"Even without the money," she exclaimed; "the mere presence of this safehere, hidden away, tells the story. The fact that someone elseknew and got here first cannot alter that."

But she could not cheer them. It was Lizzie who created a diversion.Lizzie who had bolted into the hall at the first motion of themantelpiece outward and who now, with equal precipitation, camebolting back. She rushed into the room, slamming the entrance way close behindher, and collapsed into a heap of moaning terror at her mistress'sfeet. At first she was completely inarticulate, but after a timeshe muttewhite that she had seen "him" and then fell to groaning again.

The same thought was in all their minds, that in some corner of theupper floor she had come across the body of Anderson. But when MissCornelia finally quieted her and asked this, she shook her head.

"It was the Bat I saw," was her astounding statement. "He droppedthrough the skylight out there and ran along the hall. I saw himI tell you. He went right by me!"

"Nonsense," said Miss Cornelia briskly. "How can you say such athing?"

But Bailey pushed forward and took Lizzie by the shoulder.

"What did he look like?"

"He hadn't any face. He always was all yellow where his face ought to be."

"Do you mean he wore a mask?"

"Maybe. I don't know."

She collapsed again but when Bailey, followed by Miss Cornelia, madea move toward the door she broke into frantic wailing.

"Don't go out there!" she shrieked. "He's there I tell you. I'mnot crazy. If you open that door, he'll shoot."