Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-22
The
Abandoned
Room
By WADSWORTH CAMP
AUTHOR OF
"THE HOUSE OF FEAR"
WARS DARK FRAME" ETC.
By WADsWO CAMP
CHAPTER TX,
Robinson considered.

Robinson considered.
81 don't want to be hard" he sale
finally, land l don't want to miss
any chance OF cleaning up where
poor Howells failed"
He glanced at the extraordinar!
array of evidence The good nature
which. one felt. should always have
been in his face, shone at last.
II don't Nbelieye you're guilty. Al
far as you're concerned it's likel.
enough a put-up job. I don't know
about the girl. Go ahead. anyway
and ten us, IL you can. how the
locked room was entered. Explair
the mystery of that old man who
looks as II he were dead, but whe
moves around and talks with US"
"The answer, IL its anywhere
Bobby said, "is in the old room"
Robinson nodded.
Under the conditions 1t Seems
worth while. Go on then and cleal
your cousin and yourself X you can
You have until daylight tomorrow
Bobby's gratitude was sufficiently
eloquent in his eyes. but he said
nothing. He hurried from the room
to find Katherine AZ soon as hi
had stepped in the corridor he saw
her figure against the wall.
''katherine!" he breathed.
i've heard everything she said
He led her to the main hall. where
the greedy ears in her bedroom
couldn't oyerhear them.
"Then you suspected what they
were about?" he asked her.
Uncle Silas." she answered
Seemed just as he had been when
went upstairs, SO wondered. and
remembered I had left my door I'M
locked
Then you knew those things were
there?"
Her face was white. She trembled
Her words came jerkily:
".Of course I didn't. only kept
my door locked because they had
searched SO thoroughly before. II
was an humiliation l couldn't beal
TO face again"
"Yoa don't know.A he asked. "whc
took that stuff from Howeils: who
hid 1t In your bureau?'
The trembling OF her slender body
became more pronounced. She spoke
thru chattering teeth:
( Bobby! Why do you ask such
things? You believe am guilty q
you thought i was the woman in
black. You think now, because those
things were in my bureau"
"Stop. Katherine! You won't an
swer me Z"
/. mo-" she said. backing away from
him. But YOU are going 70 answer
me. We have come to that point Al
ready. just an hour or two Of trust,
and then this! It's the Cedars Fore
ing us apart az II did when we had
our quarrel. Only this time II ID
definite. Do you think I'm guilty OF
these atrocious crimes, or don't you
Everything for us depends on your
answer. and I'll know whether you
are telling me the truth"
"Then," he said, why should I an
swer?"
And he took her In his arms and
held her close.
She didn't cry. but for a moment
she ceased trembling. and her teeth
no longer chartered.
MY DEAR" he said, 'even IL you
had hidden that evidence I'd have
known it was to protect me-"
Then she cried a little, and for q
moment, even In the unmerciful
grasp OF their trouble, they were
nearly happy. The footsteps Of the
others in the corridor recalled them
Katherine leaned against the table
drying her eyes. Graham. Robinson,
and Rawlins walked into the hall.
"Hello!" Robinson said. II suppose
that isn't an unfeir advantage, Mr.
Blackburn. Still. I'd rather she
hadn't been told.r
He's told me nothing" Katherine
answered. IT came back to the cor
ridor; heard everything you said. =
Maybe it's as WELL" Robinson re-
Elected. 1T certainly 10 II what you
heard has shown you the wisdom OF
giving up the whole thing"
She stared at him without reply
ing.
Come now" he wheedled. you
might tell US at least why you stole
and secreted the evidence"
"I'll answer nothing"
That's wiser, Katherine" Graham
put in.
She turned on him with complete
and unexpected fury. The color
rushed back to her face Her eyer
blazed. Bobby had never guessed
her capable Of such anger. His won.
der grew that her outburst. should b<
directed against Graham.
keep quiet!" she cried hysterical.
~. Don't speak to me again. ]
hate you! Do you understand?
Graham drew back.
why. Katherine.-''
Don't" she, said. Don't call me
that"
The officers glanced at Graham
with frank bewilderment. Rawlins
materialistic mind didn't hesitate t.
express its first thought:
Must say, l always thought you
were sweet on the, lady"
Hartley" Bobby said. you have
been fair to us7"
Il don't know why she attacks me.
Graham muttersd.!
His face recorded q genuine pain
His words, Bobby felt, overcame Z
barrier of emotion.
They heard Paredes and Doctor
Groom on-the stairs.
Whats tnis?" the doctor rumbled
as he came UP.
Tim sorry i forgot myself.
Katherine said thru her chatterinl
teeth. She turned to Robinson. q
am going to my room. You needn',
be afraid. shan't leave 1t until you
come to take me"
Truly hope 1t won't be neces-
sary," the district attorney answered
She hurried away. Rawlins grin
!. De- h.