Show I I BAT r A Novel from the Play By Mary Roberts Rinehart and A Avery very Hopwood rh The rat r n t b Ma Mire Roberto en an i Ae Avery fOt t t goatee 1 1 STORY FROM THE START Defying all II efforts to capture him after aeter a tong lo K erle of at o mur murden den tier and robberies a super luper crook known only as s The Tho Th Bat Dat Bathas has brought broucht about a veritable reign n of ot terror terrt r The chief of at polie po 10 police lice assigns uIg his Let but operative Anderson Anderon to ret fet on the th trail or t The h D Bat t V lIh her niece le D Dil Ogden Mils Iba sa Cornell Van an an CorderI order Corder la Ie 11 Ing In the tho th county home ot of the late Courtleigh C I laming who ho Ie until ids hi recent re death had been resident of at t the tho lh Union bank wrecked because of at the th theft theet of at ofa ofa a l large larSe rf Bum eum um of at currency Ml Inn nn nn Corder reed recesses u a note not arning her to the place ileith th Dolt Dale at once one on pain of at returns from tram the cit elt here ale he bad been to f hire A gardener The gardener Kardener gIving isle hi- hl name nam ac Crooks Brooks ne He H admits admit he h Is not a gardener but needs work ark else dIu Cornelia Cornella tells Doctor ells of at the note They are Interrupted by the of at a window In the tho th hou e They and another warning note CHAPTER Continued IV-Continued IV Continued 6 1 les cs I 1 duI did s-ild s the do tl r quid quick quickly l ly Iy i t seeming unconvinced of the wisdom of her attitude Miss lIss in n Gorder Corder I 1 I confess confers I m mt ver t r on anxious lous tor for you he lie continued This Tills letter ominous I Is ominous Wh hy not accept my hospitality In the tonight Il Its s n a little house but III mal e a you vou comfortable Or he be threw thre out oot his Ius lands 1 I In tle tl tI e gesture of one who ra reasons ons with Ith a n willful child If you ou won t come to me let me-let let me stay here bre I Miss lIss Cornell Cornella h hesitated for an In In clout the rhe proposition teemed seemed 10 log logIcal Iral Ical more enough enough more than sen that tint sensible sate safe rt And vet nt come some hardly feeling hardly tron strong t enough nouh tn to 1 let Ie le e t tiled a n premonition kept premonition kept her from ac accepting It It Ihm Thank you OM ou no doctor she he said hI 1 before she had time to change I 1 c r Mind blind 1 m not easily lIy frightened And ADd tomoro I 1 Intend to equip this entire nUre louse loue with Ith burgl burglar r r alarms c in n tours and windows window s she the went ent on defiantly The Incident as far as lie as she he was concerned was as do cd ell Che ht moved on Into the alcove The doc doe fit r Kr r stared after her ber sh sh Ins ing his head 1 STe e tried the terrace door There I I knew it I she he he said vou nu vou t fa fasten ten that hold holt IThe The doctor seemed a little taken takeno cic Oh-I Oh Oli Ini ru m sorry sorry- soro he lie said lou Ion only pushed It part cf t f the av I the she he She completed toe Ille ta task tack k and 11 bl back In o 0 the Ih Ifs n ng room fire fhe only thin thing that wor s rids 5 me roe noIs now no Is that broken brohen trench window the she said thoughtfully ny ny one can reach a n hand through It and q 11 I en Cn the latch litch She came down don do n to tot t and ard the settee Dale was lS It sing I lease doctor Oh what Oh what are you sou OU going to do dor ild lid tl tI e a doctor coming coining out jut of n a nt frown t ro ron n study tudy I 1 in m going oln to barricade th tint winLow win Low ow I said Miss Cornelia Cornella firmly already al already ready nady struggling lIn to lift one end of the sette settee Put now no Dale came come to toI I ter c er r rescue Oh Oh soul darling darling i ou 11 II hurt let me- me me and between H tiem em the doc doe i l le e y If M You Won Ion t Cow Como to Let Me-Let Me Let Me Stay Herel Herd tor tvr and Dale Dile mosed tl tI tie e a heats hea hea settee