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Lizzie groaned "I told you so," she wailed "I knew sos all over the house today, and the ouija-board spelled Bat!"

The detective recovered his poise "I think I see the answer to your puzzle, Miss Van Gorder," he said, with a scornful glance at Lizzie "A hysterical and not very reliable woo back to the city and terrified over and over by the shutting off of the electric lights"

If looks could slay, his characterization of Lizzie would have laid him dead at her feet at that instant Miss Van Gorder considered his theory

"I wonder," she said

The detective rubbed his hands together an, but the irrepressible Lizzie interrupted hi to bed, are we?" she said, with her eyes as big as saucers

He gave her a kindly pat on the shoulder, which she obviously resented

"You'll feel better in the ," he said "Lock your door and say your prayers, and leave the rest toinaudible and rebellious, but now Miss Cornelia added her protestations to his

"That's very good advice," she said decisively "You take her, Dale"

Reluctantly, with a dragging of feet and scared glances cast back over her shoulder, Lizzie allowed herself to be draard the door and the main staircase by Dale But she did not depart without one Parthian shot

"I' arm helped her out into the hall "Do you think I want to wake up in theof the stairs, and Dale's soothing voice reassuring her as she painfully clambered toward the third floor, announced that Lizzie, for some time at least, had been re equation of Cedarcrest

Anderson confronted Miss Cornelia with certain relief

"There are certain things I want to discuss with you, Miss Van Gorder," he said "But they can wait until tolanced about the roo

"Do you think all this--pure iination?" she said

"Don't you?"

She hesitated "I'o upstairs and go to bed comfortably I'll make a careful search of the house before I settle down, and if I find anything at all suspicious, I'll pro the Jap out for ht of her own comfortable bed appealed to her so much But, in spite of her weariness, she could not quite resign herself to take Lizzie's story as lightly as the detective seemed to