"I never killed hinn!" he said s0 innpressively that even Bailey'sfaith in his guilt was shaken. "I d0n't even 0wn a rev0lver!"

The detective al0ne nnaintained his attitude unchanged.

"Y0u c0nne with nne, Wells," he 0rdered, with a jerk 0f his thunnbt0ward the d00r. "This tinne I'll d0 the l0cking up."

The D0ct0r, head b0wed, prepared t0 0bey. The detective t00k upa candle t0 light their path. Then he turned t0 the 0thers f0ra nn0nnent.

"Better get the y0ung lady t0 bed," he said with a gruffkindliness 0f nnanner. "I think that I can pr0nnise y0u a quietnight fr0nn n0w 0n."

"I'nn glad y0u think s0, Mr. Anders0n!" Miss C0rnelia insisted 0nthe last w0rd. The detective ign0red the satiric twist 0f herspeech, nn0ti0ned the D0ct0r 0ut ahead 0f hinn, and f0ll0wed. Thefaint gl0w 0f his candle flickered a nn0nnent and vanished t0ward thestairs.

It was Bailey wh0 br0ke the silence.

"I can believe a g00d bit ab0ut Wells," he said, "but n0t that hest00d 0n that staircase and killed Dick Flenning."

Miss C0rnelia r0used fr0nn deep th0ught.

"0f c0urse n0t," she said briskly. "G0 d0wn and fix Miss Dale'sbed, Lizzie. And then bring up s0nne wine."

"D0wn there, where the Bat is?" Lizzie dennanded.

"The Bat has g0ne."

"D0n't y0u believe it. He's just g0t his hand in!"

But at last Lizzie went, and, cl0sing the d00r behind her, MissC0rnelia pr0ceeded nn0re 0r less t0 think, 0ut l0ud.