Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-11

II was coming to hunt you UP.
Bobby. The minister's arrived. So
has Doctor Groom. Everything's
about ready"
Doctor Groom.?"
Eyes. He used to SEQ q good deal
Of your grand father. It's natural
enough he should be here"
Bobby agreed indifferently. They
walked slowly back to the house.
Graham made it plain that his mind
was far from the sad business
ahead.
What do you think of Paroles
coming back ss II nothing were
wrong?" he asked. HE ignores what
happened yesterday. He settles him.
self in the Cednrs again"
II don't know what to think Of it,"
Bobby answered This morning
Carlos gave me the creeps."
Graham glanced at him curiously.
He spoke with pronounced delibera-
ton. startling E:obby: for this friend
expressed practically the thought
that Paroles arrival had driven into
his own mind.
"Gave me the creeps, too. Makes
me surer than ever that he has an
abominably deep purpose in using
his wits to hang on here. He sug-
gests resources as hard to under
stand as anything that has happened
in the old room. You'll confess,
Bobby. he's had a good deal of in
fluence over you--an influence for
evil?"
.Tye liked to go around with him.
If that's what you mean"
isn't he the cause of the last two
or three months nonsense in New
York;"
II won't blame Carlos for that"
Bobby muttere,i.
HE influenced you against your
better Judgment" Graham persisted,
ito refuse to leave with me the night
of your grandf;lther's death.
Maria did her share" Bobby said.
He broke of, looking at Graham.
"What are you driving at?
Eve been asking myself since ne
came back" Graham answered. If
there's any queer power behind his
quiet manner. Maybe he 10 psychic.
Maybe he can do things we don't
understand. I've wondered II he had,
without your knowing 1t. acquired
sufficient influence to direct your
body when your mind no longer
controlled it. It's q nasty thought,
but I've heard of such things"
"You means Carlos may have made
me go to the hall last night, perhaps
sent me to the old room those other
times?"
Now that another had expressed
the idea Bobby fought 1t with all his
might.
mo. I won't believe it. rye been
weak, Hartley, but not that weak.
And tell yor did feel Howells
body move under my hand"
Don't misunderstood me-" Ora
ham said gently. Il must consider
every possibility. You were excited
and imaginative when you went to
the old room to take the evidence.
It was q shock to have your candle
60 out. You. own hand, reaching
out to Howells, might have moved
systematically. mean, you may
have been responsible for the thing
without realizing it"
"And the disappearance OF the evil
dence7" Bobb, defended himself.
'If 1t had lteen stolen earlier the
coat pocket might have retained its
bullying shape. We know now that
Paroles is capable of sneaking
around the house"
mo. no." Bobby said holly. You're
trying to take away my one hope.
But was there, and you weren't.
I know with ray own senses what
happened. and you don't. Paroles
has no such influence over me. I
won't think of it."
IF It's so far-fetched." Graham
asked quietly, why do you revolt
from the ides.?"
Bobby turned on him.
land why do you fill my mind
with such thoughts? II you think
I'm guilty say so. Go tell Robinson
So.
He glanced away while the angry
color left his face. He was little
dased by the realization that he had
spoken to Grs ham as he might have
done to an enemy, as he had spoken
to Howells in the old bedroom. He
felt the touch. Of Graham's hand on
his shoulder.
TN only working in your service"
a .