The Abandoned Room

in the empty house near his grandfather's home. All that remained were his sensation of travel in a swift vehicle, his impression of standing in the forest near the Cedars, his glimpse of the

ighbourhood. His grandfather had been strangely murdered. The detective who had met

fe in New York with Carlos Paredes, Maria, the dancer, and a strange man whom Maria had brought to the table. Through them he might, to an

id thicket of stunted pines, oaks, and cedars. Old Blackburn had never done anything to improve th

ot might have warned him. He went slower, glancing restlessly over his shoulder. He saw no one, but that idea of stealthy pursuit p

obably the reason he didn't

ient to reach the Cedars where he might learn all that

eway. The gate stood open. Bobby remembered that it had been old Blackburn's habit to keep it closed.

d by autumn-almost as gloomy and arid as the wilderness which straggled close about it. He had no eye for the symmetry of its wings which formed the court in

house. The front door had been opened, and in the black frame of the doorway, as he looked

ed in the wind, but her face, while it had lost nothing of its beauty, proj

mself in his service. He straightened. He must meet these two. Through his own wretched appearance and positi

heri

direction and came swiftly to

y! Where hav

rs that have been too long coming. He took her h

rine," he said hoa

He spoke with ap

t happened last night? Quick! T

," he answered. "He's to

k there, watchin

nds. The tears had dri

tried so hard to get you there. For hours I telephoned and telegraphed. Then I go

f the open space Graham indic

e from town? You can tell us everything you did la

head. His answ

evidently here last night, and I can't reme

s face

s," he

remember!" Ka

recited the few impressions

shed Graham thou

ctically forced me away from you last night. It

hook hi

my mind had simply closed, as if it had gone on working its own ends without my knowing anything about it. And that's dreadful, because the detective has practically accused me of murdering

e disclosure that would convict him. As she went on, however, his se

s there even a suggestion? You say the doo

er's heart didn't simply give out, but the detective is absolutely certain, and-there's no use mincing matters,

ive?" Bo

im curiously. Kath

The money-the new will he had planned to make. The money's mine now, b

" Graham said, "for any o

s got to prove first that my grand

wells won't have an assistant. Dr. Groom's waiting in

spoke

t: what my grandfather was afraid of. Tell me again, Katherine, everyth

ll, leaving all his money to the Bedford Foundation, except a little annuity for me. He grew sentimental and said he had no faith left in his flesh and blood, and that it was sad to grow old with nobody caring for him except to covet his money. I asked him if he we

tered, "if a jury wou

e shook

ou, he gave me a feeling of superstition. I never once was afraid of a murderer-

straig

n an aphasia quite human? Somnambulists do unacc

! Don't!" Kat

iet!" Gra

craped o

tective," Bob

d with a dawning amazement he watched Carlos Paredes stroll into view. The Panamanian was calm and immaculate.

m flu

night he has

urged. "He might help me-m

"to what extent he could

ette away as he came cl

Bobby, expressing a pro

e reserved features let

turned t

ted sorrow. If I was in the wrong I deeply regret it. My one wish now is to join you in being of use to Bobby an

smooth effrontery w

y real trouble, that he may be im

otion in the sallow face then, found none. Paredes's

Paredes had been a good friend. The man's

uld, "changes the situation. I must stay here. I must wa

turne

be you'll succee

ld like your permission to telephone to my hotel in Ne

atherine and Graham seemed about

night? The last thing I remember distinctly is sitting there with you and Maria and a stranger

a little, sha

u were going to catch your train. I didn't think it wise, so I went to the cloak roo

have let him get

rugged his

. You don't know h

ask," Graham said. "You s

es la

mentioned it. I should have stopped such a

You must understand we

ger Maria

h his name," P

I shall telephone with your permission, Miss Katherine; and don't you worry, Bobby. I will see y

d for a moment, th

d-and make him as comfortable as

his mental and physical discomfort, from this isolation with her. As soon

by. I'll never believe i

said huskily. "That helps when you

ever to have happened. You ought never to have been in this position. Why have you been friendly with people like-l

ght his. He cla

look you straight in the eye, Katherine. I

t the door through which

he said softly, "I

ed his han

're ill, Bobby. Go in. Rest for awhile. When

He walked slowly wi

oning. He couldn't understand the man's insisten

eness grew, and he understood why. The last time he had been here he had stood in no personal danger. There had been no black parenthesis in his life during the stre

response to a stealth

had, since last night, become

and noiselessly

ut the place. I'd give a lot to know what he's after at the Cedars.

