The Abandoned Room

You shown your face at las

gray face, at the thick figure, which, three days after death, they had seen buried that noon in the overgrown cemetery. Bobby recalled how Doctor Groom had reminded him that an activity like this might emerge from such places. He had suggested

quel to the moment in the dark room when he had felt Howells move beneath his hand. He had

curling from the blackened briar pipe. He caught its pungent aroma in the damp air of

ast," Kather

ocking their way. He spoke again. H

st. Or maybe you're sorry to have me back. Didn't you won

had a fancy of ad

e? That is what y

pipe from his mouth and tapped the t

y, ain't you? I'll make you laugh on the wrong

e denied that great fact which during three days

humb toward the dimly li

up for? What's going on there? I tr

nc

body. Her fingers brushed his hand. Her shoulders drooped. She clung to his arm. To Bobby this resolution was more of a shock, less

atted Katheri

, Katy? Always seems some

mb again toward t

yet what's going

h was dazed,

to account for y

ooked at him with

t of yo

saw you lying there, cold

rine," Bobby said breathless

ok his hand from K

s the matter with you? Som

room the other night?"

fy anybody to sleep in that room. What you talking about? It's cold here. This court was always damp.

b. They followed him into the hall,

e which exerted so potent a fascination for him. He didn't turn

rlo

able. The cards fell lightly to the floor, straying as far as the hearth. His hands caught at the

hispered, "that the co

light he had the pallor of death-the lack of colour Bobby remembered beneath the glass of t

hosts?" he whined. "I-I

nk back in

echoed in an aw

ng the most vital moments, in the reflection that twice within twent

!" Parede

oice

? Do you reme

y. Sometime

knew it had been about noon when they had seen the

s hurr

had you be

that?" the other whi

a long

voice rose c

I never slept so. I doz

red as if I hadn

against the purpose of the man's questions, against t

adness, Carlos,

ith it," Paredes said.

ght to b

him. "He shouldn't be long no

es st

he would

g the matter before Doctor Groom should return. Necessary questions surged

on her uncle. Her lips were slightly parted. She had the appear

's ghastly hint, probably lay the solution of the entire mystery and his own safety. He was about to speak w

that up

hat fear of the Cedars was

y," Bobby answered, "

ey Gr

hey doi

cated P

ow doing here? I

ine an

I thought I saw you dead

y cried angrily, a

shrank awa

ed the stairs. Half w

at?" Robin

d. He braced himself

elieve me when I say the court is full of ghosts. He walked

's voice rose,

osts and my being dead? Haven't I a right to come in m

clearly added to the u

ne spok

re af

ked close to Silas Blackburn and f

y office in Smithtown the other day and asked for a det

cried. "Of course it is Mr.

e the police in my house? Why do yo

a ghost. Bobby and Katherine told how they had found the old man, a black shadow against the wall of the wing. Paredes repea

You must tell us why not, and how you got out, and where you've been during this prolonged slee

mouthed. "I went there along ab

" she said. "And y

why he was afraid to sleep i

held up

tant thing now is to learn what happened in th

et restlessly. He fumbled in his pocket for some loos

that room means to Blackburns; and they only know by hearsay, becaus

ll experienced something of the peculiarities of the Ceda

bed, and after that I never cared to go near the place unless I had to. The other night, when I made up my mind to sleep there, I tried to tell myself all this talk

locked the door

both doors, because I didn't want

d when the body had been found. Granted life, how would it have been possible for Silas Blackburn to have left the r

. It would be quicker to let the protagonist of this unbelievable adventure recite its details in his own

ut there was a wind, and it came in the open window, and it made the queerest black shadows dance all ov

He looked at it with an air of sur

. After a little it seemed alive, and I wouldn't look at it any more. The only way I could stop myself was to shut my eyes, and that was worse, for it made me recollect my father the way I saw him lying there when I was a boy. God grant none of you will eve

had gone to the room to

became active i

I seemed to see those dead people all around me, and I thought they were in pain again, and were ma

ion of the overgrown cemetery where they had seen his coffin cove

ings were all broken out there, and-a

e became

d do what I could if I ever escaped from that room. I-I was afraid they'd take me back with

iant glare in his bloodshot eyes. He appeared t

ied. "Why ain't you making me out a foo

ed. "What happened th

spoke he glanced about slyly, suspecting, perhaps, the

ut if they would let me. S

ating that he ha

, for when you-when the murder was discovered, both doors were lo

said hysterically, "it w

e was justified, but he

nswer," Ro

ed fingers through his hair.

