The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-02-24

"Who wouldn't, in the dark here,
with that monster loose somewhere
near by?" But she stirred herself
and got up. "Pd better get the smell
ing salts" she said heavily. "God
knows l hate to move, but if there's
one place safer in this house than an
other, I've yet to find it."
She went out, leaving Dale alone.
The trunk room was dark, save that
now and then as the candle appeared
and reappeared the doorway was
kept her eyes fixed, by way Of COM
fort, and thus passed the next few
moments. She felt weak and dizzy
and entirely desparing.
Then-the outline was not so clear.
She had heard nothing, but there was
something in the doorway. 1t stood
there, formless, diabolical, and then
she saw what was happening. 1t was
closing the door. Afterward she was
mercifully not to remember what came
next; the figure was perhaps intent
on what was going on outside, or her
own movements may have. been as
silent as its own. That she got into
the mantel room and even partially
closed it behind her is certain, and
that her description of what followed
is fairly accurate is borne out by the
facts as known.
The Bat was working rapidly. She
heard his quick, nervous movements;
apparently he had come back for some
thing and secured it, for now he
moved again toward the door. But
he was too late; they were returning
that way. She heard him mutter some
thing and quickly turn the key In the
lock. Then he seemed to run toward
the window, and for some reason to
recoil from it.
The next instant she realized that
he was coming toward the mantel
room, that he intended to hide in it.
There was no doubt in her mind as to
his identity. 1t was the Bat, and in
moment more he would be shut in
there with her.
She tried to scream and could not,
and the next instant she was in a
dead faint on the floor.
Bailey meanwhile had crawled out
on the roof and was carefully search
ing it. But other things were hap
pening also. A disinterested observer
could have seen very soon why the
Bat had abandoned the window as
means of egress.
Almost before the mantel had swung
to behind the arch-criminal, the top of
a tall pruning ladder had appeared at
the window, and by it's quivering
showed that some one was climbing up,
rung by rung. Unsuspiciously enough
he came on, pausing at the top to
flash light into the room, and then
cautiously swinging a leg over the
sill. 1t was the doctor. He gave q
low whistle, but there was no reply,
save that, had he seen it, the mantel
swung out an inch or two. Perhaps
he was never so near death as at that
moment, but that instant of irresolu-
ton on his part saved him, for by
coming into the room he had taken
himself out of range.
Even then he was very close to de-
struction, for after brief pause and
second rather puzzled survey of the
room, he started toward the mantel
itself. Only the rattle of the door
knob stopped him, and call from out
side.
"Dale!" called Bailey's voice from
the corridor. "Dale!"
dale! Dale! The doors locked!"
cried Miss Cornelia.
The doctor hesitated. The call came
again.
dale! Dale!" and Bailey pounded
on the door as If he meant to break
it down.
The doctor made up his mind.
"Wait q momentp he called. He
stepped to the door and unlocked it.
Bailey hurled himself into the room,
followed by Miss Cornelia with her
candle. Lizzie stood In the doorway,
timidly, ready to leap for safety at
moments notice.
'Why did you lock that door?" said
Bailey, angrily, threatening the doc
tor.
"But / didn't" said the latter, truth
fully enough. Bailey made a move
ment of irritation. Then a glance
about the room informed him of the
amazing, the incredible fact. Dale
was not there! She had disappeared!
"You-you," he stammered at the
doctor. where's Miss Ogden? What
have you done with herr"
The doctor was equally baffled.
Done with herr" he said indignant
ly. Il don't know what you're talk
ing about haven't seen herl"
"Then you didn't lock that door,"
Bailey menaced him.
The Doctors denial was firm.
Absolutely NOT. l was coming
through the window when I heard
your voice at the door!"
Bailey's eyes leapt to the window
yes-a ladder was there-the doctor
might be speaking the truth after all.
But If so, how and why had Dale dis
appeared?
The doctors admission of his man.
ner of entrance did not make Lizzie
any the happier.
"In at the window-just like bat !"
she muttered In shaking tones. She
would not have stayed in the doorway
If she had not been afraid to move
anywhere else.
II saw lights up here from outside"
continued the doctor easily. "And 1
thought"
Miss Cornelia interrupted him. She
had laid down her candle and revol-
yer on the top Of the clothes hamper
and now stood gazing at the mantel
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