hugged to herself all day, "I might as well tell you, Lizzie. I'm
having a detective sent down tonight from police headquarters in
the city."

"A detective?" Lizzie's face was horrified. "Miss Neily, you're
keeping something from me! You know something I don't know."

"I hope so. I daresay he will be stupid enough. Most of them are.
But at least we can have one proper night's sleep."

"Not I. I trust no man," said Lizzie. But Miss Cornelia had
picked up the paper again.

"'The Bat's last crime was a particularly atrocious one,'" she
read. "'The body of the murdered man...'"

But Lizzie could bear no more.

"Why don't you read the funny page once in a while?" she wailed and
hurried to close the windows in the billiard room. The door leading
into the billiard room shut behind her.

Miss Cornelia remained reading for a moment. Then--was that a
sound from the alcove? She dropped the paper, went into the alcove
and stood for a moment at the foot of the stairs, listening. No--
it must have been imagination. But, while she was here, she might
as well put on the spring lock that bolted the door from the alcove
to the terrace. She did so, returned to the living-room and
switched off the lights for a moment to look out at the coming storm.
It was closer now--the lightning flashes more continuous. She