ettee along until It tr strod O l In front of the window in Qu question 1 Je doctor stood up when hen tl tJ t dusts dutt tast taR wis W finished Ills his hank han ban b bIt I It would take a ru ruO moser mo eito er erto to get et In there now nose 1 J he IH bald ild Id 1195 s Cornelia smiled Will III doctor Ill doctor Ill IY iv good gooel nl ne fie sand lInd ll tl auk unk you iou OU cri sery r much she said extending 1 I er cr 1 1 I and to the d doe lor who I 0 owe t er r It silently Dont Don DOli t Ikc-ep Ikc o p this tills yi y unk lad Indy up too late late- late se s tired St e n fi dished shed a loe iet k kot kat ot at Dace Daie who ho trod staring out at tl tI e er eC r C right 1 lIt 1 tl en tn galled called out of the rr rc om em still III trolling smiling and closed the door Ie le- 1 eo herTI her herTie Tie TI 11 e doctor I i u little nettled V tri tr abrupt lh It may roay be he mind he did s turning tack toward to Dale but forgive e me It if ItI I 1 IT v I 1 think It seems m more mere re like fool foolhardy foolhardy foolhardy hardy stubbornness Dale turned awns awai O from tl tI tie e eIn win In low 10 1 then ou sou think there thue Is really un d-un dunger ger Pie n fI e doctor f s were r grue e W tI eli ell Hose ose oe letters letters- letters Itter he drol pet ped tl tI e a letter on nn tir tho table tible TIle flies le mean mc Ins ing Here lIere iou Sou oU are arc arc Isolated the isolated lie lIIa e t two 0 mules and O enough lIou r around lie Ile II e place t to hide a dorm ns ass asi 1 Ins If hI his manner hIll h id it been lIen In the t d degree decree ree melo Dale I would live found tin till ominous us sen more etc i to dl discount count I lit at tills this c Intent slat ment of or cans liS a 0 chill chili touch much at nt ter 1 I er tad 3 ci- ci t- t i lilt lut ut wig wint hIt it enc enemies care in lInt lr C Delia use h-use ln e I cle he ass al a l cd d li 1 lii tits i iman man will III tell iou Sou ou wint shat hl t i I do said ild the doctor with Ins seri ferl ou nes s lie too took a n cigarette rI rette fn m case ant and tarp p d rl It on tI tip tie I Ice ce to 11 1101 Us Ifs 01 word woid rl This Is 11 nu no nur r glace for t two 0 women alone Dale Dile m its uv from Ism 1 Im re rest restlessly restlessly t tl's lessly ls l's ly to warm arm her hr I suds at the fire The doctor gIn gale gine e i t quick J lance around the rO room 7 1 lien hen unseen hv by I ter cr r le 1 I e I stepped noiselessly n eles ly 0 oser o er r to the table too took the bow boic there thre off ocr Its holder and slipped dipped It Into Iris Ids pocket It seemed a curiously useless and meaningless less gesture but his Ills ne newt t words e that the Hie m had been beo dells erase I don dont t seem em to t 1 Ie e stile ible to find any matches matches- I Ie I e said ad s with Ith ith assumed ns fiddling fill with tie tl tI e a matchbox match bow bot t bolder older Dale turned away from ll ti c e tire fire Oh rent t there thre nm ens an Ill III pet get sou OU some 0 she lie iid I with Ith ne ness and departed to sc search for them The doctor octor watched her RO jo go SIW tl tI edoor e edoor door close doce her ber Instantly Ills his face set ct Into tense tease and wary nary a ry lines Ill le slanted glanced then shout ran lightly up Into loto tI tic e a e e and noiselessly un unfastened unfastened fastened tl tI e a bolt on 00 tI ll e a terrace ce door which t Ie to e h had d pretended to tl fasten tuten offer after his Ills search of the 1 hen hn Dale returned with Ith the tie es esI esI I p eo w was wis bac balk back hc w here re I Ie I e had t l um ten when hn she he hud had left let him lancing at ata ata ata a lD on 00 the table lIe He lit ht his cigarette and drew dress in 10 inthe the fragrant smoke with apparent gusto guto nut Cut n moment later he lie hud had rushed crushed out the glowing glowin end In nn an ann ash nh h reeds rh er cr its- its v tI tie e a eI I wiy has Miss nn an Corder Cordera R a re re 01 er tie Ie le