"I'd better get the smelling
salts," she said heavily. "God knows I hate to move, but if there's
one place safer in this house than another, I've yet to find it."
She went out, leaving Dale alone. The trunk room was dark, save
that now and then as the candle appeared and reappeared the doorway
was faintly outlined. On this outline she kept her eyes fixed, by
way of comfort, and thus passed the next few moments. She felt
weak and dizzy and entirely despairing.
Then--the outline was not so clear. She had heard nothing but
there was something in the doorway. It stood there, formless,
diabolical, and then she saw what was happening. It was closing
the door. Afterward she was mercifully not to remember what came
next; the figure was perhaps intent on what was going on outside,
or her own movements may have been as silent as its own. That she
got into the mantel-room and even partially closed it behind her
is certain, and that her description of what followed is fairly
accurate is borne out by the facts as known.
The Bat was working rapidly. She heard his quick, nervous movements;
apparently he had come back for something and secured it, for now
he moved again toward the door. But he was too late; they were
returning that way. She heard him mutter something and quickly turn
the key in the lock. Then he seemed to run toward the window, and
for some reason to recoil from it.
The next instant she realized that he was coming toward the
mantel-room, that he intended to hide in it.
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