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interpretation of a trampled grass…blade； and he was using it now；
almost unconsciously； so as to make his presence near Ella and Clive
as unobtrusive as possible； when his keen eye caught sight of a bush；
of which leaves and branches were moving against the wind。
For that he knew there could be but one explanation； and when he
walked round； so as to get behind this bush； he was not surprised
to see Deede Dawson crouching there； his eyes very intent and eager；
his unsmiling lips drawn back to show his white teeth in a
threatening grin or snarl。
Near by him was his little chess…board and men； and as Dunn came up
behind he looked round quickly and saw him。
For a moment his eyes were deadly and his hand dropped to his
hip…pocket； where Dunn had reason to believe he carried a formidable
little automatic pistol。
But almost at once his expression changed； and with a gesture he
invited Dunn to crouch down at his side。 For a little they remained
like this； and then Deede Dawson moved cautiously away； signing to
Dunn to follow him。
When they were at a safe distance he turned to Dunn and said
〃Is he serious； do you think； or is he playing with her？ I'll make
him pay for it if he is。〃
〃How should I know？〃 answered Dunn； quite certain it was no such
anxiety as this that had set Deede Dawson watching them so carefully。
Deede Dawson seemed to feel that the explanation he had offered was
a little crude； and he made no attempt to enlarge on it。
With a complete change of manner； with his old smile on his lips
and his eyes as dark and unsmiling as ever； he said
〃Pretty girl； Ella … isn't she？〃
〃She is more than pretty； she is beautiful；〃 Dunn answered with an
emphasis that made Deede Dawson look at him sharply。
〃Think so？〃 he said； and gave his peculiar laugh that had so little
mirth in it。 〃Well； you're right； she is。 He'll be a lucky man
that gets her … and she's to be had； you know。 But I'll tell you
one thing； it won't be John Clive。〃
〃I thought it rather looked；〃 observed Dunn； 〃as if Miss Cayley
might mean … 〃
Deede Dawson interrupted with a quick jerk of his head。
〃Never mind what she means； it'll be what I mean；〃 he declared。 〃I
am boss； and what's more； she knows it。 I believe in a man being
master in his own family。 Don't you？'
〃If he can be；〃 retorted Dunn。 〃But still； a girl naturally … 〃
〃Naturally nothing；〃 Deede Dawson interrupted again。 〃I tell you
what I want for her； a man I can…trust…trust…that's the great thing。
Some one I can trust。〃
He nodded at Dunn as he said this and then walked off； and Dunn
felt very puzzled as he； too； turned away。
〃Was he offering her to me？〃 he asked himself。 〃It almost sounded
like it。 If so； it must mean there's something he wants from me
pretty bad。 She's beautiful enough to turn any man's head … but
did she know about poor Charlie's murder？ … help in it； perhaps？
… as she said she did with the packing…case。〃
He paused； and all his body was shaken by strong and fierce emotion。
〃God help me；〃 he groaned。 〃I believe I would marry her tomorrow
if I could； innocent or guilty。〃
CHAPTER XIII
INVISIBLE WRITING
It was the next day that there arrived by the morning post a letter
for Dunn。
Deede Dawson raised his eyebrows slightly when he saw it； and he
did not hand it on until he had made himself master of its contents；
though that did not prove to be very enlightening or interesting。
The note； in fact； merely expressed gratification at the news that
Dunn had secured steady work； a somewhat weak hope that he would
keep it； and a still fainter hope that now perhaps he would be able
to return the ten shillings borrowed； apparently from the writer； at
some time in the past。
Mr。 Deede Dawson； in spite of the jejune nature of the communication；
read it very carefully and indeed even went so far as to examine the
letter through a powerful magnifying…glass。
But he made no discovery by the aid of that instrument； and he
neglected； for no man thinks of everything； to expose the letter to
a gentle heat； which was what Dunn did when； presently； he received
it； apparently unopened and with not the least sign to show that it
had been tampered with in any way whatever。
Gradually； however； as Dunn held it to the fire； there appeared
between the lines fresh writing； which he read very eagerly； and
which ran：
〃Jane Dunsmore； born 1830； married； against family wishes； John
Clive and had one son； John； killed early this year in a motor…car
accident； leaving one son； John； now of Ramsdon Place and third in
line of succession to the Wreste Abbey property。〃
When he had read the message thus strangely and with such
precaution conveyed to him； Dunn burnt the letter and went that day
about his work in a very grave and thoughtful mood。
〃I knew it couldn't be a mere coincidence；〃 he mused。 〃It wasn't
possible。 I must manage to warn him； somehow； but； ten to one； he
won't believe a word； and I don't know that I blame him … I shouldn't
in his place。 And he might go straight to Deede Dawson and ruin
everything。 I don't know that it wouldn't be wiser and safer to say
nothing for the present； till I'm more sure of my ground … and then
it may be too late。〃
〃Just possibly；〃 he thought； 〃the job Deede Dawson clearly thinks
he can make me useful in may have something to do with Clive。 If so；
I may be able to see my way more clearly。〃
As it happened； Clive was away for a few days on some business he
had to attend to； so that for the present Dunn thought he could
afford to wait。
But during the week…end Clive returned； and on the Monday he came
again to Bittermeads。
It was never very agreeable to Dunn to have to stand aloof while
Clive was laughing and chatting and drinking his tea with Ella and
her mother； and of those feelings of annoyance and vexation he made
this time a somewhat ostentatious show。
That his manner of sulky anger and resentment did not go unnoticed
by Deede Dawson he was very sure； but nothing was said at the time。
Next morning Deede Dawson called him while he was busy in the garage
and insisted on his trying to solve another chess problem。
〃I haven't managed the other yet；〃 Dunn protested。 〃It's not too
easy to hit on these key…moves。〃
〃Never mind try this one；〃 Deede Dawson said； and Ella； going out
for a morning stroll with her mother； saw them thus； poring together
over the travelling chess…board。
〃They seem busy； don't they？〃 she remarked。 〃Father is making quite
a friend of that man。〃
〃I don't like him；〃 declared Mrs。 Dawson； quite vigorously for her。
〃I'm sure a man with such a lot of hair on his face can't be really
nice； and I thought he was inclined to be rude yesterday。〃
〃Yes；〃 agreed Ella。 〃Yes； he was。 I think Mr。 Clive was a little
vexed； though he took no notice； I suppose he couldn't very well。〃
〃I don't like the man at all；〃 Mrs。 Dawson repeated。 〃All that
hair； too。 Do you like him？〃
〃I don't know；〃 Ella answered； and after she and her mother had
returned from their walk she took occasion to find Dunn in the
garden and ask him some trifling question or another。
〃You