queried casually glancing at nt his bis wrist watch les CB 1 es-cl es I fired It oft off this tills after afternoon afternoon noon to see pe If It would work orl n Dale smiled at the memory I llie he doctor too seemed amused amueL If the che tries to shoot nn for ani thins for good goodness ness take sake stand behind t I t er I I I e ad lie He glanced at the wrist watch w witcha a again Well Well-I ell 1 ell I must be gol If It nn thing barrens en said Id Dale 10 I I 1 shall tel telephone phone you iou ou at nt once lien Her words seemed emed to disturb the doctor but but only for a n second lIe lIere grew crew ree e esen e en n more url uri me one III Ili 1 II 1 te to e home shortly after mid midnight midnight night he said suld K Id 1 I in topping stopping at the he Johnsons en cn n mv my One way one of their children en Is or ill-or Ill or SUI suf t I uce ose 1 to be beHe lie look tool a step toward tC tl tI e I door then lien he turned toward Dale main like lake a n I word wold et f leehe id he said Fhe flue thing thine to do with a 0 mid midnight midnight night prowler Is let Is let him hiru alone Lock LocI ur 1 doors and don dont t let any anything an thing bring brine lou Sou U f cut ut till 1111 1 sou ou u said Bald Dale seriously l Good night Lilly Doctor r Lilly will let you out out-I out Ie e a has lias ti II tic e a key ke Le D Ul Dy Jo Jose laughed tI tie tle e doctor Sou ou are arc careful uncut nt t ul the r lace Is 11 like lILe a 8 fortress goo ell II- II oo J night Miss lI s Dale Dale Dale- cod night The de or closed l 1 e c cI I Ind him Dale was ns left Ift alone bud ull I 1 cr er comi c sure ure left I 1 er en II tie I Hoed Dud died She stud t 11 gazing nl at cad ead at tier r tare fice a n ma mask of or terror tor and Op t 1 I ut lit when h n Dilly Billy returned with Ith the front door ketie le key sl e was as ns osh e as ns he lie was as Ilas the r row rew ew tard ncr cane cc c rue yet lie I leie el e sold said I Illy stolidly same ame Brook the he was wai herself her elf once mono mort when hn I Illy depicting 1 I eld the d or open to JOe to admit Miss Os an of an Gorder Corder and a R tall tail strong featured man quietly ed with rl r the c the er-the e the Dale dear said Mid Ih t Ith li h In her sold islet In Ills is Is Mr Ir Antlers n a aThe The newcomer ne comer bo bowed cd ot at otI atter alI ter I cr er and then hen locking king n na awas Miss awa a Miss S Cornelia llIn t o er was wa u lous rb ly Iy in fine u and relishing to the l utmost t the presence of a 9 rc roil III detec the tI In the llie louse tou-c This Tills Is tie Ue 11 e room I since fl Je of she fhe salt 1 rl l Ml 11 tI 11 tic e c disturbances dl c has ha hae e taken en place ure und and th Ili tint It tc to race r ric door lie detective too took swift s stets tei tel s sInto Into tI tie e a lleO e e glanced about It scare If lIe He indicated tl II o stairs stair That Is not the main II staircase staircase o the so the main staircase Is out there Miss MIs Cornelia Cornella nj eased cd ell her han hand handI handis I is 1 Mic to direction of the luU bahi I 1 lie he came out of the c alco al alCO alrose CO rose COe e and 1 ly y tl II lie e 1 T reach rench window In Indo do doves dos s sHello whits Iloilo-whits Hello whits S titian t h he cold cald sharp Iv If his Ills c ee e en on the h broken glass lelow 1110 tl ll e a shattered 1 I rench win In Indo doss do dolie lie Ie r Ici Id ell eel up a n rice r Ilce of the labs las labs and examined d It Dale dears 1 1 1 I cr tl toot It was bre Jc ken n from II lie e c out outside Ide n a few Olin nun utes ago ngo as site lie silt J the llie lie outside tI tie lie e dens c the 1 I id ml pulled aside aide n a L hind and woe 11 out Into Inlo II tl e a dirl ness ts nd tad thin IllIn that letter was wac tl n lIc town lown In lu IIII I l a I Intel Int d lo to the II to missive she on 00 the center t tl It nd on Ich I It in s glinted Jh lIu d 1111 onh It hilt Idid It down n All 11 hue ten 1111 wire He