as if I was dead and buried. I recollect telling myself I must go. I seem to remember leaving the bed all right,

out that," R

staircase, but did I walk downstairs? First thing I see cle

u wear?" Rob

I knew the last train from New York would be along about three o'clock, so I thought I'd go on into Smithtown and in the morning see this detective I'd been talking to. I went to Robert Waters's house. I've known him for a long time. I guess you know who he is. He's such a book worm I figured he might be up, and he wouldn't ask a lot of silly questions,

d. The cards slipped from h

District Attorney, wh

motioned hi

on. What hap

shaking hands. He was too tied up in some book, I guess. I told him I was sleepy and didn't want to be bothered,

feet and commenced t

aid, "when you

ilas Blackburn quavered, fumbling with his

ped in front

turned!

at was the matter, and he talked about some food, but I didn't want to be bothered, so

ine said breathlessly, "and it was about that ti

"What are you talking about?

is there?

ains reason after an apparent death. You heard him. He didn't seem to walk. He doesn't remember leaving the room, which was locked on the inside. His descent of the stairs was without motion as we know it. He had gone some distance before his mind consciously directed the movement of this active image of Silas Blackburn, while the double from which it had sprung lay apparently dead in the old room. You

nation, Mr. Paredes,

ed, and in the eyes, surrounded by puffy

as saying. "He would agree with me.

ive detective had stood throughout, releasing no indication of his emotions; but as he raised

irected. "Then get in communication wit

on apologized to Silas Blac

these things unless you make sure of your first fac

ed. Graham cle

told Howells he was afraid of being murdered. According to Howells, he said: 'My heart's all right. It won't stop

" Robins

ent to the old room, he was terrified of somet

" Katherine put in. "He told me he was afraid

son t

that, Mr.

long they had craved the knowledge he was about to give them, the statement on which Bobby's life had seemed to de

mumbled, "goi

of use," Robi

s feet. He gazed at

fraid of after all. All along I ought to have been afraid only of the Cedars and th

," Robinson sa

answer," G

kes the slightest diffe

do with the case as

snapped

't forget there's a lot

bby. Slowly he raised his hand, point

w, I was afraid of

forward in an effort to stop

re me, Katy?" he a

lls wasn't as dull as we thought him. Go on, Mr.

raking up such things, anyway. Maybe I'd been pretty harsh with him. Anyway, I knew

't so," B

now. You always

d feeling

Robinso

foot to make it up with me. I'd been nervous about him before, because I didn't know what might come into his head when he was on these wild parties. So I'd spoken to Howells, thinking I'd trip him if he tried any funny business. When

ak up to my room before I could even get to the telephone. Or I was afraid he might hire somebody. You can buy men for that sort of work in New York. I tell you the more I thought of it the more I was sure he'd

send for a man,

the words of Maria's note which accused him of hav

cked out the least likely place for anybody to find me. I was more afraid of him than I

epped to Bo

right. Tell me what you

rine tried to laugh. Gra

nce against a suspected murderer when t

elplessly. Paredes

talks with us, accusing Bobby, may not stay. Have you thought of that? I have noticed something that makes me think it possible. I have been afraid to speak of it. But i

a sharp rap on

sh you wouldn't look at me so. It ma

m," Bobby said, and steppe

st the others screened Silas Blackburn from him, but he acknowledged the

you?" he asked. "Found

orn

ly back until the shoulders rested against the wall. He placed the palms of his hands against the wall as if to push it away in order to assure further retreat.

s pipe in his mouth

Groom will ha

had the difficult qual

Black

skin, too? These people are trying to say I've been lying dead in the old room.

or strai

e dead in t

tones held an unqu

u had been dead for many hours. And I saw you bolted in your co

hom the mystery, but Groom's fear increased. His reddish eyes grew always more alarmed. Silas

'll see,

igure at the fireplace. Then Bobby saw, and he heard Katherine's choked scream. For now that his grandfather's back was turned th

I meant," Par

moved

od

. The fear had

ed Blackburn's sho

ter with the ba

his hand and fumbled at the top of his co

ankly, "I been bl

he doctor cont

urn," he said. "I want to ge

y hurt?" Blac

he doctor answere

d the dark patch of hair at the base of the brain. Doctor Groom e

und. It was made b

st his hands

octor. Bring him up to the old bedr

rn cowered

don't want me there. I'll have work

o-day, the man these members of your family identify as yourself, di

ered farther

" he whimpered. "You're t

said. "How was

e wagged its head

remember I had a headache when I woke up. W

hat the wound I examined upstair

to him. The doctor

rn cried. "You trying to te

ted to

never heard of such a thing. I'm all right. My neck doesn

rned from th

Wouldn't shake hands, just as he says. He went to the spare room and slept practically all the time until this afternoon. No food. Waters couldn't rouse him. Mr. Blackbur

gazed at

done now, sir?

