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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。
He drove home the last nail and stood up。 〃That's done；〃 he said。
〃And well done；〃 said Deede Dawson。 〃Well done … Charley Wright。〃
He spoke the name softly and lingeringly； and then all at once he
began to laugh； a low and somewhat dreadful laughter that had in it
no mirth at all； and that sounded horrible and strange in the chill
emptiness of the attic。
Leaning one hand on the packing…case that served as the coffin of
his dead friend； Dunn swore a silent oath to exact full retribution；
and henceforth to put that purpose on a level with the mission on
which originally he had come。
Aloud； and in a grumbling tone he said：
〃What's the matter with my name？ It's a name like any other。 What's
wrong with it？〃
〃What should there be？〃 flashed Deede Dawson in reply。
〃I don't know；〃 Dunn answered。 〃You keep repeating it so； that's all。〃
〃It's a very good name；〃 Deede Dawson said。 〃An excellent name。
But it's not suitable。 Not here。〃 He began to laugh again and then
stopped abruptly。
〃Do you know； I think you had better choose another？〃 he said。
〃It's all one to me；〃 declared Dunn。 〃If Charley Wright don't suit；
how will Robert Dunn do？ I knew a man of that name once。〃
〃It's a better name than Charley Wright；〃 said Deede Dawson。 〃We'll
call you Robert Dunn … Charley Wright。 Do you know why I can't have
you call yourself Charley Wight？〃
Dunn shook his head。
〃Because I don't like it；〃 said Deede Dawson。 〃Why； that's a name
that would drive me mad；〃 he muttered； half to himself。
Dunn did not speak； but he thought this was a strange thing for the
other to say and showed that even he； cold and remorseless and
without any natural feeling； as he had seemed to be； yet had about
him still some touch of humanity。
And as he mused on this； which seemed to him so strange； though
really it was not strange at all； his attentive ears caught the
sound of a soft step without； beginning to descend the stairs。
Had that name； then； been more than she also could bear？
If so； she must know。
〃I don't see why； I don't see what's wrong with it；〃 he said aloud。
〃But Robert Dunn will suit me just as well。〃
〃All a matter of taste；〃 said Deede Dawson； his manner more composed
and natural again。
〃It's a funny thing now … suppose my name was Charley Wright； then
there would be two Charley Wrights in this attic； eh？ A coincidence；
that would be？〃
〃I suppose so；〃 answered Dunn。 〃I knew another man named Charley
Wright once。〃
〃Did you？ Where's he？〃
〃Oh； he's dead；〃 answered Dunn。
Deede Dawson could not repress the start he gave and for a moment
Dunn thought that his suspicions were really roused。 He came a
little nearer； his pistol still ready in his hand。
〃Dead； is he？〃 he said。 〃That's a pity。 He's not here； then； but
it would be funny wouldn't it； if there were two Charley Wrights in
one room？〃
〃I don't know what you mean；〃 Dunn answered。 〃I think there are
lots of funnier things than that would be。〃
〃That's where you're wrong；〃 retorted Deede Dawson； and he laughed
again； shrilly and dreadfully； a laughter that had in it anything
but mirth。
〃Can you carry that packing…case downstairs if I help you get it on
your shoulder？〃 he asked abruptly。
〃It's heavy； but I might；〃 Dunn answered。
He supposed that now it was about to be hidden somewhere and he felt
that he must know where； since that knowledge would mean everything
and enable him to set the authorities to work at once immediately he
could communicate with them。
The weight of the thing taxed even his great strength to the utmost；
but he managed it somehow； and bending beneath his burden； he
descended the stairs to the hall and then； following the orders
Deede Dawson gave him from behind； out into the open air。
He was nearly exhausted when at last his task…master told him he
could put it down as he stood still for a minute or two to recover
his breath and strength。
The night was not very dark； for a young moon was shining in a clear
sky； and it appeared to Dunn； as he felt his strength returning；
that now at last he might find an opportunity of making an attack
upon his captor with some chance of success。
Hitherto； in the house； in the bright glare of the gas lights； he
had known that the first suspicious movement he made would have
ensured his being instantly and remorselessly shot down； his mission
unfulfilled。
But here in the open air； in the night that the moon illumined but
faintly； it was different； and as he watched for his opportunity he
felt that sooner or later it was sure to come。
But Deede Dawson was alert and wary； his pistol never left his hand；
he kept so well on his guard he gave Dunn no opening to take him
unawares； and Dunn did not wish to run too desperate a chance；
since he was sure that sooner or later one giving fair chance of
success would present itself。
〃Do you want it carried any further？〃 he asked。 〃It's very heavy。〃
〃I suppose you mean you're wondering what's in it？〃 said Deede
Dawson sharply。
〃It's nothing to me what's in it … silver or anything else；〃
retorted Dunn。 〃Do you want me to carry it further； that's all I
asked？〃
〃No；〃 answered Deede Dawson。 〃No； I don't。 Do you know； if you
knew what was really in it； you'd be surprised？〃
〃Very likely；〃 answered Dunn。 〃Why not？〃
〃Yes； you would be surprised；〃 Deede Dawson repeated； and suddenly
shouted into the darkness： 〃Are you ready？ Are you ready there？〃
Dunn was very startled； for somehow； he had supposed all along that
Deede Dawson was quite alone。
There was no answer to his call； but after a minute or two there
was the sound of a motor…ear engine starting and then a big car
came gliding forward and stopped in front of them； driven by a form
so muffled in coats and coverings as to be indistinguishable in that
faint light。
〃Put the case inside；〃 Deede Dawson said。 〃I'll help you。〃
With some trouble they succeeded in getting the case in and Deede
Dawson covered it carefully with a big rug。
When he had done so he stepped back。
〃Ready； Ella？〃 he said。
〃Yes；〃 answered the girl's soft and low voice that already Dunn
could have sworn to amidst a thousand others。
CHAPTER X
THE NEW GARDENER
〃Go ahead； then；〃 said Deede Dawson； and the great car with its
terrible burden shot away into the night。
For a moment or two Deede Dawson stood looking after it； and then
he turned and walked slowly towards the house； and mechanically Dunn
followed； the sole thought in his mind； the one idea of which he was
conscious； that of Ella driving away into the darkness with the dead
body of his murdered friend in the car behind her。
Did she … know？ he asked himself。 Or was she ignorant of what it
was she had with her？
It seemed to him that that question； hammering itself so awfully
upon his mind and clamouring for an answer； must soon send him mad。
And still before him floated perpetually a picture of long； dark；
lonely roads； of a rushing motor…car driven by a lovely g