Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-11

suggestion lessened the difficulty Of
his position. Entering the court, he
scarcely glanced at the black wagon.
There were more dark clothed men
in the hail. Rawlins had returned.
From the rug in front of the fire.
place he surveyed the group with =
bland curiosity. Robinson sat near
by. glowertns at Paroles. The Pana-
manian had changed his clothing.
He, too. was somberly dressed. and.
instead of the vivid necktie he had
worn from the court house, Jet
black scarf was perfectly arranged
beneath his collar. He lounged OPP
posite the district attorney, his eyes
studying the fire. His fingers on the
chair arm were restless.
Doctor Groom stood at the foot of
the stairs. talking with the clergy
man, a stout and unctuous figure.
Bobby noticed that the great stolid
form of the doctor was i'll at ease.
From his thickly bearded face his
reddish eyes cleaned forth with a
fresh instability.
The clergyman shook hands with
Bobby.
I'VE need not delay. Your cousin
is upstairs"
He included the company in his
circltng turn of the head.
ANY one who cares to go"
Bobby forced himself to walk up
the staircase, facing the first phase
of his ordeal He saw that the dis
trict attorney realized that, too, for
he sprang from his chair, and, fol-
lowed by Rawlins, started upward.
The entire company crowded the
stairs. At the top Bobby found Pa
redes at his side.
Carlos! Why do you Gomez"
II would like to be of some COM
fort" Paroles answered sravely.
His fingers on the banister made
that restless. cropping movement.
Graham summoned Katherine One
of the black clothed men opened the
door Of Silas Blackburn's room. He
stepped aside. reckoning. He had
baton for the surprise he has ar
ranged.
Bobby went in with the others.
Automatically thru the dim light he
cataloged remembered objects, all
intimate to his grandfather, each
oddly entangled in his mind with his
dislike OF the old man. The iron bed:
the chest of drawers, scratched and
with broken handles: the closed CO.
lcnial desk; the misery rag carpet
all seemed mutely asking, as Bobby
did. why their owner had deserted
them the other night and delivered
himself to the ghostly mystery of the
old bedroom.
Reluctantly Bobby's glance went
to the center of the floor where the
casket rested on trestles. From the
chest OF drawers two candles, the
only light played wanly over the
still figure and the ashen face. So
for the second time the living met
the dead, and the law watched hope
fully.
Robinson stood opposite, but he
didn't look at Silas Blackburn who
could no longer accuse. He stared
instead at Bobby, and Bobby kept
repeating to himself:
Il didn't do this thing. 1 didn't do
this thing"
And he searched the face of the
dead man for confirmation. A
chill thought not without excuse un-
der the circumstances and in this
vague light, raced along his nerves
Silas Blackburn had moved once
since his death. II the power to
move and speak should miraculously
return to him now! In this house
there appeared to be no impossible
tiles. The cold control Of death had
been twice broken.
katherine's entrance swung his
thoughts and released him for a mo-
ment from Robinson's watchfulness
He found he could turn from the
wrinkled face that had fascinated
him. that had seemed to question
him with calm and complete knowl-
edge. to the lovely one that was ac-
tive with little smile Of encourage
ment. He was grateful for that 1t
taught him that In the heavy pres
cnce of death and from the harsh
trappings of mourning the mag
netism OF youth is uncomfortable. So
In affection he found an antidote for
fear. Even<iraham's quick move
ment to her side couldn't make her
presence less helpful to Bobby. He
looked at his grandfather again. He
glanced at Robinson. A. In dream
he heard the clergyman pay:
The service will be read at the
grave"
ITO be continuadN