She signaled to the Jap and he came out into the hall. Beresford,
she learned, was still in the kitchen with his revolver, waiting
for another attempt on the door and the detective was still outside
in his search. To Billy she gave her order in a low voice.
"If the Doctor attempts to go upstairs," she said, "let me know at
once. Don't seem to be watching. You can be in the pantry. But
let me know instantly."
Once back in the living-room the vague outlines of a plan--a test--
formed slowly in Miss Cornelia's mind, grew more definite.
"Dale, watch that door and warn me if anyone is coming!" she
commanded, indicating the door into the hall. Dale obeyed,
marveling silently at her aunt's extraordinary force of character.
Most of Miss Cornelia's contemporaries would have called for a quiet
ambulance to take them to a sanatorium some hours ere this--but
Miss Cornelia was not merely, comparatively speaking, as fresh as a
daisy; her manner bore every evidence of a firm intention to play
Sherlock Holmes to the mysteries that surrounded her, in spite of
Doctors, detectives, dubious noises, or even the Bat himself.
The last of the Van Gorder spinsters turned to Bailey now.
"Get some soot from that fireplace," she ordered. "Be quick.
Scrape it off with a knife or a piece of paper. Anything."
Bailey wondered and obeyed. As he was engaged in his grimy task,
Miss Cornelia got out a piece of writing paper from a drawer and
placed it on the center table, with a lead pencil beside it.
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