The Bat Page #4

That'd be like robbing

the family tomb.

You think he wouldn't?

Well, besides, Vick

Bailey's fingerprints

are all over the vault.

They didn't find any

of uncle John's fingerprints.

Because he wiped them off.

Can the defense prove that.

They'll try to.

Judie Holland had Bailey's

secretary as a defense witness.

And they believe her

testimony will have

a powerful effect on the jury.

Well, she has a

powerful effect on me.

Judie's a doll.

Here's the book you

mentioned, judie.

Your newest one.

Yes, it's just been published.

You can have that

copy if you wish.

Oh, it's a first edition

and you've signed it.

Yes, of course.

Thank you so much.

May I serve tea

now, Ms. Van Gorder?

Yes, please do, Warner.

I see you've

engaged new servants.

Yes, of course.

How did you persuade them

to live in this house?

Jane Patterson,

my new housekeeper,

knows this house better

than you do, doctor.

She worked for John Fleming.

And Warner was my chauffeur.

Chauffeur turned butler?

It's incredible.

He can play any part

at a moment's notice.

Did you-- did you get

a plumber, Warner?

Warner:
No, we can't get a

plumber for three days, madame.

What about that leaking pipe?

The basement will be

flooded in three days.

The pipe is no longer leaking.

You mean it's dried

up of its own accord?

Not quite, I packed the elbow

where the water was coming up.

Packed the elbow?

Where did you learn

how to do that?

Into each life, a

little rain must fall.

And a careful man learns

to keep himself dry.

Now, is there anything that

you require, Miss Van Gorder?

No, not at the moment, Warner.

Thank you, madame.

Now, there's a character.

How long did you say that he

worked for you as chauffeur?

About three months.

Dr. Wells:
Well, I hope he

doesn't have a police record.

My dear Dale, it

may interest you

to know that the last night

of his life, John Fleming

told me that he loved

your husband like a son.

If Fleming were alive

today, he would be fighting

to prove Vick's innocence.

Could Mr. Fleming

prove his own innocence?

Miss Van Gorder, can there

be any doubt about it?

There will be when Ms. Holland

testifies at Vick's trial.

Oh?

You know something that we

haven't heard yet, judie?

Something I saw

with my own eyes.

She's not permitted

to say what it was.

My dear girl, I wouldn't

think of asking her.

But let's assume for

a moment that Fleming

did steal the million.

Now, what would he do about it?

Where is it?

Hidden some place

where he could

lay his hands on it without

getting caught in the act.

Now, if I was

writing this instead

of living in the

middle of it, I'd

hide it right here in

this spooky old house.

Under a loose floorboard

or up a chimney?

If Mr. Fleming had the

nerve to steal a million,

he'd make his plans

well in advance.

I'd say he'd prepare

a place to hide it,

possibly when this

house was being built.

I rented this place from

mark Fleming, his nephew.

I wonder-- I wonder if

he'd have the floor plans.

I'll ask him.

Yes.

Lizzie, will you bring

Mrs. Bailey the phone?

You ask him now.

His number is summit--

Summit-- 7537.

Thank you, Lizzie.

Summit?

Cordelia Van Gorder: 7537.

Not bad, hey, Andy?

That means new business.

Now, you see?

Somebody wants to buy a house.

Mark Fleming speaking.

Oh, hello, Dale.

Well, hang on a minute, honey,

while I see if I have it.

It's Dale Bailey all excited.

Ms. Van Gorder wants

to know if I have

the floor plans of the Oaks.

Now, what would she want

ith the floor plans?

Well, she suggested to me

that your uncle might have

hidden the bank loot there.

Are the plans here?

Somewhere in the house

itself-- wait a minute.

There is a place where

uncle Johnny might

have kept those blueprints.

What place?

Well, I heard him talk about

it a good many years ago.

I can't be sure of

the exact location.

Anyway, I don't think

the old boy had the guts

to steal a million.

But if I find those plans,

I'll let you know, Andy.

Hello, Dale?

Look, honey, I haven't seen

those plans since I was a kid.

But I'll come over tonight,

and maybe we can find them.

Thank you, mark.

We'll expect you.

He seems to think they're

here in the house somewhere.

He's coming over tonight.

Well, that's good.

Dale and judie are my house

guests for the weekend.

Would you like to have

dinner with us tonight?

Oh, no thank you, I couldn't.

I still have a

few calls to make.

You know, if Judy's testimony

is going to clear Vick Bailey

and implicate John

Fleming, others

may get the idea that there's

buried treasure in this house.

Don't even mention

your testimony

until you're actually

on the stand.

Oh, I won't.

That's a smart girl, judie,

and a very lovely girl.

Well, good afternoon, ladies.

Doctor.

Goodbye, Dr. Wells.

Come on, girls, let's go.

Cordelia Van Gorder:

So many unusual things

have happened here this summer.

The more I think

about it, the more

I realize I should be

putting them down on paper.

Weren't you your

husband's secretary, Dale?

Yes, I was.

Do you take shorthand?

Mm-hm.

Well, my dear, if you'd like

to have your mind occupied,

I want you to work

with me while I

write the story of this

fantastic criminal, the Bat.

Wonderful dinner.

Thank you.

It was really nice.

It was a good dinner,

Lizzie, as usual.

Wonderful.

Oh, what a lovely

piece of silver.

It's an original, isn't it?

Cordelia Van Gorder: Yes, the

still use them in england.

That clock hasn't struck the

hour in the last 10 years,

if I'm to believe what

mark Fleming told me.

Why is it angled away

from the wall like that?

I don't know.

Somebody must have moved it.

Lizzie, very like,

when she was dusting.

Wait a minute.

Did you know there's a

door in this paneling?

No, I didn't.

Oh, by gracious!

So there is!

Maybe it opens to

a secret passage.

Certainly to a

secret something!

Who knows, girls, we

may be about to stumble

on that missing million.

There's a panel.

There must be some

gimmick to it.

There always is.

Oh!

Officer:
Calling car

11, calling car 11.

Proceed to the Oaks in

Zenith township immediately.

A homicide has been reported.

Ok.

Proceeding to the Oaks.

Notify the county

coroner, Dr. Wells.

Tell him to come to

the Oaks at once.

Horrible.

It's as if his

throat had been torn

by some creature

with fans, or claws.

That's his sign.

We found it on the

others he killed.

I had hoped those reports that

he was up to his old tricks

again were pure imagination.

But apparently

they're based on fact.

He's come back, back to

the scene of his kills.

Yes, that's who I mean.

That's who did this, the Bat.

Who found mark?

We all did.

That is Dale, and judie, and I,

Lizzie was in the dining room.

This is my new housekeeper,

Jane Patterson.

You know, she worked

for John Fleming.

I know her.

Where were you, Mrs. Patterson?

In the kitchen cleaning up.

I cooked the dinner tonight.

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