The Abandoned Room

by the unhealthy habits and companionships which recently had angered his grandfather to the point of threatening a disciplinary change in

happened at the Cedars where his cousin, Katherine Perrine was, except for the servants,

ich she had persisted as an antidote for Bobby's shortcomings. She was never in harmo

e before the Revolution, and that what had been good enough for them was good enough for him. So that night Katherine had to hear alone the sly stalking of death in the

fraid. That night he ate practically no dinner. He couldn't keep still. He wandered

tter, Uncle? Wh

lligibly or failed

dows across the walls. Her loneliness, and her nervousness, grew sharper. The restless, shuffling footsteps stimulated her imagination. Perhaps a mental breakdown was re

f, "or somebody will have to co

ck to the fire, glaring around the room, fumbling with hands that shook in his pocket for his pipe and some loo

s pipe. His heavy brows, gray like his beard, contracted in a f

ster! God knows w

ncle Silas, an

peaking she noticed that always his voice shook as his fi

awyer's coming in the morning. My money goes to the Bedford Foundation-all except a little

little repulsive in view of his ru

with nobody caring for you

close to him. He

not fair

nearly savage, he pushed her

ll me! You must tell me

. He didn't answer. S

Bobby you'r

grumbled, "are thi

ook he

"aren't very good friends, largely

the room, mumbling

beat against her brain the shuffling, searching tread of her uncle. Its cessation about eleven o'clock increased her uneasiness. He had been so afraid! Suppose already the th

om were in the right-hand wing. The opposite corridor was seldom used, for the left-hand wing was the oldest portion of the house, and in the march of years too many legends had gathered about it. The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the l

idor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead. She was abou

-gown. His hair was disordered. His face appeared grayer and more hag

ing up here, Kat

picture of his increased

crying f

. She begged him for a

ke me a

hed sco

ou got to be

"You've got to tell me. I'm all alone.

n toward the disused wing. Her

ou going?" s

he entrance to

g to the o

ically. "You can't sleep the

s voice to a

you want to know, I am afraid. I'm afra

no

u there. What is it? Tell me what it is

d. "Nothing for you to be w

," she cried.

ridor. She heard him shuffling between its narrow wall

dow and leaned out, her body shaking, her teeth chattering as if fr

old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused. She heard one of the windows opened with a grating noise. The court was a sounding board. It carried to he

ings, her loneliness, contradicted her. To her over-acute senses the thought of Blackburn in that room, so often consecrated to the f

lip across the court. The moon had ceased struggling. The wind cried. The baying of a dog echoed mournfully from

sufferably, felt her way to the window. From the wing opposite the

tight throat. When it did at last, her voice was unfamiliar in her own

nc

nd moc

" she told hers

herself that Silas Blackburn slept untroubled. The thing she had heard was peculiar, and he hadn't answered across the court. The dark, empty corridors at first were an

ns could answer her. Her candle outlined the entrance to the musty corridor. Just a few running steps down there, a qui

n her pride to let her accomplis

irth and suffering and death. But he had gone there as an escape. Surely he had been afraid of men. It shamed her that, in spite of that, her fear defined itself ever more clearly as something indefinable. With a passionate determination to strangle such thoughts she held her breath. She tried to close her mind. She ent

las! Uncl

nto the main hall. She jerked at the bell rope. The contact steadied her, stimulated her to reason. One slender hope remained. The oppressive b

and entered the library. She bent over the lounge. It was empty. Her candle was re

? Alone she couldn't climb the enclosed staircase to try the other door.

s Silas Blackburn, faltered in.

ne! What's the matter

death,"

y with the candle. The panelled, narrow hall was empty. That doo

ns asked. "Who would b

come

efore answering. She put the c

, Jenkins-what

Mr. S

with a shiver. "Get a hammer,

butler objected, "if anybody's been

rderer entered and left the room with both doors locked on the inside, with the windows to

spered, "what's happened b

t hands. He forced the lock back and opened the door. Dust arose from the long-disused room, flecking the yellow candle flame. They hesitated on the threshold. They forced themse

nkins gasped. "

dence Katherine w

she began, and

ed her. Jenkins must have read every

s all right.

