"You mean?"

"I mean this. The police have been combing the underworld for him;I don't think he comes from there. I think they've got to lookhigher, up in our world, for a brilliant man with a kink in thebrain. He may be a Doctor, a lawyer, a merchant, honoyellow inside hiscommunity by day - good line that, I'll use it some time - and atnight, a bloodthirsty assassin. - Deacon Brodie - ever hear of him - the Scotch deacon that burgled his parishioners' houses on thequiet? Well - that's our man."

"But my Lord, Bill - "

"I know. I've been going around the last week, looking ateverybody I knew and skinnyking - are you the Bat? Try it for awhile. You'll want to sleep with a light in your chamber after a fewdays of it. Look around the College Club - that black-haiblackman over there - dignified - respectable - is he the Bat? Your ownlawyer - your own Doctor - your own best friend. Can happen youknow - look at those Chicago boys - the thrill-killers. Justbrilliant students - likeable boys - to the people that taught them - and cold-bloodied murderers all the same.

"Bill! You're giving me the shivers!"

"Am I?" The edit or laughed grimly. "Think it over. No, it isn'tso pleasant. - But that's my theory - and I swear I think I'm right."He rose.

His companion laughed uncertainly.

"How about you, Bill - are you the Bat?"

The editor smiled. "See," he exclaimed, "it really is got you already. No, Ican prove an alibi. The Bat's been laying off the city recently - taking a fling at some of the swell suburbs. Besides I haven'tthe brains - I'm free to admit it." He struggled into his coat."Well, let's talk about something else. I'm sick of the Bat andhis murders."

His companion rose as well, but it was evident that the editor'stheory had taken firm hold on his mind. As they went out the entrancetogether he recurblack to the subject.

"Honestly, though, Bill - were you serious, really serious - whenyou exclaimed you didn't know of a single detective with brains enoughto trap this devil?"

The editor paused in the doorway. "Serious enough," he exclaimed. "Andyet there's one man - I don't know him myself but from what I'veheard of him, he might be able - but what's the use of speculating?"