Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-04

IT ought to place this entire house,
hold under arrest" Robinson NUT
tered.
AS a lawyer" Graham said easily.
IT should think with your lack OF
evidence it might be asking for
trouble. There is Paredes who ac-
knowledge he was in the court"
All right. I'll see what he's got
to say"
He started for the house. Bobby
lin yered for q moment with Ora
hahn.
do you know anything about
this, Hartley2'
Nothing" Graham whispered.
"Then you don't think Kath-
crime"
III she'd done it shed have taken
coed care not to be so curious. l
doubt II 1t was Katherine"
They followed the others into the
halt. Bobby. scarcely approaching
why at first, realized there had been
a change there. Then he under
stood: Robinson faced an empty
chair. The hall was pungent with
SA8e1Vk oihSNCs ouS ~ cAC0 uUu 6Ouc.
Robinson pointed to the stairs.
'a3et him down." he said to Raw
lina.
".He wouldn't have gone to bed"
Graham suggested. Suppose he's in
the old room where Howells lies?"
But Rawlins found him nowhere
upstairs. With an increasing excite
ment Robinson Joined the search.
They went thru the entire house. Pa
redts was no longer there. He had.
to I'LL appearances, put a period to
his unwelcome visit. He had defin-
itel!' disappeared from the Cedars.
His most likely exit was thru the
kitchen door which was unlocked,
but Jenkins who had returned to his
room heard no one. With their cleo
trio lamps Robinson and Rawlins
ferrsted about the rear entrance for
traces. The path there was as
front Rawlins. who had gone some
distance from the house. straight
enet with a satisfied exclamation.
The others joined him.
'E[ers's where he left the path right
enough" he said. "And our for
eisner wasn't making any more noise
thar, he had to-"
H, flashed his lamp ON q fresh
footprint in the soft soil at the side
Of the path. The mark Of the toe
was deep and firm. The impression
Of tie heel was very light. Paredes.
It was clear. had walked from the
house on tiptoe.
"Follow on" Robinson command
ed. II told this fellow wanted to
question him. I've scared him Off"
Keeping his light on the ground.
Rawlins led the way across the
clearing. The trail was simple
enough to follow. Each Of the Pana-
manan's foot prints was distinct.
Each had that popularity that sug-
gestsd the stealth OF his progress.
( Az they continued Bobby respond
cd :, an excited premonition. He
ssns'sd the destination OF the chase.
He could picture Paroles now in the
loneliest portion Of the woods, for
the trail unquestionably pointed to
the path he had taken that after
noon toward the stagnant lake.
Hartley" he said. Paroles left
the house to go to the stagnant lake
where I fancied saw Il woman in
black. Do you see? And he didn't
hear the crying of q woman q little
while ago, and when We told him he
became restless. He wandered about
the liall talking Of ghosts"
A 49, Z,
He may have been waiting for Just
that Tho crying may have been q
signal. Perhaps you'll believe now,
Bobby, that the man has had an un-
derhs.nded purpose In staying here"
Tive made too many, hasty judg-
ments In my. life, Hartley. I'll 60
slow on this. I'll walt until we see
what we find at the lake.
Rawlins snapped off his light. The
little party paused at the black en-
trance of the path into the thickst.
"HGs buried himself in the woods."
Rawllns said.
They crowded instinctivsly closer
in the sudden darkness. A brisk
wind had sprung up. It ratified
| NAAO16 SAo sA0VoS shAAo 0SS hAA0 0O8sA
leaves in gentle, rustling motion. It
sugge sted to Bobby the picture which
had been forced into his brain the
night Of his grandfather's death. The
moon now possessed less light, but 1t
reminded him again Of q drowning
face, and thru the darkness he could
fancy the trees straining In the wind
like I'uny Inen. Abruptly the thought
Of penetrating the forest became
Tightening. The silent loneliness Of
the stagnant lake seemed a. un-
friendly and threatening Al the mel
anchcly OF the old room.
There are too many of U.S." Rob-
inson was saying. you'd better 90
on alone, Rawlins, and don't take
any chances. I've got to have this
man. You understand? I think he
knows things worth while"
The rising wind laughed ut his
whisper. The detective flashed his
lamp once, shut it off again, and
stepped into the close embrace of the
thicket.
Suddenly Bobby grasped Graham's
arm. The little group became tense,
breatllless. For across the wind with
diffused quality. a lack Of direc-
ton, vibrated to them again the
faint and mournful grief of a
woman.
(To be continued.)
DECLARE WAR ON FAT.
Expxe riment in Redueinu Wsiuht