The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-03-09
CHAPTER XI-Continued

II
Bailey swung in through the win
dow, painting little from his exer-
tons.
1.-THE man Lizzie saw drop from the
skylight undoubtedly got to the roof
from this window" he said. Its quite
easy"
Dale explained the situation to
Jack.
Aunt Cornelia thinks the moneys
still here"
Miss Cornelia snorted
81 know it's here" She started to
open the closets, one after the other,
beginning at the left. Bailey saw
what she was doing and began to help
her.
Miss Cornelia ratified the knob of
high closet by the other wall.
This one is locked-and the keys
gone" she announced. A new flicker
OF interest grew in the eyes of the
Unknown. Lizzie glanced away from
him, terrified.
Miss Cornelia pondered.
~ may DS lOChcu lTOlu the luSluc-
I'll soon find out" She took a wire
hairpin from her hair and pushed it
through the keyhole. But there was
no Key on the other side; the hair
pin went through without obstruction.
Repeated efforts to jerk the door open
failed. And finally Miss Cornelia be-
thought herself of key from the
other closet doors.
Dale and Lizzie on one side
Bailey on the other-collected the
keys of the other closets from their
locks while Miss Cornelia stared at
the one whose doors were closed as if
she would force It's secret from it with
her eyes. The Unknown had been so
quiet during the last few minutes,
that unconscieusly, the others had
ceased to pay much attention to him,
except the casual attention one de-
Lizzie's eyes were now fixed on the
locked closet. And the Unknown him.
self was the first to notice this.
AT once his expression altered to
one Of cunning-cautiously, with in
finite patience, he began to inch his
chair over toward the wicker clothes
hamper.
AT last, he was within reach of the
revolver. His hand shot out in one
swift Sinuous thrust-clutched the
weapon-withdrew. He then con-
cealed the revolver among his tat
tered garments as best he could and,
cautiously as before, inched his chair
back again to its original position.
"'There-that unlocked i'll" cried
Miss Cornelia, triumphantly, at last,
as the key to one of the other closet
doors slid smoothly into the lock and
she heard the click that meant vic
tory.
She was about to throw open the
closet door. But Bailey motioned her
back.
I'D keep back a little" he eau
toned. you don't know what may
be inside"
Mercy sakes, who wants to known
shivered Lizzie. Dale and Miss Cor
nelia, too, stepped aside involun-
tarily as Bailey took the candle and
prepared, with good deal of caution,
to open the closet door.
The door swung open at last. He
could look in. He did so-and stared
appalled, at what he saw, while goose
flesh crawled On his spine and the
hairs of his head stood up.
After a moment he closed the door
Of the closet again, and turned back,
white-faced, to the others.
"What is it?" said Dale, aghast.
"What did you seer"
Bailey found himself unable to an
swer for a moment. Then he pulled
himself together. He turned to Miss
Van Gorder.
Miss Cornelia, I think we have
found the ghost the Jap butler saw"
he said slowly. "How are your
nerves?"
Miss Cornelia extended hand that
did not tremble.
"Give me the candle"
He did so. She went to the closet
and opened the door. cE
Huddled on the floor of the closet
was the body of man. So crudely
had he been crammed into this hid
ing-place that he lay twisted and bent.
Miss tCornelia's voice sounded
strange to her own ears when finally
she spoke.
"But who is it?
"It is-or was-Courtleigh Elem
ing" said Bailey duly.
But how can it be? Mr.. Fleming
died two weeks ago. +"
"He died in this house, sometime
tonight The body is still warm"
.'But who killed him? The Bat?"
"Isn't it likely that the doctor did
It? The man who has been his &C.
complete all along? Who probably
bought cadaver out West and buried
it with honors here not long ago?"
But Miss. Cornelia's face was still
thoughtful, and he went on:
'Tsn't it clear, Miss Van Gorder?"
he queried, with a smile. "The doctor
and old Mr.. Fleming formed a con.
spiracy-both needed money-lots of
it. Fleming was to rob the bank and
hide the money here. Wells part was
to issue false death certificate in
the West, and bury substitute body,
secured God knows how. 1t was easy
lit kept the name of the president
of the Union bank free from suspicion
and it put the blame on me-"
He paused, thinking it out
"Only they slipped up in one place.
Dick Fleming leased-the house to you
and they couldn't get 1t back"
'"Then you are sure" said Miss Cor