y! If I hadn

told Jenkins what to do. After he had telephoned police headquarters in the county seat and had

he same time. The detective made Katherine accompany them upstairs while he quest

he said, "the first thing,

m. For a long time he stared at the body in the candle light, making as

mbling bass voice. "Nasty room! Unhealthy room! Ten to o

ered a

the hard-headed world wi

t the coro

ces about the room in which a single candle burned. Aft

n was mu

s manner an apprehension of conditions unfamiliar to the brutal routine of his profession. Her glances were restless, too

dinary circumstances neither of them could have f

th Bobby retained a minute recollection. The remainder was l

hing could alter. Bobby fancied that the old man merely craved the satisfaction of terrorizing him, of casting him out with all the ugly words at his command. Still a good deal more

asked himself why during the last few months he had avoided the Cedars, why he had drifted into too vivid a life in New York. It increased his anger that he hesitated to give himself a frank answe

e liked to hide it. A big man, clear-eyed and handsome, walked into the room an

ws all know Hartley Graham? Sit down.

t the glasses,

Bobby, I'd like

obby bargained. "

aughed p

oney. That ta

ed Graham to an unoccupied room.

When are you going

y fl

I'm in no mood for preaching tonight. Besides, I've got my ow

that I've had a note from Katherine to-day. She says your grandfather's threats are taking too much form; that the new will's bound to co

't she wr

y? And that's not fair. You're both without paren

ne's affection for him had weakened, her friendship for Grah

ot on Katherine's nerves, and she says there's been a change in the old

aughed

dy and everything afraid of him. But you're right about Katherine. We

l see you off afterward. If you catch the eight-thi

hook hi

ey. I'm expecting Carlos Paredes

approval was

d Panamanian? Steer him off to-night. I've argued with you before. It

on't understand Carlos. He's good fun

Too many cocktails, too much wine. Parede

servant

tion room, Mr

little bits, and dropped them one

e right out." He

out after dinner and let the old man terrorize me as

aught at

-night that we disagree about

ugh was un

and be my guardian ange

obscurity of a corner a form, tall and graceful, emerged with a slow monotony of movement suggestive of stealth. The man's dark, sombre eyes revealed nothing. His jet-black hair, parted in the middle, and his carefully trimmed

've come,

with steady eyes beyond Bobby's shoulder. Bobby turned. Graham stood on

obby," Graham said, "that

es ya

in New York. Business sugge

aredes's eyes, was too reserved. It seemed never to call on its obvious power

explained, "is

roval slip, but Graha

n engagement immedi

fter dinner! I d

alk about engagements afterward. Perhaps you'll have

nothing to decide. I have arranged everything. There's a table waiting in the

man glanced continually at his watch. In the restaurant, when Paredes left them to produce, as he called

y. Don't be angry, Bobby. The situation is serious enough to excuse facts. You must go to the

train time,"

ht his

as kept his word. See her

ther than of South America. Her clothing was as unusual and striking as her beauty, yet one felt there was more than either to attract all

tre where she was featured, or at crowded luncheons in her apartment. At such moments she had managed to be exceptionally nice to him.

ll have a powerful ally. You wo

forward and welcomed the woman.

t dance until late. Who is that behind you? Mr. Graham, is it not? He would, maybe, not remember me. I danc

ogether." He continued tactlessly: "But, as I've explained to Mr

ead w

ent! I do not oft

," Graham explained.

y no

icularly when you're s

obby she entered the dining-room a

dered. Immediately the waiter brought cocktails. Graham glanced at Bobby warningly. He w

things! I nev

d dreamil

at you may make pretty speeches, and maybe tell me

wine by going through the same elaborate formula. Probably because of that, as much as anything else, constraint grasped the little company tighter. Graham co

ht-thirty," he whispered to

heard. S

e easily broken. Perhaps I have displeased you, Mr. Graham. Perhaps you fancy I excite unpleasant comment.

answered. "We must go.

