Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-27
The
Abandoned
Room
By WADSWORTH CAMP
AUTHOR OF
THE HOUSE OF FEAR"
WARS DARK FRAME" ETC.
CHAPTER w.

He stopped behind the wlhdstheia
and lighted a cigaret.
AT least, Bobby" he said between
puffs, 1.-THE Cedars has taken from
YOU the fear of Howells."
And after IA time, staring at the
glow of his cigaret, he went on
softly:
Have you noticed anything sig
nificant about the discovery OF each
mystery at the Cedars?'
MANY things" Bobby muttered.
Think" Paroles urged him.
Bobby answered angrily:
You've suggested that to me once
today, Carlos. You mean that each
time | have been asleep or uncon-
scious."
Il mean something quite differ
emit" Paroles said.
He hesitated. When he continued,
his drawl was more pronounced.
Then you haven't remarked that
each time it has been Miss katherine
who has made the discovery, who
has aroused the rest of the house p
The car swerved sharply. BObby's
first impulse had been to take his
hands from the wheel, TO force Pa
redes to retract his sly insinuation-
That's the rottenest thing I've
ever known you To do, Carlos. Take
it back"
Paroles shrugged his shoulders.
There's nothing TO take back. |
accuse no one. | merely call atten-
ton to u chain of exceptional COIN
cidences."
You make me wonder" Bobby
said, IF Hartley isn't justified in his
dislike of you. You'll kill sucn Il IL
diculous suspicion"
or" Paroles drawled. Very
well. 1t seems nay fate recently 10
offend those | like best. L merely
thought that any theory leading
away from you would be welcome"
ANY theory Bobby answered,
Involving Katherine is unthinkable."
Paroles smiled.
It didn't understand exactly how
you felt. | rather took it for grant
ed that Graham Never mind.
take it back"
Then drop it" Bobby answered
sullenly, sorry that there was moth
ing else ne could say.
They continued in silence thru the
deserted forest whose aggressive
loneliness made words seem trivial.
Bobby was asking himself again
where he had stood last night when
he had glimpsed for a moment the
straining trees and the figure in a
mask which he had called his con-
science. If he could only prove that
figure substantial Then Graham
would have some ground for his
suspicion of Paroles and the dancer,
Maria. He glanced at Paroles. Could
there have been a conspiracy against
him in the New York cafe? Did Pa
redeS, in fact have some devious
purpose in remaining at the Cedars
The automobile took a sharp curve
in the road. Bobby started, gazing
ahead with an interest nearly hyp-
| motto. The headlights had caught in
their glare the deserted farmhouse Ia
which he had awakened just before
| Howells had told him of his grand
| fathers death and practically placed
! him under arrest. In the white light
the frame of the house, from which
/ the paint had faxed, appeared
CHASTITY, unreal, like structure seen
in a nightmare from which one re-
| coils with morbid horror. The ligh,
left the building. AS the car tore
past. Bobby could barely make out
| the black mass in the midst Of the
| thicket.
Paroles had observed it, too.
II dare say" he remarked casually
the Cedars will become as deserted
as that. 1t is just that it should
| for the entire neighborhood impresses
| one as unfriendly to life, as striving
! thru death to drive life out"
Have you ever seen that house
before?" Bobby asked quickly.
Il have never seen it before. I de
not care ever to see it again."
| 1t was a relief when the fores
! thinned and fields stretched fla