The Doctor hesitated. The call came again. "Dale! Dale!" and
Bailey pounded on the door as if he meant to break it down.
The Doctor made up his mind.
"Wait a moment!" he called. He stepped to the door and unlocked it.
Bailey hurled himself into the room, followed by Miss Cornelia with
her candle. Lizzie stood in the doorway, timidly, ready to leap
for safety at a moment's notice.
"Why did you lock that door?" said Bailey angrily, threatening the
Doctor.
"But I didn't," said the latter, truthfully enough. Bailey made a
movement of irritation. Then a glance about the room informed him
of the amazing, the incredible fact. Dale was not there! She had
disappeared!
"You--you," he stammered at the Doctor. "Where's Miss Ogden? What
have you done with her?"
The Doctor was equally baffled.
"Done with her?" he said indignantly. "I don't know what you're
talking about, I haven't seen her!"
"Then you didn't lock that door?" Bailey menaced him.
The Doctor's denial was firm.
"Absolutely not. I was coming through the window when I heard your
voice at the door!"
Bailey's eyes leaped to the window--yes--a ladder was there--
the Doctor might be speaking the truth after all. But if so, how
and why had Dale disappeared?
The Doctor's admission of his manner of entrance did not make
Lizzie any the happier.
"In at the window--just like a bat!" she muttered in shaking
tones. She would not have stayed in the doorway if she had not
been afraid to move anywhere else.
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