er if we can,"

while reciting his sensitive reaction to the Cedars's

Attorney, but I have given you the only ans

son g

there's been another crime in this house. Howells was killed in that ro

urn lo

hat? Who'

he sank back in his chair again, whimpering f

m said, "that Howells is

e worth lo

ans," Robi

ughed apol

at the office. Howells

The funeral's t

the case. The facts I have tell me that two murders have been committe

huddled, frightened

inst the evidence

on, his niece, and those who saw him frequently, swear it was this living being who has such a wo

ts?" Graha

and he can send them out, but I shan't wait for hou

time," Pared

ay the doors were locked. Then how could anybody hav

rned on Par

u yet. Before I am I'll

r from the crimson stain and the healed wound, and Blackburn remained huddled among the cushions, his shoulders twitching. Paredes commenced gathering up his c

he was accused of killing had also wandered under an unknown impulse that night. Was the same subtle control responsible in both cases? Was there at the Cedars a force that defied physical laws, moving its inhabitants like puppets for special aims of its own? Yet, he re

burn, huddled in his chair, was grayer, more haggard than he had been at first. He

by's thoughts. If he could only have foreseen this return he wo

anger in the round face which, one felt, sho

l have to he

burn arose

e not going to leave me her

ns," Paredes said, "in cas

put his hand

I'm not going b

to the hall ahead of him in order that he might not have to witness this new greeting. But Jenkins's

nd shovels. Their grim purpose holding them silent, they crossed the clearing and entere

e woods with a wan, unnatural radiance. Without really illum

. Graham was with Katherine behind them. Bobby walked last, fighting an instinct to linger, to

bby, and the white night closed swiftly about them, whisp

hat earlier solitude came to him, and he spoke of it while he tried to control h

o make no attempt to f

t was yourself. Why, Bobby, did you think I w

, "but there is something I must tel

aham had awakened him a

ls's movement. It followed so neatly on the handkerchief and the footmarks

white loneliness through which they paced, or

ouldn't have

se your confidence to me again. Why have you d

latio

ou shal

drew her close. The moment was too masterful for him to moul

said, "and see you giv

He barely caught her whisper because of

t why didn't y

to their joy a fugitive quality. Moreover, with

? I've watched. It's

oo completely out of your life after our quarrel. That was

ed, "spoke to you

dear friend, and he was kind enough

ut him, to draw Bobby back. Yet ever since his arrival at the Cedars, Graham had assumed toward Katherine an attitude scarcely to be limited by friendship. He had done w

he asked, puzzled, "th

e has shown how go

said, "that he had your love. You're

oment, there was a tragi

must have guessed i

lips. Her lips were as cold as the

go on," s

kiss was bitter. In the forest

ed his courage for that task. He would not give way even before the memory of all that he had experienced, even before the return of his grandfather, even before the revelation toward wh

ees restless patches of black. Katherine stumbled against one of the fallen stones. They

t begun," Bo

eed he

like sombre sentinels, guarding the dead. The snow patches, clustered on their branches, were like funeral decorations pointing their morbid functio

id, "and the ground isn't fro

burn commen

ecration of

binson said, "who is

throw to one side, staining the white carpet, spadesful of moist, yellow earth. Their labour

thing happens to me, Bobby, try to forget I've been hard, an

said, "you were b

o Bobby and

d of the disintegration of matter into its atoms, of its passage through solid subs

he excavation, broke i

he stones seem to move. It throws too many shadows. I

ive survived in

ell enough wit

stirrings. In the graveyard at such an hour the supernatural legend of the Cedars assumed an inescapable probability. Bobby wished for some way

grew

again," Gra

cket. It increased in power a t

like the cries Graham and he had suffered in the old room. Seeming at first to come from a dist

ldn't see her for the darkness. H

," he call

r the reassurance of her handclasp he tried to make himself believe there was a

n his light. Old B

tricks again, and ther

Katherine sighed. "It see

e traced,"

hallenged. "We'd flounder in the thicket. A waste

d Jenkins had nearly finished. He shrank fro

shone on the dull face of the ca

t the man couldn't have worked hard enough in this cold air to ha

gh job to lift it

nswered. "Get the soi

ing a screw driver

late. That will let

s clim

ook. I don'

n touched Bobb

a hard ma

his bearded

ws tore through the sil

hand, so

poke ho

late to let

knelt in the snow and helped the detective raise the

themselves to

ross, impossible sobs. Paredes shrugged his shoulders. The light wavered

fin was