The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-12-23


"Yes. / rented ii for the summer
and moved in last Mnoday. We have
not had a really quiet night since i
came. The very first night ! saw
man with an electric flashlight max
ing his way through that shrubberyi"
You poor dear p from Dale, sympa-
thetically. And you were here
alone!"
well, ! had Lizzie. And said Miss
Cornelia with enormous Importance,
opening the drawer Of the center
table, Il had my revolver. / know so
little about these things, Mr.. Ander-
son, that if l didn't hit a burglar, i
knew I'd hit somebody or something's
and she gazed with innocent awe d.
rectly down the muZZle Of her beloved
weapon, then waved il with an airy
gesture beneath the detectives nose.
Anderson gave an involuntary start
then his eyes Lit I'D with grim
mirth.
Would you mind putting that
away?" he said suavely, i like TO get
in the papers as much as anybody, but
/ don't want to have them Say-omit
flowers"
Miss Cornelia gave him a glare of
offended pride, but he endured it with
such quiet equanimity that she mere
ly replaced the revolver in the
drawer, with a hurt expression, and
waited for him TO open the next topic
of conversation
He finished his preliminary survey
of the room and returned TO her.
NOW, you say you don't think any
body has got upstairs YETI" he
queried.
Miss Cornelia regarded the aleove
stairs.
u think not. I'm very light sleep
especially since the papers have
been so full Of the exploits Of this
criminal they call the Bat He's in
them again tonight"
The detective smiled family.
''Yes-he's contrived to surround
himself with such an air OF mystery
that it verges on the supernatural
or seems that way to newspaper
men"
ST confess" admitted Miss Cornelia,
tive thought of him in this connec-
ton" She locked ar Anderson TO see
how he would take the suggestion, but
the latter merely smiled again, this
time more broadly.
That's going rather long way for
a theory" he said "And the Bat is
not in the habit Of giving warnings.
You can always tell when the Bat has
had anything to do with crime.
When he's through, he signs his name
to it-'
Miss Cornelia sat bolt upright His
name? / thought nobody knew his
name?'
The detective made a little gesture
Of apology. THAT was a figure of
speech. The newspapers named him
the Bat-because he moved with in
credible rapidity-always at night
and by signing his name / mean he
leaves the symbol of his identity. The
bat, which can see in the dark"
'T wish could" said Miss Cornelia,
country lights are always going out"
Anderson's face grew stern Some
times he draws the outline of a bat at
the scene of the crime. Once, in some
way, he got hold of a real bat, and
nailed it TO the wall"
Dale, listening. could not repress
shudder at the grewsome picture
and Miss Cornelia's hands gave an in
voluntary twitch as her knitting
needles clicked together. Anderson
seemed by no means unconscious Of
the effect he had created.
"He seems to have Imagination" he
admitted. Well" his voice grew de-
termined, 81 have some Imagination,
myself How many people in this
house, Miss Van Gorder?"
My niece and myself" Miss Cor
nelia indicated Dale, who had picked
up her wrap and was starting to leave
the room. Lizzie Allen-vho has been
my personal maid ever since / was
child-the japanese butler and the
gardener. The cook and the house
maid left this morning-frightened
away"
She smiled as she finished her
description. Dale reached the door
and passed slowly out into the hall.
The detective gave her a single, sharp
glance as she made her exit He
seemed to think over the factors Miss
Cornelia had mentioned.
"WeIl," he said, after a slight
pause, you can have a good nights
sleep tonight. II stay awake here In
the dark and watch"
Would you like some coffee to keep
you awaken"
Anderson nodded. Thank you" His
voice sank lower. do the servants
know who I ann"
'Only LiZzie-my maid"
His eyes fixed hers. 81 wouldn't tell
anyone I'm remaining up all night" he
said.
A formless fear rose in Miss Cor
nelia's mind. You don't suspect my
household?" she said In a low voice.
He spoke with emphasis-all the
more pronounced because of the quie-
tude Of his tone
I'm not taking any chances" he
said determinedly.