Free Mary Roberts Rinehart & Avery Hopwood by The Bat

substituted for good ones—with a good bond on the top and bottom
of each package, so the packages would pass a casual inspection.
Probably been going on for some time."
    The fingers of Dale's right hand drummed restlessly on the edge of her
settee.
    "Couldn't somebody else have done it?" she queried tensely.
    The Doctor smiled, a trifle patronizingly.
    "Of course the president of the bank had access to the vaults," he
said. "But, as you know, Mr. Courtleigh Fleming, the late president,
was buried last Monday."
    Miss Cornelia had seen her niece's face light up oddly at the beginning
of the Doctor's statement—to relapse into lassitude again at its
conclusion. Bailey—Bailey—she was sure she remembered that name—on
Dale's lips.
    "Dale, dear, did you know this young Bailey?" she asked point-blank.
    The girl had started to light a cigarette. The flame wavered in her
fingers, the match went out.
    "Yes—slightly," she said. She bent to strike another match, averting
her face. Miss Cornelia did not press her.
    "What with bank robberies and communism and the income tax," she said,
turning the subject, "the only way to keep your money these days is to
spend it."
    "Or not to have any—like myself!" the Doctor agreed.
    "It seems strange," Miss Cornelia went on, "living in Courtleigh
Fleming's house. A month ago I'd never even heard of Mr.
Fleming—though I suppose I should have—and now—why, I'm as
interested in the failure of his bank as if I were a depositor!"
    The Doctor regarded the end of his cigarette.
    "As a matter of fact," he said pleasantly, "Dick Fleming had no right
to rent you the property before the estate was settled. He must have
done it the moment he received my telegram announcing his uncle's
death."
    "Were you with him when he died?"
    "Yes—in Colorado. He had angina pectoris and took me with him for
that reason. But with care he might have lived a considerable time.
The trouble was that he wouldn't use ordinary care. He ate and drank
more than he should, and so—"
    "I suppose," pursued Miss Cornelia, watching Dale out of the corner of
her eye, "that there is no suspicion that Courtleigh Fleming robbed his
own bank?"
    "Well, if he did," said the Doctor amicably, "I can testify that he
didn't have the loot with him." His tone grew more serious. "No! He
had his faults—but not that."
    Miss Cornelia made up her mind. She had resolved before not to summon
the Doctor for aid in her difficulties, but now that chance had brought
him here the opportunity seemed too good a one to let slip.
    "Doctor," she said, "I think I ought to tell you something. Last night
and the night before, attempts were made to enter this house. Once an
intruder actually got in and was frightened away by Lizzie at the top
of that staircase." She indicated the alcove stairs. "And twice I have
received anonymous communications threatening my life if I did not
leave the house and go back to the city."
    Dale rose from her settee, startled.
    "I didn't know that, Auntie! How dreadful!" she gasped.
    Instantly Miss Cornelia regretted her impulse of confidence. She tried
to pass the matter off with tart humor.
    "Don't tell Lizzie," she said. "She'd yell like a siren. It's the
only thing she does like a siren, but she does it superbly!"
    For a moment it seemed as if Miss Cornelia had succeeded. The Doctor
smiled; Dale sat down again, her expression altering from one of
anxiety to one of amusement. Miss Cornelia opened her lips to dilate
further upon Lizzie's eccentricities.
    But just then there was a splintering crash of glass from one of the
French windows behind her!

Chapter Six - Detective Anderson Takes Charge
*
    "What's that?"
    "Somebody smashed a windowpane!"
    "And threw in a stone!"
    "Wait a minute, I'll—" The Doctor, all alert at once, ran into the
alcove and jerked at the terrace door.
    "It's bolted at the top, too," called Miss Cornelia. He nodded,
without wasting words on a reply, unbolted the door and dashed out into
the darkness