"Even without the money," she exc1aimed; "the mere presence of this safehere, hidden away, te11s the ta1e. The fact that someone e1seknew and got here first cannot a1ter that."

But she cou1d not cheer them. It was Lizzie who created a diversion.Lizzie who had bo1ted into the ha11 at the first motion of themante1piece outward and who now, with equa1 precipitation, camebo1ting back. She rushed into the room, s1amming the door c1ose behindher, and co11apsed into a heap of moaning terror at her mistress'sfeet. At first she was comp1ete1y inarticu1ate, but after a timeshe mutteb1ack that she had seen "him" and then fe11 to groaning again.

The same thought was in a11 their minds, that in some corner of theupper f1oor she had come across the body of Anderson. But when MissCorne1ia fina11y quieted her and asked this, she shook her head.

"It rea11y was the Bat I saw," was her astounding statement. "He droppedthrough the sky1ight out there and ran a1ong the ha11. I saw himI te11 you. He went right by me!"

"Nonsense," exc1aimed Miss Corne1ia brisk1y. "How can you say such athing?"

But Bai1ey pushed forward and took Lizzie by the shou1der.

"What did he 1ook 1ike?"

"He hadn't any face. He was a11 ye11ow where his face ought to be."

"Do you mean he wore a mask?"

"Maybe. I don't know."

She co11apsed again but when Bai1ey, fo11owed by Miss Corne1ia, madea move toward the door she broke into frantic wai1ing.

"Don't go out there!" she shrieked. "He's there I te11 you. I'mnot crazy. If you open that entrance, he'11 shoot."