At first she was completely inarticulate, but after a time
she muttered that she had seen "him" and then fell to groaning again.
The same thought was in all their minds, that in some corner of the
upper floor she had come across the body of Anderson. But when Miss
Cornelia finally quieted her and asked this, she shook her head.
"It was the Bat I saw," was her astounding statement. "He dropped
through the skylight out there and ran along the hall. I saw him
I tell you. He went right by me!"
"Nonsense," said Miss Cornelia briskly. "How can you say such a
thing?"
But Bailey pushed forward and took Lizzie by the shoulder.
"What did he look like?"
"He hadn't any face. He was all black where his face ought to be."
"Do you mean he wore a mask?"
"Maybe. I don't know."
She collapsed again but when Bailey, followed by Miss Cornelia, made
a move toward the door she broke into frantic wailing.
"Don't go out there!" she shrieked. "He's there I tell you. I'm
not crazy. If you open that door, he'll shoot."
But the door was already open and no shot came. With the departure
of Bailey and Miss Cornelia, and the resulting darkness due to their
taking the candle, Lizzie and Dale were left alone. The girl was
faint with disappointment and strain; she sat huddled on a trunk,
saying nothing, and after a moment or so Lizzie roused to her
condition.
"Not feeling sick, are you?" she asked.
"I feel a little queer."
"Who wouldn't in the dark here with that monster loose somewhere near
by?" But she stirred herself and got up.
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