The Bat Page #5

Did you know that this

secret closet was here?

No, it was behind the

grandfather's clock.

Well, it was I who

found it, really.

I noticed the clock

had been moved.

And the door wasn't

quite closed.

I'll get it.

Who is it?

Mark Fleming.

As coroner, you saw the

same wounds on the others.

How long has he been dead?

Oh, I'd say about

a half an hour.

Do you believe it was the Bat?

That's the Bat's trademark.

Perhaps he's

still in the house.

It's possible.

Why should he be?

Because he's looking for

something, and like you,

he believes it's here.

And he's a persistent killer.

I would advise you

get out of this house

as quickly as possible, not

withstanding our expert police

protection.

Have you called the morgue?

They're on their way here.

Oh, good, I want to examine

the body before they get here.

May we take it

into another room?

Yes, to the sun

room in the back.

Thank you, give me a hand.

Excuse me.

Oh, Warner, where have you been?

Well, madame it--

There's been an accident?

There's been a murder.

Mark Fleming, the young man

from whom I leased this place,

was killed here tonight.

They know who did it?

Well, they-- they

believe it was the Bat.

I'm sorry I had to use the

front door, Miss Van Gorder.

Bu I forgot my keys, and when

I rang the bell at the kitchen

door, there was no response.

Oh, this is Warner, Lieutenant.

He's my butler.

He was my chauffeur.

Why'd you promote him?

Well, it's very difficult

to find a butler.

They don't like

service in the country.

Have you been a butler before?

I've served in many

capacities, sir.

But this was my night

off, and I forgot my keys.

I heard that part.

What time did you leave

the house tonight?

Oh, about 6:
30.

I had dinner at

wiley's roadhouse.

Can you prove where you

spent the rest of the evening?

I can try.

Try hard.

And don't leave the house.

I'll get to you later.

Very good, sir.

I shall be in my room, Miss

Van Gorder, if you need me.

Yes, Warner.

Surely, you don't think he's--

Warner and I have met before.

I can't recall where or when.

But I will.

There will be a crew here

shortly from headquarters,

dusting for fingerprints,

taking photographs.

But in the meantime,

Mrs. Patterson,

you aren't leaving the

house tonight are you?

No, Lieutenant.

Don't, I'll talk to

you in the morning.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, sir.

Goodnight.

Dale, I was with mark

Fleming this afternoon

when you talked to him about

the floor plans of this house.

I heard him tell you he

was coming here tonight.

Dale called him at my request.

She told me he was coming.

Who else heard

her tell you that?

Judie, Lizzie.

And that nice Dr. Wells.

Dr. Wells?

There are few killers who

kill for the fun of it.

The Bat very likely

is a mental case.

And I'm convinced that his

crimes are by his person gain.

There's a million

dollars at large.

And he's going to

keep on hunting for it

until he lays his hands on it.

Now, these young ladies

are staying here tonight?

Yes, they're my house guests.

Well, when my crew arrives,

we'll be busy for a while.

So I'd suggest that--

That we go to our rooms?

That's a very good idea.

Come on, girls.

What a police guard for this

house tonight, Lieutenant?

You've got one.

I'm going to cover

this place tonight

from the attic to the basement.

If the Bat makes

another call, I'll

have a little surprise for him.

Who, uh-- who is he?

Have you any idea?

He could be anybody.

So far, there are

clues to his identity,

but nothing we could

take before a jury.

I am afraid we must look

higher than the criminal world.

He may be a merchant,

lawyer, doctor, scientist,

one of the pillars

of his community.

Ladies, lock your doors tonight.

Stay behind them.

I promise you you'll be safe.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, Lieutenant.

Poor mark.

Yeah, it's a pity.

So young.

Well, doctor, do you

agree it was the Bat?

In my report, I

shall say the death

was caused by the

same technique used

in the other killings, a

paralyzing blow to the throat,

followed by a severe

lacerations of the jugular,

resulting in

excessive hemorrhage.

In a layman's language, he

didn't know what hit him.

Oh, he knew, but he didn't

have time to think about it.

You staying here tonight, Andy?

Well, until I check

the doors and windows.

But I'll be back bright

and early in the morning.

Neither snow, nor rain,

nor heat, nor gloom of night

stays these couriers

from the swift completion

of their appointed rounds.

A lot of people are due for a

shock when I close this case.

Yes, I'm sure they are.

Goodnight, Andy, don't get hurt.

Goodnight, doctor.

You know, I think we'd

better let get some sleep.

Oh, well Lizzie and

I share this room

for mutual protection.

You know, one night, a

storm blew the wires down,

put the lights out.

And I went out the next day

and bought a half a dozen

of these things.

You better take

one with you, Dale.

Oh, thank you.

We'll go across the hall.

Are you sure there's

nothing else you need?

Quite sure, we'll be all right.

Well, if anything bothers

you, you just sing out.

And two strong women

will come to your rescue.

Oh, nothing will bother us,

not with Andy on the job.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Don't worry, everything

will be all right.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Come on, Lizzie.

I don't think

I'll sleep tonight.

Me neither.

All I can see is poor

mark Fleming staring at us.

I thought that when people died

their eyes closed, as in sleep.

Don't think about it.

I bet you're thinking about it.

No, I was thinking of my

poor husband sleeping in jail

tonight.

Oh, judie, I love him so much.

What's that noise?

Oh, I don't know.

I kind of fell half asleep.

For a moment, I thought it

was something from a dream.

It's somewhere in the house.

Yes, on the floor above,

not directly over us,

probably a room

overlooking the driveway.

Should we call Ms. Van Gorder?

She'll hear it.

How can she help but hear it?

Besides, we don't want

her to think we're

a couple of hysterical women.

I'm about to become one.

I've had it for one night.

Dale, you're not going

out in that hall.

I want to know what's

happening up there.

But Lieutenant

Anderson said if we

stayed behind our locked

doors, we'd be safe.

Vick isn't safe

locked up in that jail.

Suppose that stolen

money is in this house.

Mark Fleming seemed

to think it was.

Maybe that's what

somebody's looking for.

Oh, for heaven's

sake, don't you

hear that awful noise up there?

Now, Lizzie!

You've just got to stay awake!

The house phone and the outside

phone wires have been cut!

And we can't get help!

Where's that policeman?

Oh, I don't know.

Something must have

happened to him.

Now, go on.

Get on your robe.

Oh, Dale, please

don't go up there.

I've got to.

Think what it

could mean to Vick.

Now you stay here.

Oh no, if you go, I go.

You stay here.

No, no--

You wait here.

I'm going to see what it is.

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