Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-01
The
Abandoned
Room
By WADsWoRTH CAMP
AUTHOR OF
THE HOUSE OF FEAR"
WARS DARK FRAME" ETC.
CHAPTER v.

/
Katherine and Bobby followed him
downstairs Doctor Groom and Pa
! redes stood In front of the fireplace,
o,estioninsN looking upward. Pa
| redes didn't speak at first, but Doc
| tor Groom burst out In his grum-
bltng bass voice:
whats been going on up there?'
did you hear just now q queer
crytng?' Graham asked.
| -'No"
| 'You, Paredes?"
-I've heard nothing" Paroles an
swered, except Doctor Groom's dis
quleting theories. It's an uncanny
hour for such talk. What kind OF
cry-may ask?"
| Like a woman moaning" Bobby
said, 'and, Doctor, Howells has
! changed his position"
What are you talking about?" the
doctor cried.
HE has turned on his side as Mr..
Blackburn did," Graham told him.
| Paredes glanced at Bobby.
''And how was this new mystery
| discovered?"
Bobby caught the implication.
Then the Panamanian chung to his
slyly expressed doubt of Katherine
which might, after all, have had its
impulse in an instinct of self-pres-
ersation. Bobby knew that Graham
and Katherine would guard the fash
ion in which the startling discovery
had been made. Before he could
| speak for himself, indeed, Graham
was answering Paroles:
This crying seemed after time
to come from the room. We en-
| tered" -'--
'-But Miss katherine called you
| up" Paroles said. II supposed she
had heard again movements In the
| room"
Bobby. managed a smile.
you see, Carlos, nothing is con-
sistent in this case"
Paroles bowed gravely.
1T is very curious woman should
cry about the house"
-The servants may make it seem
natural enough" Graham said. Twill
you come, Bobby?"
AS they crossed the dining room
they heard stirring in the kitchen.
Graham threw open the door. Jen-
kins stood at the foot Of the SER
wants stairs. The old butler had
lighted a candle and placed IL on the
manteI. The disorder of his clothing
suggested the haste with which he
had left his bed and come down.
stairs. His wrinkled, sunken face
had aged perceptibly. He advanced
with an expression of obvious relief.
II was just coming to find you,
| Mr. Robert
Whats up?" Bobby asked. "A
little while ago thought you were
all asleep back here"
zone OF the women awakened
him." Graham said. TITS just as I
Thought"
.Was that it?" the old butler ask
ed with a quick relief. But imme-
diately he shook his head ut
couldn't have been that, Mr.. Ora
ham. for I stopped at Elias and
James doors, and there was no
sound. They seemed to be asleep.
And 1t wasn't like that"
you mean" Bobby said, that you
heard q woman crying?"
JenkinA nodded. 1t woke me up"
IT you didn't think it was one Of
the maids" Graham asked, what did
YOU make Of it?"
Il thought it came from outside. I
Thought it was a woman prowling
around the house. Then I said to
myself, why should woman prowl
around the Cedars? And it was too
unearthly, sir, and remembered the
way Mr. Silas was murdered, and the
awful thing that happened to his
body this afternoon, and I-you won't
think me foolish, sirs?-I doubted if
1t was a human voice had heard"
NO" Graham said dryly I'VE
won't think you foolish"
$50 I thought I'd better wake you
up and tell YOU"
Graham turned to Bobby.
Katherine and you and l." he
said, "fancied the crying was in the
room with u.s. jenkins is sure it
came from outside the house. That
is significant"
wherever it came FROM" Bobby
said softly, ut was like some one
mourning for Howells"
Jenkins started.
1.-THE policeman"
Bobby remembered that Jenkins
hadn't been aroused by the discov-
cry OF Howells' murder.
You'd know in a few minutes
anyway" he said. 'Howells has been
killed as my grandfather was
jenkins moved back, \ look Of UNI
belief and awe in his wrinkled face.
He boosted he was going to sleep
in that room" he whispered.
Bobby studied Jenkins. not know
| ing what to make of the old man,
for into the awe of the wrinkled face
had stolen positive relief an emo
ton that bordered on the triumph
ant. IN
ITS terrible" jenkins whispered,
Graham grasped his shoulder.
What's the matter. with you, Jen-
kins7 One WOULD say you were glad"
mo. Oh, no. sir. It 10 terrible.
I was only wondering about the po-
ltceXnan's, report"
What do you know about this re-
pore1" Bobby cried.
only that-that he gave II to mo
to rnSil just before no went up to
the old room. - 2
You mailed IT." Graham strapped.
jenkins hesitated. When he s an
swered his voice was self-accuslng.
I'm AN old coward. Mr.. Robert.
The policeman told me the letter
was very important, and II anything
happened to It would set N
trouble. He couldn't afford to leave
the house himself, he said. But, a.
I my. I'm = coward. and didn't
want TO walk thru tho woods TO the