sked, "the det

ed, "he's keeping low. I wonder if it was he o

been thinking it over, Hartley. It isn't a bad scheme hav

t that. I'm a lawyer, and I've had some criminal practice. Since this detective will be satisfied with you

a good dea

than I deserve, for I hav

didn't guess he referr

for he answ

thing, even unconsciously, until I'm shown proof without a single flaw. Until the autopsy the only thing we have to work on is that party last night

with me, Hartley, until this m

tive to go on this detective wouldn't be so sure. Why in the name of heaven should any one kill the old man, place all this money in my hands, and at the same time send me to the electric chair? Don't you see how absurd

he room where his grandfather lay dead. One of the two windows o

Ever since I can remember he did things to

am n

He looked perfectly

t to see him

ng at his sides. They didn't swing as he walked. His lips were stretched in that thin, straight smile. He

s his theory of murder. If he questions you, you'd better say nothing for the pres

obby said. "If he doesn't arrest

The old butler was as white-f

, sir! He's as

don't wish

ed from the obscurity of the

r. Blackburn! I'd li

to Graham

if you

ent out. The detective closed the door and leane

hat there's any use asking you

ss you arrest me and take me before t

ive's smil

ou about that. I was curious to know if y

hook hi

granted the r

but some people, it seems, have

de, placing his ha

to give you the opportunity an a

might take it as an evidence against him. On the other hand, if he went, the man would unquestionably

least I could do was to give you a chance. Wouldn't do it fo

adva

op mocking me. I'll

the door and stood as

now the room-t

lackburn last night. He fought back his aversion and entered the corridor of the old wing. He heard th

aused before the door his grandfather had had the unaccountable whim of entering

said. "That fellow, Jenkins, entered with a heavy han

ned th

r seen," he mumbled. "S

corridor. Bobby entered slowly, his nerves taut. Against the

more light. You know, I wouldn't want you to touch anything,

stood still while the man went to the bureau, struck a match, and applied it to a candle. The wi

e detective com

the foot of the four-poster bed. The detective l

now, Mr. Robert Black

w upon him. For Silas Blackburn rested peacefully in the great bed. His eyes were closed. The thick gray brows were no lon

e who bent over the bed watch

imply, "do you sa

here, young fellow, I know who did it. I'm going to strap that man in the electric

its light searched Bobby's face instead of the dead man's

untsman who had his victim trapped, and calmly studied his agony. The horror of the accusation shot at him across th

hing? For God's sake, w

the man in ambush be

t's he talking about? G

hat it i

ation." He indicated the silent form of the old man. "You keep telling me I murdered him. Why don'

dlestick failed to move, and Bobby knew that the eyes didn't waver, either. He for

oks at him will tell you so. Since you haven't the nerve to arrest me. I'm going. I'm glad to ha

ed and walked to Bobby. The multitude of small lines in his fa

ody. I've got somebody right now for this old man's murder. My man's going to writhe and burn in the chair,

s room to heckle him further. To avoid that he hurried to the lower floor. He wanted to be alone. He must have time to accustom himself to this degr

nds. A man sat in the shadow of a deep leather chair, his rough, unpolished boots stretched toward the

I daresay the old fool died what the world will call a natu

slip past, but

better,

overed with hair. Black and curling, it straggled over his forehead. It circled his mouth, and fell in an unkempt beard down his waistcoat. The huge man

childish illnesses. That sense of an overpowering and incomprehensible personality had lingered. Even throu

me too late this t

looked him

he grumbled. "Don't yo

hook hi

all. I'm on my way to th

d. The big man n

ther's having been murdered by any man. I've seen the body. Stuff and nonsen

wered listlessly, "

e thing I can do," Pa

anks," Bobb

om in which his grandfather lay dead. There was no fire here, but he wrapped himself in a rug and lay on the broad, high-backed lounge which was drawn clo

e you, Mr

bby answer

o the lounge and lo

sir. I didn't

d out

ere to drink this. It wo

sed his e

e where I can reach

ceman? Did he say anything, if

y groaned. "Lea

me, scarcely knowing where he was, but little by little the sickening truth came back, and he realized that it wa

rrass Graham by disclosing himself now, and it was likely Graha

w sun entered the window and rested o

thing Bobby heard distinctly-the thi

ons a trifle more clearly. I am a lawyer. In a sense I represent young Mr.

ted. I appreciate, Mr. Graham, that you're a friend of that young rascal, and what I have to say isn't pleasant for a friend to hear.

