The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-02-03


sanatorium some hours ere this-but
Miss Cornelia was not merely, COM
paratively' speaking, as fresh as
daisy--her manner bore every evil
dence Of a firm intention to play Sher-
lock Holmes to the mysteries that sur
rounded her, in spite of doctors, de-
| tectives, dubious noises or even the
Bat himself.
The last Of the Van Gorder spinsters
turned to Bailey now
"Get some SCOT from that fireplace"
she ordered "Be quick. Scrape IL
off with knife or piece of paper.
Anything"
Bailey wondered and obeyed. AS
he was engaged in his grimy task,
Miss Cornelia got out piece of writ
ing paper from the drawer and placed
it on the comfortable, with a lead
pencil beside it.
Bailey emerged from the fireplace
with a handful of sooty flakes.
as this all right?"
eyes. Now rub it on the handle of
that bag" She indicated the little
black bag, in which Doctor Wells
carried the usual paraphernalia of
country doctor.
A private suspicion grew in Bailey's
mind as to whether Miss Corneha's
fine but eccentric brain had not suf-
fered too sSorely under the shocks Of
the night. But he did not dare dis
obey. He blackened the handle of
the doctors bag with painstaking
thoroughness and awaited further in
structions.
Somebody's coming!" Dale whis-
pered, warning from her post by the
door,
Bailey quickly went to the fireplace
and resumed his pretended labors with
the fire. Miss Cornelia moved away
from the Doctors bag and spoke for
the benefit of whoever might be COM
ing.
"We all need Sleep" she began, as
II ending conversation with Dale,
"and 1 think"
The door opened, admitting Billy.
doctor just go upstairs" he said,
and went out again leaving the door
open.
A flash passed across Miss Cor
nelia's face. She stepped to the door.
She called.
Doctor! Oh, Doctori"
'Yes? answered the doctors voice
from the main staircase. His steps
clattered down the stairs-he entered
the room. Perhaps he read something
in Miss Cornelia's manner that de-
manded an explanation of his action.
At any rate, he forestalled her, just
as she was about to question him.
81 was about to look around above"
he said. Il don't like to leave if there
is the possibility of some assassin
still hidden in the house,
THAT is very considerable of you.
But we are well protected now. And
besides, why should this person re-
main in the house? The murder is
done, the police are here"
True" he said. 81 only thought"
But knocking at the terrace door
interrupted him. While the attention
rection Dale, less cynical than her
aunt, made small plea to him and
realized before she had finished with
it that the doctor had his price.
"Doctor-did you get it?" she re-
peated, drawing the doctor aside.
The doctor gave her a look of ap-
parent bewilderment.
"My dear child" he said softly,
"are you sure that you put it there?"
Dale felt as if she had received
blow in the face
"Why, yes-I-'' she began, in tones
of utter dismay. Then she stopped.
The Doctors seeming bewilderment
was too pat-too plausible. Of course
she was sure-and, though possible, it
seemed extremely unlikely that any
one else could have discovered the
hiding place Of the blueprint in the
few moments that had elapsed be-
tween the time when Billy took the
tray from the room and the time
when the doctor ostensibly went to
find it. A cold wave of distrust swept
over her-she turned away from the
doctor silently.
Meanwhile Anderson had entered,
slamming the terrace door behind him.
II couldn't find anybodyi" he said
in an irritated voice. II think that
Jap's crazy
The doctor began to struggle into
his overcoat, avoiding any look at
Dale.
SWELL" he said, II believe I've full
filled all the legal requirements
think I must be going" He turned
toward the door, but the detective
halted him.
Doctor" he said, ibid you evei
hear Courtleigh Fleming mention
hidden room in this houseT
If the doctor started, the move
ment passed apparently unnoticed by
Anderson. And his reply was coolly
| made.
"No-and l knew him rather WELL"
"You don't think, then" persisted
the detective, shat such a room and
the money in it could be the motive
for this crime?"
The doctors voice grew little curt.
81 don't believe Courtleigh Fleming
robbed his own bank, if that's what
you mean," he said with nicely cal
culated emphasis, real or feigned. He
crossed over to get his bag and spoke
to Miss Cornelia.