The Bat Page #2

with an undertaker at this end.

Of course.

But where do we get a body?

Couldn't we provide

one of our own?

How about Sam?

Sam?

Our guide?

Sam weighs about

as much as I do.

He's practically a hermit.

He wouldn't be missed

for a long time.

The local undertaker

would know him.

Dr. hynes:
Not if we

made him look as if he'd

been in a serious accident.

But if Bailey's going

to take the blame, why

do you have to do this?

A jury might acquit him.

In that case, I'd be

a logical suspect.

I could disappear, of course.

But it's safer if

they think I'm dead.

What if I don't

go for this deal?

In that case, it

would be two bad.

You mean you'd kill me?

What else could I do?

Now that I've told

you about the million.

I'd say you were shot

in a hunting accident.

Now, look, doctor, it you

can find another body instead

of Sam's, it's

all right with me.

There's half a

million in it for you.

I'll do my best.

I smell smoke.

So do i. What's that noise?

Look, doctor!

The woods are on fire!

It's coming this way!

We've got to get out of here!

Out the back way!

We will, as soon as

I provide that body

we were talking about.

Oh, my goodness dear,

Lizzie, is that you?

Yes, Miss cordelia.

There's a storm coming up.

And it's going to be a snorter.

The wind nearly blew

the door off its hinges.

Well, that noise blew my

game higher than a kite.

I think I've lost

some of the cards.

Oh, I'll get them for you.

Oh, I see you've

found the paper.

Drat that paper boy,

scooting by on his bicycle,

just chucked it into a couple

bushes and let it go at that.

For land's sake, Mr. Vick

Bailey's been arrested.

Oh?

Right there.

Victor Bailey, vice president

and cashier of the Zenith bank,

was arraigned before united

states commissioner Alvin

fielding charged with the

embezzlement of over $1

million.

I can't believe Vick

Bailey had anything

to do with that robbery.

Oh, well, I see our

landlord is home again.

Landlord?

Mr. Fleming, Dr. Malcolm

Wells is back in town

with the body of John

Fleming, president

of the Zenith bank, who was

killed in a forest fire.

Mr. Fleming will be laid to rest

in his family's tomb on Friday.

And I hope he stays there.

Why shouldn't he?

Well, this is his house.

And ever since he

died, some funny things

have happened here.

For instance?

The housekeeper, the

cook, and the butler

said that they heard

strange noises at night.

And the upstairs

maid swore that she

met a man without a face

coming up the back stairs.

Oh, so that's why they

quit and left me to run

this place without a staff.

They didn't tell

you, Ms. Corny.

But the truth is, they

were scared to stay.

But you're still here, Lizzie.

Haven't you seen anything?

No, no, and even if I had,

I ain't afraid of ghosts.

They're afraid of me.

Honest, Ms. Corny,

a spiritualist

told me once that ghosts

was allergic to me.

But-- but this Bat

feller they keep

talking about in the paper,

I-- I guess he'd be different.

I don't think you would

have the same effect on him.

Oh dear.

What are they trying

to do, drive people away

from this part of the country?

Why?

What does it say about the Bat?

His specialty seems to be

killing women-- my goodness,

two of them in one night.

All his victims

died the same way,

like their throats had been

ripped open with steel claws.

Well, that's a

charming little caper.

I'll have to try it sometime.

In a book.

That aint' nothing,

just something

bumping against the house.

That's just the

wind banging a door.

Pay no attention to it.

Listen to this, one of his

victims who lived for a moment

after she was found,

described the Bat as a man

without a face.

Honest, Ms. Corny,

I think that woman

must have been exaggerating.

That's just that heavy tapestry

at the top of the stairs.

I know.

I know.

I've heard it before

on a windy night.

But that sounds as if there

was someone on the stairs.

I know there isn't, at

least there shouldn't be.

There ain't.

Them's just the noises

you here in any old house

on a windy night.

It says here that the Bat

never leaves no fingerprints.

That's understandable.

Having no face, he probably

has no fingers either.

Lizzie!

And that, I suppose, is the

cat dropping its dentures?

No, no, I don't think so.

But I think it's something

should be looked into.

Now, who chucked him down here?

The wind, I hope.

There must be a

window open up there.

No, Lizzie!

Let him lay.

Let him sleep it off.

I hope the power lines don't

go down, put the lights out.

We'll check the windows

in the living room,

and drawn the curtains,

and then we'll go to bed.

Yes, ma'am.

I won't be a minute.

Ms. Corny!

What was that?

Oh, when I went to get the

paper, I turned the latch off.

I forgot to turn it on again.

He's out there.

He was coming in.

He might have got you.

Oh, but he didn't.

And he's still out

there, thanks to you.

Now, you hurry now, and

we'll call the police.

No, no, I won't

leave you, Ms. Corny.

Are you ok?

Yes, ma'am, I'm ok.

Ok.

Operator:
Operator?

Give me the police

department, please.

Officer:
Zenith

police department.

This is Cornelia Van Gorder.

I'm living at the Oaks.

We know about that,

Ms. Van Gorder.

Just a moment ago, a man

tried to force his way

into this house.

Officer:
You're not

alone there, are you?

What about your servants?

Well, I have none

except my chauffeur.

And he's away.

He won't be back

until the morning.

Now, there's only two

of us here tonight.

And we're going to lock

ourselves in my room.

Now, uh, if-- if any of

your men see anything,

will you have them call me?

Officer:
I'll send officers

over there right away.

Well, thank you very much.

Come on, Lizzie.

We're going to sleep in my room.

Well, nothing can get at us in

this room now, I don't think.

This door seems good and solid.

Like the door to a tomb.

Uh, I think that couch

will be comfortable.

There's some extra bedding,

you know, in the closet.

Let's see now.

Oh, uh-huh, no bolt.

Well, that's not so good.

What's that for?

That, my good woman,

is a boobie trap.

If anybody tries to

open this transom,

this'll be knocked off.

And we'll hear it fall.

Oh, fiddlesticks, I forgot my

night things, my robe, my gown,

and my slippers.

I'll go get them now.

Now, wait a minute, Lizzie.

I'll go with you--

Now don't you

bother, Ms. Cornelia.

My room's just down the hall.

Cornelia Van Gorder:

Lizzie, I told you to wait!

It's all right.

I'll only be a second.

Get in here!

Get in here!

Yes?

Officer:
Miss Van Gorder?

Yes.

Officer:
Zenith

police department.

There's a police car

just outside your house.

And the officers

in it have reported

that there's no sign

of a prowler anywhere

well, the man's inside now!

He's in the hall just

outside my bedroom!

Have your men break

through the kitchen door

and search this place

from top to bottom.

Officer:
Ok, Ms. Van

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