Graham sa

tense as they had grown in

've had good offers from private firms in New York. So they turned him over to me. It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night. The funny part was he wouldn't say definitely what he was afraid of. I thought he might be shielding so

e yet unless it's made to. So if I'm found cold some f

ndsome present to keep my mouth shut and not to bother him with any more questions. I figured-you can't blame me, Mr. Graham-that the old boy was a little cracked.

ke it more like murder, Howells. But

realize that murders which are a long time planning are likel

of argument let us agree it's murder. Eve

ing our young man would have been a pauper. As it is, he's a millionaire, but I don't think he'll enjoy his money. The two had been at

motive," Graham said short

eplied, "than any jury

this information, which, however, he

the room with the body. Queer feeling about that room, Mr. Graham. Don't know how to describe it except to say it's uncomfortable. Too old, maybe. Maybe it was just being there alone with the dead man before the dawn, although

ned she

t was bad and I didn't see anything at first. After a minute, close against the wall, I noticed something white. I

others, how much more so was it for him! He recalled how, after awaking in the empty house, he had sea

, by any means, all. Don't look so distressed, Mr. Graham. There isn't the slightest chance for him. You see I repaired the lock, and, as soon as it was day, closed the room and went outside to look for signs. Since nightfall no one had come legitimately through the court except Doctor

and I was fair up a stump. Then I saw a little undefined sign of pressure on the grass, and I got an idea. 'Suppose,' I says, 'my man took his shoes off and went around in his stockinged feet!' I couldn't understand, though, why he hadn't thought of that before. I went back to Robert Blackburn'

all the time. Probably had missed his handkerchief and decided he'd better not take any chances. Yet it must have seemed a pretty sure thing that the station wouldn't be watched, and it's those nervy things, doing the obvious, that skilful criminals get away with all the time. I needed only one look at him, and I had the answer to the mystery of the footprints. I gave him plenty of time to come here and change his clothes, then I manoeuv

was shocked an

want? Why haven't

ective's satisfied c

was raised a trifle, but that's no use. I've figured on the outside of the wing until I'm dizzy. There's no way up for a normal man. An orangoutang would make hard work of it. His latch key would

ckled

a sleep-wal

ce pointed? Already the net was too finel

im show me the way. I've a sort of pla

Graham

ghed. "You'll learn about

're sure of your man but you keep no close

slightest ide

revent his r

e no idea how it frets me, Mr. Graham. I've got my man practically in the chair, but from a professional point of view it isn't a pretty piece of work until I

ce could see Paredes on the threshold, yaw

st been in the court. It made me seek comp

was lack

ll of, unfriendly things-what the ignorant

ective

vation doesn't seem to interest

igarette to his lips. Puffing

means by that?" the de

ose. For a moment he was as curious as the others as to Paredes's intention. He slipped across the dining room. The hal

t to the proximity of unaccount

's laugh was

e a fool of me? Th

ross the hall and u

es an

om. He says this place is too c

and attitude which he defined as studied to draw humour out of a tragic and desperate situation. He

m done for. If I

isted joy in one ph

will never find out how I got into the room, becau

osed his eyes. For a fe

. Katherine stood there, holding her dressing gown about her with trembling hands. The face she turned to Bobby was white and panic-stricken. She bec

uick questions she w

t night. It came across the co

ched out her hands i

moved in that room

. "Both doors are locked, and

bled with a

aid about my sensitive appr

terrupted him lo

xcept for the murdered man-unle

ine cr

ame stirring. Somet

brusquely and enter

ll s

therine was close to Bo

could have been there. You mustn't give way l

nd, but her assura

ndle. He held it over the bed. He sprang back with a sharp cry, unlike his level quality, his confident conceit. He poi

It had been turned on its side, and remained in a stark and awkwar

f the brain, on the pillow where the head had rested and which th

ective's hand. The man strode to the door lead

id, "were locked. T

. The candle, which he seemed to have forgotten, cast gross,

ll grant me now th

s as if he had made this atrocious revealing movement to assure them that he had,