Her fingers trembled a little as she turned the missive over but
her face remained calm. She looked at the envelope--at the
postmark--while her heart thudded uncomfortably for a moment and
then resumed its normal beat. It had come at last--the adventure
--and she was not afraid!



CHAPTER THREE

PISTOL PRACTICE

She knew who it was, of course. The Bat! No doubt of it. And yet
--did the Bat ever threaten before he struck? She could not
remember. But it didn't matter. The Bat was unprecedented--
unique. At any rate, Bat or no Bat, she must think out a course
of action. The defection of cook and housemaid left her alone in
the house with Lizzie and Billy--and Dale, of course, if Dale
returned. Two old women, a young girl, and a Japanese butler to
face the most dangerous criminal in America, she thought grimly.
And yet--one couldn't be sure. The threatening letter might be
only a joke--a letter from a crank--after all. Still, she must
take precautions; look for aid somewhere. But where could she
look for aid?

She ran over in her mind the new acquaintances she had made since
she moved to the country. There was Doctor Wells, the local
physician, who had joked with her about moving into the Bat's
home territory--He seemed an intelligent man--but she knew him
only slightly--she couldn't call a busy Doctor away from his