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"We have had a very sad occurrence here, Doctor," said Miss Cornelia gently

The Doctor braced hiasped the Doctor in tones of incredulous horror

"Shot and killed from that staircase," said Miss Cornelia tonelessly

The detective denificant omission

The Doctor knelt beside the huddle on the floor He removed the fold of the raincoat that covered the face of the corpse and stared at the dead, blank ht of his irritation with Bailey, he had been blithe and offhand--a e see dust--he looked stricken and feeble under the impact of this unexpected shock

"Shot and killed from that stairway," he repeated dully He rose frolanced at the fatal stairs

"What was Richard Fle in this house at this hour?" he said

He spoke to Miss Cornelia but Anderson answered the question

"That's what I' to find out," he said with a saturnine save him a look of astonished inquiry Miss Cornelia remembered her manners

"Doctor, this is Mr Anderson"

"Headquarters," said Anderson tersely, shaking hands

It was Lizzie's turn to play her part in the tangled game of mutual suspicion that by now made each member of the party at Cedarcrest watch every other member with nervous distrust She crossed to her mistress on tiptoe

"Don't you let him fool you with any of thather thumb in the direction of the Doctor "He's the Bat"

Ordinarily Miss Cornelia would have dismissed her words with a sun to revolve like a pinwheel in her efforts to fathoht

She addressed Doctor Wells

"I didn't tell you, Doctor--I sent for a detective this afternoon" Then, withsuspicion, "You happened in very opportunely!"

"After I left the Johnsons' I felt very uneasy," he explained "I deteret you away from this house As this shows--my fears were justified!"

He shook his head sadly Miss Cornelia sat down His last words had given her food for thought She wanted to mull them over for a moment

The Doctor removed muffler and topcoat--stuffed the former in his topcoat pocket and threw the latter on the settee He took out his handkerchief and began to mop his face, as if to wipe away so His breath came quickly--the muscles of his jaw stood out