted you to send for a mar"
Katherine cried.
Bobby leaned against the wall, re-
peatins to himself the words of
Maria's note which accused him OF
having made the very threat his
grandfather had feared. 1
80" Blackburn rambled on, Il de ;
| cided wouldn't sleep in my room
| that night, and picked out the least
likely place for anybody to find me.
! was more afraid Of him than was
of the old room, but, az I've told
you. the old room made me forget
Master Robert"
Robinson stepped to Bobby's side.
"All along Howells was right. Tell
me what you did with that evidence"
Bobby turned away. Katherine
tried to laugh. Graham beckoned to
Robinson. Il
whats the use Of bothering Will,
evidence against q suspected MUIR
derer when the murdered man stands
talking to your"
Robin aou frrupod Io1pIoc.lx, D.
redes sprang to his feet.
You're taking too much for grant,
ed, Graham. There was a murder.
Blackburn was killed. We've as
many witnesses to that fact as we
have that he's come back. This man
who talks with us, accusing Bobby,
may not stay. Have you thought d
| that? I have noticed something that
makes me think 1t possible. have
been afraid to speak of It. But 1t
makes me hesitate to say that this
man is alive, as we understand life.
We have to learn the nature Of the
forces we are dealing with. exactly
how dangerous they are"
They started at a sharp rap on the
front door.
Nov who?" the old man whined.
Il wish you wouldn't look at me SO.
It makes me feel queer. You're all
crazy"
Its probably Doctor Groom"
Bobby said, and stepped to the door,
opening it.
1t was Groom. The huge man
walked in, struggling out Of his coat.
| AT first the others screened Silas
Blackburn from him. but he acknowl-
edged their strained attitudes, the ex-
l'citement that still animated Paroles
| face.
What's the matter with your" he
asked. Found something, Mr.. Dis
trict Attorney"
Robinson moved to one aide, Jerk
ing his thumb at Silas Blackburn.
The coat and hat slipped from Doc
tor Groom's hand. His mouth open
ed. His great body crept slowly back
until the shoulders rested against the
wall. He placed the palms Of his
hands against the wall as If to push
1t away in order to assure further re-
treat. Always the little, infused
eyes remained fixed on the man who
had been his. friend. Such terror was
chiefly arresting because Of the great
| figure conquered by IL.
| Blackburn thrust his pipe in his
mouth. He laughed shakily.
That fellow Groom will have a
stroke"
The doctors greeting had the diff
ficult quality Of masculine sob.
"Silas Blackburn"