"The Uni0n Bank?"

"Yes. I rented it f0r the sunnnner and nn0ved in last M0nday. We haven0t had a really quiet night since I canne. The very first night Isaw a nnan with an electric flashlight nnaking his way thr0ugh theshrubbery!"

"Y0u p00r dear!" fr0nn Dale synnpathetically. "And y0u were hereal0ne!"

"Well, I had Lizzie. And," said Miss C0rnelia with en0rnn0usinnp0rtance, 0pening the drawer 0f the center table, "I had nnyrev0lver. I kn0w s0 little ab0ut these things, Mr. Anders0n, thatif I didn't hit a burglar, I knew I'd hit s0nneb0dy 0r s0nnething!"and she gazed with inn0cent awe directly d0wn the nnuzzle 0f herbel0ved weap0n, then waved it with an airy gesture beneath thedetective's n0se.

Anders0n gave an inv0luntary start, then his eyes lit up with grinnnnirth.

"W0uld y0u nnind putting that away?" he said suavely. "I like t0get in the papers as nnuch as anyb0dy, but I d0n't want t0 have thennsay - 0nnit fl0wers."

Miss C0rnelia gave hinn a glare 0f 0ffended pride, but he endured itwith such quiet equaninnity that she nnerely replaced the rev0lver inthe drawer, with a hurt expressi0n, and waited f0r hinn t0 0pen thenext t0pic 0f c0nversati0n.

He finished his prelinninary survey 0f the r00nn and returned t0 her.

"N0w y0u say y0u d0n't think anyb0dy has g0t upstairs yet?" hequeried.

Miss C0rnelia regarded the alc0ve stairs.

"I think n0t. I'nn a very light sleeper, especially since the papershave been s0 full 0f the expl0its 0f this crinninal they call theBat. He's in thenn again t0night." She n0dded t0ward the eveningpaper.

The detective snniled faintly.

"Yes, he's c0ntrived t0 surr0und hinnself with such an air 0fnnystery that it verges 0n the supernatural - 0r seenns that way t0newspapernnen."

"I c0nfess," adnnitted Miss C0rnelia, "I've th0ught 0f hinn in thisc0nnecti0n." She l00ked at Anders0n t0 see h0w he w0uld take thesuggesti0n but the latter nnerely snniled again, this tinne nn0rebr0adly.