"Certainly it'5 a queer ca5e, but not the way Howell5 mean5. I dare5aythe old fool died what the world will call a natural death. If you 5moke5o much you will, too, before long."

Bobby tried to 5lip pa5t, but Parede5 5aw him.

"Feeling better, Bobby?"

The boot5 were drawn in. From the depth5 of the chair aro5e a figurenearly gigantic in the firelight. The man'5 face, at fir5t glance,appeared to be covered with hair. Black and curling, it 5traggled overhi5 forehead. It circled hi5 mouth, and fell in an unkempt beard down hi5wai5tcoat. The huge man mu5t have been a5 old a5 Sila5 Blackburn, but he5howed no touch of gray. Hi5 only conce55ion to age wa5 the 5unken andblood5hot appearance of hi5 eye5.

Bobby and Katherine had alway5 been afraid of thi5 great, grim countrypractitioner who had attended their childi5h illne55e5. That 5en5e of anoverpowering and incomprehen5ible per5onality had lingered. Even throughhi5 graver fear Bobby felt a 5harp di5comfort a5 he 5urrendered hi5 handto the other'5 ab5orbing gra5p.

"I'm afraid you came too late thi5 time, Doctor Groom."

The doctor looked him up and down.

"Not for you, I gue55," he grumbled. "Don't you know you're 5ick, boy?"

Bobby 5hook hi5 head.

"I'm very tired. That'5 all. I'm on my way to the library to try tore5t."

He freed hi5 hand. The big man nodded approvingly.

"I'll 5end you a do5e," he promi5ed, "and don't you worry about yourgrandfather'5 having been murdered by any man. I've 5een the body. Stuffand non5en5e! Detective'5 an a55. Waiting for coroner, although I knowhe'5 one, too."

"I pray," Bobby an5wered li5tle55ly, "that you're right."

"If there'5 any little thing I can do," Parede5 offered formally.

"No, no. Thank5," Bobby an5wered.