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gasped：
〃What … what do you mean？ What do you mean by that？〃
〃I only told you my name；〃 Dunn answered。 〃What's wrong with it？〃
Doubtful and afraid； Deede Dawson stood hesitant。 His forehead had
become very damp； and he wiped it with a nervous gesture。
〃Is that your name … your real name？〃 he muttered。
〃Never had another that I know of；〃 Dunn answered。
Deede Dawson sat down again on the chair。 He was still plainly
very disturbed and shaken； and Ella seemed scarcely less agitated；
though Dunn； watching them both very keenly； noticed that she was
now looking at Deede Dawson with a somewhat strange expression and
with an air as though his extreme excitement puzzled her and made
her … afraid。
〃Nothing wrong with the name； is there？〃 Dunn muttered again。
〃No； no；〃 Deede Dawson answered。 〃No。 It's merely a coincidence；
that's all。 A coincidence； I suppose； Ella？〃
Ella did not answer。 Her expression was very troubled and full of
doubt as she stood looking from her stepfather to Dunn and back
again。
〃It's only that your name happens to be the same as that of a friend
of ours … a great friend of my daughter's；〃 Deede Dawson said as
though he felt obliged to offer some explanation。 〃That's all … a
coincidence。 It startled me for the moment。〃 He laughed。 〃That's
all。 Well； my man； it happens there is something I can make you
useful in。 If you do prove useful and do what I tell you； perhaps
you may get let off。 I might even keep you on in a job。 I won't
say I will； but I might。 You look a likely sort of fellow for work；
and I daresay you aren't any more dishonest than most people。 Funny
how things happen … quite a coincidence； your name。 Well； come on；
it's that packing…case you saw in the attic upstairs。 I want you
to help me downstairs with that … Charley Wright。〃
CHAPTER IX
THE ATTIC OF MYSTERY
Robert Dunn was by no means sure that he was not going to his death
as he went out of Ella's room on his way to the attics above； for
he had perceived a certain doubt and suspicion in Deede Dawson's
manner； and he thought it very likely that a fatal intention lay
behind。
But he obeyed with a brisk promptitude of manner； like one who saw
a prospect of escape opening before him； and as he went he saw that
Ella had relapsed into her former indifference and was once more
giving all her attention to bathing her wrists with eau…de…Cologne；
and he saw； too； that Deede Dawson； following close behind； kept
always his revolver ready。
〃Perhaps he only wants to get me out of her way before he shoots；〃
he reflected。 〃Perhaps there is room in that packing…case for two。
It will be strange to die。 Shall I try to rush him？ But he would
shoot at once； and I shouldn't have a chance。 One thing； if
anything happens to me； no one will ever know what's become of poor
Charley。〃
And this seemed to him a great pity； so that he began to form
confused and foolish plans for securing that his friend's fate
should become known。
With a sudden start； for he had not known he was there； he found
himself standing on the threshold of that attic of death。 It was
quite dark up here； and from behind Deede Dawson's voice told him
impatiently to enter。
He obeyed； wondering if ever again he would cross that threshold
alive； and Deede Dawson followed him into the dark attic so that
Dunn was appalled by the man's rashness； for how could he tell that
his victim would not take this opportunity to rise up from the
place where he had been thrust and take his revenge？
〃What an idea；〃 he thought to himself。 〃I must be going dotty； it's
the strain of expecting a bullet in my back all the time； I suppose。
I was never like this before。〃
Deede Dawson struck a match and put it to a gas…jet that lighted up
the whole room。 Between him and Dunn lay the packing…case； and Dunn
was surprised to see that it was still there and that nothing had
changed or moved； and then again he said to himself that this was a
foolish thought only worthy of some excitable； hysterical girl。
〃It's being too much for me；〃 he thought resignedly。 〃I've heard
of people being driven mad by horror。 I suppose that's what's
happening to me。〃
〃You look … queer；〃 Deede Dawson's voice interrupted the confused
medley of his thoughts。 〃Why do you look like that … Charley
Wright？〃
Dunn looked moodily across the case in which the body of the
murdered man was hidden to where the murderer stood。
After a pause； and speaking with an effort； he said：
〃You'd look queer if some one with a pistol was watching you all
the time the way you watch me。〃
〃You do what I tell you and you'll be all right；〃 Deede Dawson
answered。 〃You see that packing…case？〃
Dunn nodded。
〃It's big enough；〃 he said。
〃Would you like to know？〃 asked Deede Dawson slowly with his slow；
perpetual smile。 〃Would you like to know what's in it … Charley
Wright？〃
And again Dunn was certain that a faint suspicion hung about those
last two words； and that his life and death hung very evenly in
the balance。
〃Silver； you said；〃 he muttered。 〃Didn't you？〃
〃Ah； yes … yes … to be sure；〃 answered Deede Dawson。 〃Yes； so I
did。 Silver。 I want the lid nailed down。 There's a hammer and
nails there。 Get to work and look sharp。〃
Dunn stepped forward and began to set about a task that was so
terrible and strange； and that yet he had； at peril of his life … at
peril of more than that； indeed … to treat as of small importance。
Standing a little distance from the lighted gas…jet； Deede Dawson
watched him narrowly； and as Dunn worked he was very sure that to
betray the least sign of his knowledge would be to bring instantly
a bullet crashing through his brain。
It seemed curious to him that he had so carefully replaced
everything after making his discovery； and that without any
forethought or special intention he had put back everything so
exactly as he had found it when the slightest neglect or failure
in that respect would most certainly have cost him his life。
And he felt that as yet he could not afford to die。
One by one he drove in the nails； and as he worked at his gruesome
task he heard the faintest rustle on the landing without … the
faintest sound of a soft breath cautiously drawn in； of a light
foot very carefully set down。
Deede Dawson plainly heard nothing； indeed； no ear less acute and
less well…trained than Dunn's could have caught sounds that were so
slight and low； but he； listening between each stroke of his hammer；
was sure that it was Ella who had followed them； and that she
crouched upon the landing without； watching and listening。
Did that mean； he wondered； that she； too； knew？ Or was it merely
natural curiosity； hostile in part； perhaps； since evidently the
relations between her and her stepfather were not too friendly … a
desire to know what task there could be in the attics so late at
night for which Deede Dawson had such need of his captive's help？
Or was it by any chance because she wished to know how things went
with him； and what was to be his fate？
In any case； Dunn was sure that Ella had followed then； and was on
the landing without。