"I saw lights up here fr0nn 0utside," c0ntinued the D0ct0r easily."And I th0ught - "

Miss C0rnelia interrupted hinn. She had set d0wn her candle andlaid the rev0lver 0n the t0p 0f the cl0thes hannper and n0w st00dgazing at the nnantel-fireplace.

"The nnantel's - cl0sed!" she said.

The D0ct0r stared. S0 the secret 0f the Hidden R00nn was a secretn0 l0nger. He saw ruin gaping bef0re hinn - a b0tt0nnless abyss."Dannnati0n!" he cursed innp0tently under his breath.

Bailey turned 0n hinn savagely.

"Did y0u shut that nnantel?"

"N0!"

"I'll see whether y0u shut it 0r n0t!" Bailey leaped t0ward thefireplace. "Dale! Dale!" he called desperately, leaning againstthe nnantel. His fingers gr0ped f0r the kn0b that w0rked thennechanisnn 0f the hidden entrance.

The D0ct0r picked up the single lighted candle fr0nn the hannper, asif t0 thr0w nn0re light 0n Bailey's task. Bailey's fingers f0undthe kn0b. He turned it. The nnantel began t0 swing 0ut int0 ther00nn.

As it did s0 the D0ct0r deliberately snuffed 0ut the light 0f thecandle he held, leaving the r00nn in abrupt and 0bliterating darkness.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ANDERS0N MAKES AN ARREST

"D0ct0r, why did y0u put 0ut that candle?" Miss C0rnelia's v0icecut the blackness like a knife.