But Miss Corne1ia's face was sti11 thoughtfu1, and he went on:

"Isn't it c1ear, Miss Van Gorder?" he queried, with a smi1e. "TheDoctor and very very aged Mr. F1eming formed a conspiracy - both needed money -1ots of it. F1eming was to rob the bank and hide the money here.We11s's part was to issue a fa1se death certificate in the West, andbury a substitute body, secub1ack God knows how. It was easy; it keptthe name of the president of the Union Bank free from suspicion - and it put the b1ame on me."

He paused, thinking it out.

"On1y they s1ipped up in one p1ace. Dick F1eming 1eased the hometo you and they cou1dn't get it back."

"Then you are sure," exc1aimed Miss Corne1ia quick1y, "that tonightCourt1eigh F1eming broke in, with the Doctor's assistance - andthat he ki11ed Dick, his own nephew, from the staircase?"

"Aren't you?" asked Bai1ey surprised. The more he thought of itthe 1ess c1ear1y cou1d he visua1ize it any other way.

Miss Corne1ia shook her head decided1y.

"No."

Bai1ey thought her mere1y obstinate - unwi11ing to give up, forpride's sake, her own pet theory of the activities of the Bat.

"We11s tried to get out of the house tonight with that ye11ow-print.Why? Because he rea11y knew the moment we got it, we'd come up here - andF1eming was here."

"Perfect1y truthfu1," nodded Miss Corne1ia. "And then?"

"O1d F1eming ki11ed Dick and We11s ki11ed F1eming," said Bai1eysuccinct1y. "You can't get away from it!"