The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-02-03
A Novel from the Play
By Mary Roberts Rinehart
and Avery Hopwood
WNu Service
WNU Service
The Bat" copyright. 1890. by Mary Roberts
Rinehart and Avery Hopwood


Dale saw Billy's face before her for
moment, calm, impassive. But he was
an Oriental-an alien-his face might
be just as calm, just as impassive
while his hands were still red with
blood. She shuddered at the thought.
Bailey considered the matter.
"More likely the man Lizzie saw
going upstairs" he said finally. "But
I've been all over the upper floors"
"And-nothing? breathed Dale.
Nothing" Bailey's voice had an
accent of dour finality. "Dale, do you
think that" he began.
Some instinct warned the girl that
they were not to continue their con-
versation uninterrupted. 'Be care
full" she breathed, as footsteps
sounded in the hall. Bailey nodded
and turned back to his pretense of
mending the fire. Dale moved away
from him slowly.
The door opened and Miss Cornelia
entered, her black knitting bag in her
hand, on her face a demure little
smile Of triumph. She closed the door
speak at once.
"Well, Mr.. Alopecia-Urticaria-
beola-otherwise Bailey!" she said, in
tones of the greatest satisfaction, adj
dressing herself to Bailey's rigid back.
Bailey jumped to his feet mechan-
ically at her mention of his name.
He and Dale exchanged one swift and
oil Of
IL WISH" proceeded Miss Cornelia
obviously enjoying the situation to
the full, II wish you young people
would remember that even If hair
and teeth have fallen out at sixty
the mind still functions"
She pulled out cabinet photograph
from the depths of her knitting bag.
"His photographer your dresser!''
she chided Dale. Burn it and be
quick about itv
Dale took the photograph, but con-
tinued to stare at her aunt with in
credulous eyes.
"Then-you knew" She stammered.
Miss Cornelia, the effective little
tableau she had planned now accom-
plished to her most humorous salts
faction, relapsed into a chair.
"My dear child" said the indom-
liable lady, with a sharp glance at
Bailey's bewildered face, ~ have en-
ployed many gardeners in my time
and never before had one who mani
cured his finger-nails, wore silk socks
and regarded badness as a plant in
stead OF a calamity"
An unwilling smile began to break
on the faces of both Dale and her
lover. The former crossed to the fire.
place and threw the damning photo
graph of Bailey on the flames. She
watched 1T shrivel, curl up-be re-
duced to ash. She stirred the ashes
with poker till they were well scat
tered.
Bailey, recovering from the shock
of finding that Miss Cornelia's sharp
eyes had pierced his disguise with
out his even suspecting it, now threw
himself On her mercy.
''Then you know why I'm here?" he
stammered.
81 still have a certain amount of
Imagination! / may think you iare
fool for taking the risk, but 1 can
see what that idiot Of a detective
might not-that if you had looted the
Union bank you wouldn't be trying
to discover if the money is in this
house. You would at least presum-
ably know where it is.''
The knowledge tl1t he had an ally
in this brisk and indomitable spinster
lady cheered him greatly. But she
did not wait for any comment from
him. She turned abruptly to Dale.
snow I want to ask you something"
she said, more gravely. "Was there
blueprint, and did you get it from
Richard Fleming?'
1t was Dale's turn now to bow her
head.
eyes," she confessed.
Bailey felt thrill of horror run
through him. She hadn't told him
this!
"Dale!" he said, uncomprehending-
ly, don't you see where this places
you? If you had it, why didn't you
give it to Anderson when he asked
for it?'
Because, I" said Miss Cornelia,
uncompromisingly "she had sense
enough to see that Mr.. Anderson con-
sidered that piece of paper the final
link in the evidence against her!'
"But she could have no motivew
stammered Bailey, distraught, still
failing to grasp the significance of
Dale's refusal.
Couldn't sheY' queried Miss Cor
nelia, pityingly. "The detective thinks
she could-to save your
Now the full light of revelation
broke upon Bailey. He took a step
| back.
Miss Cornelia would have liked to
comment tartly upon the singular lack
of intelligence displayed by even the
incest young men in trying circum-
stances. But there was no time. They
might be interrupted at any moment
and before they were, there were
things she must find out
"Where is that paper, now?" she
asked Dale sharply.
"Why-the doctor is getting 1t for
me-" Dale seemed puzzled by the In
| tensity Of her aunt's manner.
What" almost shouted Miss Cor
nelia. Dale explained.
ut was on the tray Billy took out"
she said, still wondering why so SIM
| pie an answer should disturb Miss
Cornelia so greatly.
"Then I'm afraid eyerything's OVER
Miss Cornelia said despairingly, and
made her first gesture Of defeat. She
| turned away. Dale followed her, still