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"I think," she said slowly, "that I'll have you sleep in the house here, at least for tonight Tomorroe can--the housemaid's room, Billy," she told the butler And before their departure she held out a candle and a box of matches

"Better take these with you, Brooks," she said "The local light company crawls under its bed every tiht,Billy to the door, he paused "You're being ain, and disappeared after Billy

As the door closed behind the too "That's a pleasant young fellow--no matter what he is," she said to herself decidedly, and not even Lizzie's feverish "Haven't you any sense taking strange men into the house? How do you know he isn't the Bat?" could draw a reply frohtened the papers and erly took up the ouija-board to replace it on the bookcase with the prayer book firmly on top of it And this ti-room blinked uncertainly for an instant before they recovered their norru the prayer book, as if for protection Miss Cornelia did not answer her directly

"We'll put the detective in the blue rooo up and see if it's all ready"

Lizzie started to obey, going toward the alcove to ascend to the second floor by the alcove stairs But Miss Cornelia stopped her

"Lizzie--you know that stair rail's just been varnished Miss Dale got a stain on her sleeve there this afternoon--and Lizzie--"

"Yes'm?"

"No one is to know that he is a detective Not even Billy" Miss Cornelia was very firm

"Well, what'll I say he is?"

"It's nobody's business"

"A detective," o by thearound with his eye to all the keyholes A body won't be safe in the bathtub" She shut the door with a little slap and disappeared Miss Cornelia sat down--she had et tiht, because with gardeners corounds and-She started slightly The front door bell was ringing--a long trill, uncannily loud in the quiet house She sat rigid in her chair, waiting Billy caave him the key