Wadsworth Camp

“ But Katherine, he told himself, was assuredly the victim of coincidence. He couldn't picture her entangled in any of Paredes's purposes. Her dislike of the man was complete and open. But he saw that Rawlins out of the mass of apparently inexplicable clues had extracted this material one and would follow it desperately no matter who was hurt; and Robinson was behind him. That accounted for their frequent excursions upstairs during the afternoon, for Rawlins's ascent as soon as they had returned from the grave. ”

“ What had Rawlins seen?
After a long time Graham descended the private staircase, carrying a lighted candle. He beckoned and they followed him back through the private hall into the wide and mournful bedroom. It encouraged Bobby to see the district attorney and the detective hurry across it. After all, they were really without confidence of solving its ghostly riddle. What they were about to do, he argued, was a last chance. They would find nothing. They would acknowledge themselves beaten. ”

“ Bobby said hoarsely.
"No question," Robinson repeated.
Katherine shrank from her uncle as he had shrunk from her in the library the night of the murder.
"What do you make of it?" the district attorney asked Rawlins.
The detective, who had remained crouched at the side of the grave, arose, brushing the dirt from his hands, shaking his head.
"What is one to make of it, sir?"
Paredes spoke softly to Graham.
"The Cedars wants to be left alone to the dead. We would all be better away from it."
"You won't go yet awhile," Robinson said gruffly. "Don't forget you're still under bond." ”

“ Graham walked to the window and flung it open. A violent gust of wind swept in, carrying a multitude of icy flakes.
"The storm is worse," he said. "No one is likely to try to escape from this house to-night."
Bobby stretched out his hand.
"You can't expose her to that."
Rawlins hadn't forgotten the sense of fellowship sprung from the pursuit of Paredes through the forest.
"He's right, Mr. Robinson. You could lock up a dozen people. You might send them to the chair without uncovering the real mystery of the Cedars. ”

“ Rawlins, with an air of stealth, walked upstairs. Graham, after a moment's hesitation, followed him. Bobby wondered why they went. He caught Robinson's eye. He indicated he would like to speak to him in the library. As he left the hall he saw Paredes, who had not removed his hat or coat, start for the front door.
"Where are you going?" he heard Robinson demand.
Paredes's reply came glibly.
"Only to walk up and down in the court. The house oppresses me more than ever to-night. I feel with Mr. Blackburn that it is no place to stay." ”

“ Silas Blackburn went there, and none of us can understand the change that's taken place. I have been watching him closely. So has Mr. Paredes. We have seen him become grayer. We have seen his eyes alter. He sits shaking in his chair. Since we came back from the grave the man—if we can call him a man—seems to have—shrunk."
"Yes," Paredes said. "Perhaps we shouldn't have left him alone. Let us go back. Let us see if he is all right."
Rawlins laughed skeptically. ”

“ His unimaginative mind cried out.
"I tell you you'll find nothing, learn nothing, for there's nothing here to find, nothing to learn."
"Just the same," Graham urged, "you'll call out, won't you, Bobby, at the first sign of anything out of the way? For God's sake take no foolish chances."
"I don't want the light," Bobby forced himself to say. "My grandfather and Howells both put their candles out. I want everything as it was when they were attacked."
Rawlins nodded and, followed by Graham, carried the candle from the room and closed the broken door. ”

“ Bobby flashed, "in view of your treatment of her yesterday."
Robinson grinned.
"That will hardly go down. Rawlins has hesitated to break in. I've instructed him to do it now, if necessary. For the last time, will you bring your cousin down? Will you go through and unlock the door leading from the old bedroom to the private hall so we can get up?"
"No," Bobby cried, "I wouldn't do it if I believed you were right. And I know you're wrong."
"Prove that we're wrong. Clear your cousin by helping us," Robinson urged.
"Since you're so determined," Graham said quietly, "I'll do it." ”

