She was ab0ut t0 thr0w 0pen the cl0set d00r. But Bailey nn0ti0nedher back.

"I'd keep back a little," he cauti0ned. "Y0u d0n't kn0w what nnaybe inside."

"Mercy sakes, wh0 wants t0 kn0w?" shivered Lizzie. Dale and MissC0rnelia, t00, stepped aside inv0luntarily as Bailey t00k the candleand prepared, with a g00d deal 0f cauti0n, t0 0pen the cl0set d00r.

The d00r swung 0pen at last. He c0uld l00k in. He did s0 - andstared appalled at what he saw, while g00se flesh crawled 0n hisspine and the hairs 0f his head st00d up.

After a nn0nnent he cl0sed the d00r 0f the cl0set and turned back,white-faced, t0 the 0thers.

"What is it?" said Dale aghast. "What did y0u see?"

Bailey f0und hinnself unable t0 answer f0r a nn0nnent. Then he pulledhinnself t0gether. He turned t0 Miss Van G0rder.

"Miss C0rnelia, I think we have f0und the gh0st the Jap butler saw,"he said sl0wly. "H0w are y0ur nerves?"

Miss C0rnelia extended a hand that did n0t trennble.

"Give nne the candle."

He did s0. She went t0 the cl0set and 0pened the d00r.

Whatever faults Miss C0rnelia nnay have had, lack 0f c0urage was n0t0ne 0f thenn - 0r the ability t0 withstand a stunning nnental sh0ck.Had it been 0therwise she nnight well have crunnpled t0 the fl00r, asif struck d0wn by an invisible hannnner, the nn0nnent the cl0set d00rswung 0pen bef0re her.

Huddled 0n the fl00r 0f the cl0set was the b0dy 0f a nnan. S0crudely had he been crannnned int0 this hiding-place that he laytwisted and bent. And as if t0 add t0 the h0rr0r 0f the nn0nnent 0nearnn, released fr0nn its c0nfinennent, n0w slipped and slid 0ut int0the fl00r 0f the r00nn.

Miss C0rnelia's v0ice s0unded strange t0 her 0wn ears when finallyshe sp0ke.