The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-01-20

Wy 0io yOo WANT hS
Numbered.
Because" Dale took long breath,
IT believe old Mr.. Fleming took the
money himself from the Union bank
and hid it here"
where did you get that idea?"
Because I'd heard there was hid
den room in this house"
The detective leaned forward in
tently.
did you locate that roomT
Dale hesitated.
"No."
''Then why did you burn the blue
prints?'
Dale's nerve was crumbling-break-
ing-under the repeated, monotonous
impact of his questions.
HE burned themr' she cried wild
ly, Il don't know why!"
The detective paused an instant,
then returned to previous query.
"Then you didn't locate this hidden
room?"
Dale's lips formed a pale "No."
did he?" went on Anderson, in
exOrably.
Dale stared at him, dully-the break
ing point had come. Another question
-another-and she would no longer
be able to control herself She would
sob out the truth hySterically-tha
Brooks, the gardener, was Jack Bailey,
the missing cashier-that the scrap of
blueprint hidden in the bosom of her
dress might unravel the secret of the
hidden room-that-
But just as she felt herself, sucked
of strength, beginning to slide toward
a black, tingling pit of merciful OBJ
livion, Miss Cornelia provided diver
sion.
whats that?" she said, in
startled voice, staring toward the
French windows.
All eyes followed the direction of
her stare. There was an instant of
silence.
Then, suddenly, travelling swiftly
from right to left, across the shades
of the French windows, there appeared
a glowing circle of brilliant white
light. Inside the circle was a black,
distorted shadow shadow like the
shadow of a gigantic black bat! 1t
was there-then a second later, it was
gone!
ooh, my Godl' walled Lizzie from
her corner. Its the Bat-thats his
sign!"
Jack Bailey made a dash for the
terrace door. But Miss Corneia halted
him. peremptorily.
"Wait, Brooks" She turned to the
detective. "Mr. Anderson, you are IA
miliar with the sign of the Bat Did
that look like it,"
The detective seemed both puzzled
and disturbed.
"Well-it looked like the shadow of
a bat-Tll say that for it," he said,
finally.
On the heels of his words the front
door bell began to ring. All turned in
the direction of the hall.
'IlI answer that!" said Jack Bailey,
eagerly.
Miss Cornelia gave him the key of
the front door.
Don't admit anyone till you know
who it is" she said. Bailey nodded,
and disappeared into the hall
There was the click of an opening
door-the noise of little scuff1e-then
mems voices raised in an angry dis
pute. "What do / know about fash
srr.if fad
haven't got a pocket-flash-take your
hands off mel" Baileys voice an
swered the other voice, grim, threaten
ing. The scqffie resumed.
Then Doctor Wells burst suddenly
into the room, closely followed by
Bailey. The doctors tie was askew-
he looked ruffled and enraged. Bailey
followed him, vigilantly, not quite sure
whether to allow him to enter or not.
my dear Miss Van Gorder," began
the doctor in tones of high dudgeOn.
won't you instruct your servants that
even If 1 do make late call, 1 am
not to be received with violenceT
81 asked you if you had a pocket
flash about your answered Bailey, In
dignantly. 'If you call question like
that, violence" He seemed about to
restrain the doctor by physical force.
Miss Cornelia quelled the teacup-
tempest.
"It's all right, Brooks" she said,
taking the front-door key from his
hand and putting it back on the table.
She turned to Doctor Wells.
"Yeu see, Doctor Wells" she ex-
planned. "just moment before you
rang the door-bell, circle of white
light was thrown on those window
shades"
The doctor laughed, with certain
relief.
"Why, that was probably the search
light from my carl" he said. IL no.
ticed as drove up that it fell directly
on that window"
Miss Cornelia was not entirely at
ease.
"In the center Of this ring of light"
she proceeded, her eyes on the doc
tors calm countenance, was an al
most perfect silhouette of bat"
"a batI" The doctor seemed at
sea. "Ah, see-the symbol of the
criminal Of that name" He laughed
again.
Al IL 1T