ed tempe

world to see my companions leave in the midst of a dinner as if I we

said very little about this engagement. I did not know, Mr. Graham, that you were the arbiter of Bobby

eaned across the table, speaking di

at I told you. Will you

can't remain h

in his present mood,

ley. Don't worry. I'l

a re

till chooses

s," Bobby muttered, "wh

me a little

His voice wa

. I'll hop

the others he walk

Paredes's sneers, his attempt to recapture the earlier gayety of the evening by continuing to drink the wine, his determination to go later to the Cedars in spite of Graham's doubt-of all thes

hall. In her dressing-room, while she was on the stage, he played with the boxes of

fe at a table close to the dancing floor. Maria had insist

sted, "I have misse

me-table, scanning the

omething in the cafe, and who knows? If you are agreeable I might fo

isterous dancers, listening to the violent music, sipping absent-

ey. He's a splendid fellow. Roomed with me at college, played on same team, and all that. Only wa

ed, "is a wonderful typ

ay in the

dinner; and the dancers swayed less boisterously, the chatter at the t

His middle-aged figure was loudly clothed. His face was coars

inute," Bobby

s dark and sparkling face became blurred. He could no longer define the features of the stranger. He had

t. "Why are you look

alto laug

! Leetle Bobby looks so queer

he dragged out his watch. He couldn't read the dial. He braced his hands against the table, thrust back his chair, and arose. The room tumbled about him. Before his eyes the dancers made

!" he w

Maria's v

him

the room, guided by the hand on his arm. And always his brain recor

He didn't know. He only understood that it went swiftly, swaying from side to side through a sable pit. Whenever his mind moved at all it came back to that sensation of a black pit

must find wings. He realized that his eyes were closed. He tried to open them and failed. So

any kind. He heard a strange, melancholy voice, whispering without words, always whispering

ng to tell me?"

eyes, and he found that he could. But in spite of his desire they closed again almost i

before the wind like puny men who strained impotently to advance. Over there was one

," Bobby said to himself. "I've com

l, speaking to the dim figure with a black mask

in the woods ne

ght the thi

hate your g

in the black mask that accompanied him was his c

y men, fought harder. The drowning face disappeared, wet and hel

ant to go,

ondered if it was the wind or his conscience. He laughed

them in your hand. Always do

d again,

areful co

whispered. It shrieked, and he could make nothing of its wrath. He struggled frantically to emerge from the pit. The quality of the blackness deepened. His fr

*

or God's sa

he mask. His voice aroused him to one more effort at es

eyes again, at first merely thankful that he had escaped from the black hell, trying to control his sensations of physical evil. Subtle curiosity forced its way into his sick brai

of sunlight that had aroused him entered through a crack in one of the tightly drawn

He gasped for breath. He knew it was very cold in here, but perspiration moistened his face. He could r

t he had been with frie

How had he come here? For the first time he went through that dre

hough he might have dropped them carelessly when he had entered the room and stretched

. I was in the woods. What was I doing

e after he had left them? He had looked at his watch. He had told himself he must catch the twelve-fifteen train. He must have gone from the restaurant, proceeding automatically, and caught the train. That would account for the sensation of motion in a swift vehicle

r. He got to his feet, lurching for a moment dizzily. He glanced with distaste at his rumpled evening clothing. To hide it as far as possible he buttoned his overcoat collar about his neck. On tip-toe he approached the door, and,

s from the Cedars. Since he had always known about it, it wasn't unusual he s

thickly. He recognized the place. For some time he stood ashamed, yet fair enough to seek the c

him away. He walked down the road. Of course he couldn't go to the Cedars in this condition. He would return to his apartment in

station. He smiled wearily. What difference did that make? He might as well face old Blackburn, himself, as he was. By this time the thing was

d at the platform, testimony that a train was nearly due. He prayed that it would be for New Yo

edulously. His quick apprehension vanished. He couldn't recall that surprised face. There was no harm being seen, miserable as he was, dressed as he was, by this strange

g past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on

u are Mr. Rob

ion, there was an ominous note in this surpr

g about that?"

lips parted in

u might come in from New York. Seemed you were here a

f why he should shrink from this stranger who had an air of threatening him. The answer lay in that blac

"that you've been looking for me? Wh

er's grasp

kburn. I daresay you haven't

to New York. There's

r's straight smile widened. He comm

it. And why haven't you been at the Cedars? Grandp

ck robbed him for a mome

he old m

ger's smi

the afternoon, and you're all dres

't meet the

are

is free hand threw

se your grandfather died very strangely. He was murdered, very cle

ded as remote and unreal as it had

talk to me

ase, and I want you to turn abou

an you suspect-You're p

's straight s

questions. I'm telling you to go straight to the Cedars where you'll sta

portunity to think, to probe farther into the black pit. He turned and walked away. When he reached the last houses he g

king hands tightly clenc

ood God! I've got to rem

s not right, that I