Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-19
The
Abandoned
Room
Bv WADSWORTH CAMP
AUTHOR OF
"rHE HOUSE OF FEAR !
.vvAR,s DARK FRAME" ETC
cHAPnNR II.

MIN WhiNen WI 50. Si"N'
haven't TN nerN to arrest me I'm
going. I'm Dad have had this out
with you. m nj own master. do
what / pleast Ip where | please.
At last the cane moved to one
side. The deectiS Strengthened and
walked to Bobby. ehe multitude OF
small lines in his Ice twitched. His
voice was too cold Y the fury of his
words.
"That's just what want you to do
damn you-anythinSou please. I'm
accusing nobody, 1t I'm getting
somebody. I've gotpmebody right
now for this old mai murder. My
mans going to writ and burn in
the chair, confessiortr no confes'
sion. Now get out ofbis room since
you're so anxious, at don't come
near 1t again"
Bobby went. At the u of the COR
ridor he heard the ching Of the
door, the scraping of tikey. He was
afraid the detective mitt follow him
to his room to heckle hi further. To
avoid that he hurriedP the lower
floor. He wanted to I alone. He
must have time to action himself
to this degrading fate rlich foomed
in the too-close futuraUnless they
could demolish the detfive's theory
he, Bobby Blackburn, Eould go to
the death house.
A fire blazed in thdoig, hall fire
place. Paroles stoodFlth his back
to it, smoking and warming MS
hands. A man sat in he shadow or
a deep leather chairsh bis rough, I'M
polished boots stretdsd toward the
flaming logs. AS haame down the
stairs Bobby heard 10 heavy, rumb-
ling voice of the mafn the chair:
Certainly it's ahueer case, but
not the way Howell means. l dare
say the old fool dig what the world
will call q natur3 death. Ii you
smoke SO much yd will, too, before
long"
Bobby tried slip past, but
Paroles saw himl
Feeling betterIB obby?' ~.
The boots wert drawn in. From
the depths of TIL chair arose a fig
ure nearly gigaJic in the hreHght.
The mans face,h first glance, ap-
peared to be coyted with hair. Black
and curling, It Struggled over his
forehead. 1t chilled his mouth, and
fell in an unkehpt beard down his
waistcoat. Thdhuge man must have
been as old asfSilas Blackburn, but
he showed no duch of gray. His only
to tge was the sunken
and bloodshot appearance Of his eyes.
Bobby and katherine had always
been afraid of this great, grim coun-
try practitionei who had attended
their childish Illnesses. That sense
Of an oyerpowering and incompre-
hensible personality had fingered.
Even thru his graver fear Bobby felt
a sharp discomfort as he surrendered
his hand to the others absorbing
grasp.
"Pm afraid you came too late this
time, Doctor Groom"
The doctor looked him up and
down.
mot for you. I gueS=," lie grum-
oled. Don't you know you're sick,
ooy?"
Bobby shook his head. ~,
I'm very tired. That's all. I'm on
my way to the library to try to rest"
He freed his hand. The big man
nodded approvingly.
"Ill send you a DOSE" he prom
sed, "and don't you worry about
your grandfather having been muir
Tered by any man. I've seen the body.
Stuff and nonsense! Detectives an
ISIS. Waiting for coroner, altho I
know he's one, too"
II pray" Bobby answered listless-
y, that you're right"
'If there's any little thing I can
TO-" Paroles offered formally.
mo, no. Thanks" Bobby al
,wered.
He went on to the library. He
glanced with an unpleasant shrinking
rom the door of the enclosed stair
ease leading to the private hall just
outside the room in which his grand
'ather lay dead. There was no fire
lere, but he wrapped himself in a
Jug and lay on the broad, high
backed lounge which was drawn
close to the fireplace, facing it. His
complete WEAKNESS conquered his
his feeling of helpless
ness. The entrance Of Jenkins bare
y aroused him.
10 Tr Pnharf
,Here," Bobby answered sleepily.
The butler walked to the lounge
ind looked over the back.
ITO be sure, sir. I didn't see you
lere."
He held out a glass.
Doctor Groom said you were to
rink this. It would make you sleep,
sir.
Bobby closed his eyes again.
"Put 1t on the table where I can
reach it when I want it,"
Yves, sir. Mr.. Robert! The po-
lceman? Did he say anything, If I
night make so bold as to ask?'
go away" Bobby groaned. Leave
ne in peace"
And peace for a little time came
% him. 1t was the sound Of voices
n the room that aroused him. He
ay for a time, scarcely knowing
where he was, but little by little the
sickening truth came back, and he
.ealised that 1t was Graham and the
letectiye. Howells. who talked close
% the window, and Graham had al
.eady fulfilled his promise.
Bobby didn't want to eavesdrop,
,ut it was patent he would embar-
ASS Graham by disclosing himself
now, and it was likely Graham would
,e glad of a witness to anything the
detective might say.
1t was still light. A ray from the
ow sun entered the window and
,ested on the door Of the enclosed
staircase.