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Blackburn called at your office in Smithtown he told Howells he was afraid of being murdered. According to Howells, he said: 'My heart's all right. It won't stop yet awhile unless it's made to. So if I'm found cold some fine morning you can be sure I was put out of the way." "I know," Robinson said.
The men who got along held life cheaper than a handful of coppers. That's what I meant when I walked around the hall talking of the ghosts of Panama. For I was beginning to see. Silas Blackburn's fear, his trip to Smithtown, were the first indications of the presence of the other Blackburn. The papers outlined him more clearly.
He appeared, moreover, to have slept pleasantly. His eyes showed no weariness, his clothing no disarrangement. He spoke at once, quite as if nothing disagreeable had shadowed his departure. "Good morning. If I had dreamed of this change in the weather I would have brought a heavier overcoat. I've nearly frozen driving from Smithtown."
For him yesterday's incident was not so lightly to be passed over. Eventually his curiosity conquered. The words came, nevertheless, with some difficulty: "We scarcely expected you back." His laugh was short and embarrassed. "We took it for granted you would find it necessary to stay in Smithtown for a while." Paredes sipped the coffee which Jenkins had poured. "Splendid coffee!
Who, in the semblance of Silas Blackburn, had drowsed without food for three days in the house at Smithtown? The old man stretched his shaking hands to Bobby and Katherine. "Don't let them bury me again. They never buried me. I've not been dead! I tell you I've not been dead!" He mouthed horribly. "I'm alive! Can't you see I'm alive?" He broke down and covered his face.
The private detective had been able to get no slightest clue as to Maria's whereabouts. Moreover, Bobby's description of the stranger who had entered the cafe with her merely suggested a type familiar to the Tenderloin. For purposes of identification it was worthless. Always followed by the car from Smithtown, they went to the hotel where Paredes had lived, to a number of his haunts.
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.
Bobby waited his nerves as tense as they had grown in the presence of the dead man. "Two days ago," the detective went on quietly, "old Mr. Blackburn came to the court house in Smithtown and asked for the best detective the district attorney could put his hand on. I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but I've got away with one or two pretty fair jobs.
"Don't you think I was as much puzzled as the rest by that strange, disappearing light? It was as good a place to walk as any." "Where have you been since?" Graham asked. "When I had got there I was tired," Paredes answered. "Since it wasn't far to the station I thought I'd go on into Smithtown and have a bath and rest. But I assure you I've trudged back from the station just now."
Clearly he had slept little. "I saw you arrive," he said. "Rawlins warned me. But I must say I didn't think you'd use your freedom to come to us." Paredes laughed. "Since the law won't hold me at your convenience in Smithtown I keep myself at your service here if Bobby permits it. Could you ask more?" Bobby shrank from the man with whom he had idled away so much time and money.
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