“ Doctor Groom asked with frank disapproval.
Rawlins and Robinson joined them, sparing Graham a further defence. The district attorney had an air of fresh resolution. He was about to speak when the front door opened quietly, framing the blackness of the court. They started forward, seeing no one.
Silas Blackburn made a slow, shrinking movement, crying out:
"They've opened the door! Don't let them in. Don't let them come near me again."
Although they knew Paredes had been in the court the spell of the Cedars was so heavy upon them that for a moment they didn't know what to expect. ”

“ But already the snow had obliterated the signs of their own passage in and out. It showed no fresh marks.
"Silas Blackburn has not gone that way in the body," Doctor Groom rumbled.
The storm was more violent. It discouraged the idea of examining the graveyard again before morning.
Robinson glanced at his watch. He led Bobby and the detective to the library.
"Then try your scheme if you want," he said, "but understand I assume no responsibility. Honestly, I doubt if it amounts to anything. You'll shout out if you are attacked, or the moment you suspect any real cause for fear. ”

“ The man made it clear enough, however, that he didn't care to have Paredes know of Bobby's plan to spend the night in the old room, and Rawlins, Bobby, and Graham indicated that they understood.
"It's quite absurd that any one should think Katherine guilty," the doctor said to Robinson. "This evidence and its presence in her room are details that don't approach the heart of the mystery. That's to be found only in the old room, and I don't think any one wants to tempt it again. In fact, I'm not sure one can learn the truth there and live. You know what happened to Howells when he tried. ”

“ Bobby took the pan and the bottles from Katherine and rang for Jenkins. It was clear that Robinson had hoped the girl would go out with them herself and so give Paredes an opportunity to speak. This new development made him wonder about Graham's theories as to Paredes. If it was Maria who had struck the man there had either been a quarrel among thieves or else no criminal connection had ever existed between the two. Paredes, however, aping the gestures of an invalid, was less to Bobby's taste than his satanic appearance when he had come from the private staircase.
Rawlins still held the cloak. ”

“ Graham said. "I'll tell her Doctor Groom wishes to speak to her about Mr. Blackburn. I'll warn him to keep her downstairs for a quarter of an hour. That should give you plenty of time."
Robinson nodded.
"She'll never forgive you," Bobby said. "It's spying."
He wondered that Graham should choose such a course so soon after it had become clear that Katherine had never really loved him.
"It's the best way to satisfy them," Graham said. "I have, perhaps, more faith than you in Katherine."
He left them to carry out Robinson's instructions. They waited at the entrance of the private staircase. ”

“ Suddenly he saw Graham's attitude alter. Rawlins's back stiffened. He pulled the bottom drawer altogether from the bureau and thrust it to one side. He gazed in the opening.
"Come here, Mr. Robinson," he said softly.
Robinson left the closet and stooped beside the detective. He exclaimed. Graham went closer looking over their backs.
"You'd better see, Bobby," he said without turning.
"Yes," Robinson said. "Let me show you how wrong you were, Mr. Blackburn. Let me ask if you knew you were wrong." ”

“ Rawlins brought a candle and guided him down the corridor. Graham came, too. The detective locked the door leading to the private hall and slipped the key in his pocket.
"Nobody will get through there any more than they will through the other door which I'll watch."
With Graham's help he made a quick inspection of the room, searching the closets and glancing beneath the bed and behind the furniture.
"There's no one," he said, preparing to depart. "I tell you there's no chance of a physical attack." ”

“ They had evidently found something to sharpen their suspicions, and Graham probably knew what it was.
Robinson took out his watch.
"We can't put this off too late," he mused.
The detective at his heels, he walked to the library. Bobby started after them. Graham caught him and they crossed the dining room together.
"What do they mean to do?" Bobby asked.
"I have been afraid of it since this afternoon," Graham answered. "I haven't cared to talk about it. I had hoped to hold them off. They intend to search Katherine's room. I think they believe she has something important hidden there. ”

“ He glanced at the extraordinary array of evidence. The good nature which, one felt, should always have been in his face, shone at last.
"I don't believe you're guilty. As far as you're concerned it's likely enough a put-up job. ”