qUid quid und nut sure ooh cure eo sure h I I Ith the I rf f cT efTe emit 11 It II Il in fit lie he said In a n calm calm ole that held n a glint ct f humor Curious the anonymous letter complex comple 1 I o nth come some one considers you vou an unde Ie tenant I IMI I Ml MI s Cornelia Cornella took look up lip the tale Hide I 1 lid e C are tome some things I 11 I u en n t tI fold I ild Sou ou set ct ct site Ie salt said This Tills Ilou house C I 1 c ed t to tI ll elate e a late Ilem I Ism leinIng tog Ing lie He glanced at I 1 cr er sharply h fl ri rt e lalon l nion bun batik I 1 lee I 1 rented It for the summer cummer and mosed d mo ed In lust lit s We base e l enot not had Ind n a really quiet since Ince I 1 carte Tho The sery ery c y first night I 1 SJ saw a aman aman man with nn en electric flashlight mal mak makIng lag Ine his lifs nay wiy through that shrubbery 1 I ou sou poor I from Dale And you iou ou were ere here alone 1 I W ell Uell ell I 1 had hud J f Izzie nd tad sold Miss lIss Cornelia Cornella with lIh enormous Importance the dra drawer er of Cf the center table I 1 Ind hlll ro mi my rc ol rc 01 r I 1 know knots so little about these thee thc c things s Mr Andl Andirson r son con that If I didn t hit lilt a burglar I 1 new nets I Id d hit somebody or something I and sic sl e g gaped with lIh innocent awe n III dl rc do down n the muzzle mu of her belo I cJ dweir we-uron we on th then ell wa It with ith in air gesture beneath tI tic Ile e e 8 nose Anderson guise ga a ae e an start then then lIs 1 I is s eyes s 's lit up with Ith grim IID mirth 11 1 you mind I utting that i away uny u ny i 1 I e said salt ely 1 I III Ill e a to 10 iet Id IdIn etIn In the papers as ns much as ns I ut at utI ati I don dons dont t tant wont want to e base item tiem tI em say omit ay flo flowers floer er Mss Miss lIs Cornelis ga e u e him a 0 glare of offended but he lie endured It with w such quilt that site she meic-ly meic mele- mele ly Iy replaced the re oher In the drawer with Ith a n hurt expression an and J waited ailed for tor him to open pen the next nest folic of cons con conversation He lie cd ell I lis Is preliminary sun sursey ey of ll tI l e a room and returned to I 1 eross er oss o jou OU s sty Iy y you iou ou dont don t any 1 ody has lias got sot upstairs Sett et tie Ie queried lI Miss s Cornelia Comella regarded d tl tI c e e stairs I thin think not I in m a aery ery sery ery light sleep e r e since Ince the r raters nt ers ha base hae ha e ben been so co 0 full of f the exploits of this criminal ti II ley y ey call the Bat lIe lies s to In them again tonight the Hie 1 he e smiled faintly cs 1 Its hues he cs-he lie s contrived cd lo to su ronn I 1111 such an nn air of m masters stU that It verge serges in to n the uI or seems ems tha that t w-uy w wi 1 to new ness st I nl al er ermen ermen men menI 1 I conr confess admitted Miss lIs e 1 Ise e thought of him in this connection tion She he looked at nt Andiron Anderson r on to see ce I ow uw he would take lake the luJ elIe n L I ut ll t merely stalled smiled again this time line c 1 s nether r n a lon long w ly my for fort tori t theory I Ie e call all sal nd tad tin the Lilt Lat h I ot of In tI 11 lie e a ll habl of gl gluing warnings warnings inn 1011 cnn can al always tell lell wl sl I en rn the lint h us husI lad I ad 1111 an thing to do with a u crime crime lui Illi W 1 t n he lie s s through I Ie e Ign signs 1 I is name Dame to 10 It Miss Conn ollie lla cat holt halt ui right ills name I 1 III t nc knew I Is name TI II Tie e a detective c nude rinde m n a little lithe of Hut list t tas was as a fi figure fiUre ure of ct ci etch 1 he newel aimed n him himlie tI 11 e a ll tat because he lie moved ruo with lIh In inere crp 1 I 1 ble ule al alwa's a s at night and nid by signing Ills hiss nine inroe I 1 mean he t Ten Tens leases s the s s ml 01 of or his Ills Identity 1 the he bat shish cm caa se si c e to in the dirk dark I 1 wl Ih li I could said Miss lIss Cornelia |