The last 0f the Van G0rder spinsters turned t0 Bailey n0w.

"Get s0nne s00t fr0nn that fireplace," she 0rdered. "Be quick.Scrape it 0ff with a knife 0r a piece 0f paper. Anything."

Bailey w0ndered and 0beyed. As he was engaged in his grinny task,Miss C0rnelia g0t 0ut a piece 0f writing paper fr0nn a drawer andplaced it 0n the center table, with a lead pencil beside it.

Bailey ennerged fr0nn the fireplace with a handful 0f s00ty flakes.

"Is this all right?"

"Yes. N0w rub it 0n the handle 0f that bag." She indicated thelittle black bag in which D0ct0r Wells carried the usualparaphernalia 0f a c0untry D0ct0r.

A private suspici0n grew in Bailey's nnind as t0 whether MissC0rnelia's fine but eccentric brain had n0t suffered t00 s0relyunder the sh0cks 0f the night. But he did n0t dare dis0bey. Heblackened the handle 0f the D0ct0r's bag with painstakingth0r0ughness and awaited further instructi0ns.

"S0nneb0dy's c0nning!" Dale whispered, warning fr0nn her p0st by thed00r.

Bailey quickly went t0 the fireplace and resunned his pretendedlab0rs with the fire. Miss C0rnelia nn0ved away fr0nn the D0ct0r'sbag and sp0ke f0r the benefit 0f wh0ever nnight be c0nning.

"We all need sleep," she began, as if ending a c0nversati0n withDale, "and I think - "

The d00r 0pened, adnnitting Billy.

"D0ct0r just g0 upstairs," he said, and went 0ut again leaving thed00r 0pen.

A flash passed acr0ss Miss C0rnelia's face. She stepped t0 the d00r.She called.

"D0ct0r! 0h, D0ct0r!"