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effectually stopped。
〃You … who are you … where … what … how dare you？〃 he gasped
as he picked himself up and tried to disentangle himself from the
prickles。
〃Don't make such a row；〃 said Dunn from a new direction。 〃Do you
want to raise the whole neighbourhood？ Haven't you played the fool
enough？ If you want to commit suicide； why can't you cut your
throat quietly and decently at home； instead of coming alone to the
garden at Bittermeads at night？〃
There was a note of sombre and intense conviction in his voice that
penetrated even the excited mind of the raging Clive。
〃What do you mean？〃 he asked； and then：
〃Who are you？〃
〃Never mind who I am；〃 answered Dunn。 〃And I mean just what I say。
You might as well commit suicide out of hand as come fooling about
here alone at night。〃
〃You're crazy； you're talking rubbish！〃 Clive exclaimed。
〃I'm neither crazy nor talking rubbish；〃 answered Dunn。 〃But if
you persist in making such a row I shall take myself off and leave
you to see the thing through by yourself and get yourself knocked
on the head any way you like best。〃
〃Oh； I'm beginning to understand；〃 said Clive。 〃I suppose you're
one of my poaching friends … are you？ Look here； if you know who
it was who attacked me the other night you can earn fifty pounds
any time you like。〃
〃Your poaching friends； as you call them；〃 answered Dunn； 〃 are
most likely only anxious to keep out of your way。 This has
nothing to do with them。〃
〃Well； come nearer and let me see you；〃 Clive said。 〃You needn't
be afraid。 You can't expect me to take any notice of some one I
can't see； talking rubbish in the dark。〃
〃I don't much care whether you take any notice or not；〃 answered
Dunn。 〃You can go your own silly way if you like； it's nothing to
me。 I've warned you； and if you care to listen I'll make my warning
a little clearer。 And one thing I will tell you … one man already
has left this house hidden in a packing…case with a bullet through
his brain； and I will ask you a question： 'How did your father die？'〃
〃He was killed in a motor…car accident；〃 answered Clive hesitatingly；
as though not certain whether to continue this strange and puzzling
conversation or break it off。
〃There are many accidents；〃 said Dunn。 〃And that may have been one；
for all I know； or it may not。 Well； I've warned you。 I had to do
that。 You'll probably go on acting like a fool and believing that
nowadays murders don't happen； but if you're wise； you'll go home
to bed and run no more silly risks。〃
〃Of course I'm not going to pay the least attention；〃 began Clive；
when Dunn interrupted him sharply。
〃Hush！ hush！〃 he said sharply。 〃Crouch down： don't make a sound；
don't stir or move。 Hush！〃
For Dunn's sharp ear had caught the sound of approaching footsteps
that were drawing quickly nearer； and almost instantly he guessed
who it would be； for there were few pedestrians who came along that
lonely road so late at night。
There were two of them apparently； and at the gate of Bittermeads
they halted。
〃Well； good night；〃 said then a voice both Dunn and Clive knew at
once for Deede Dawson's。〃 … That was a pretty check by the knight
I showed you； wasn't it？〃
A thin； high； somewhat peculiar voice cursed Deede Dawson； chess；
and the pretty mate by the knight very comprehensively。
〃It's young Clive that worries me；〃 said the voice when it had
finished these expressions of disapproval。
〃No need；〃 answered Deede Dawson's voice with that strange mirthless
laugh of his。 〃No need at all； before the week's out he'll trouble
no one any more。
When he heard this； Clive would have betrayed himself by some
startled movement or angry exclamation had not Dunn's heavy hand
upon his shoulder held him down with a grave and steady pressure
there was no disregarding。
Deede Dawson and his unknown companion went on towards the house；
and admitted themselves； and as the door closed behind them Clive
swung round sharply in the darkness towards Dunn。
〃What's it mean？〃 he muttered in the bewildered and
slightly…pathetic voice of a child at once frightened and puzzled。
〃What for？〃 Why should any one …？〃
〃It's a long story；〃 began Dunn； and paused。
He saw that the unexpected confirmation of his warning Clive had
thus received from Deede Dawson's own lips had rendered his task
of convincing Clive immensely more easy。
What he had wished to say had now at least a certainty of being
listened to； a probability of being believed； and there was at
any rate； he supposed； no longer the danger he had before dreaded
of Clive's going straight with the whole story to Deede Dawson
in arrogant disbelief of a word of it。
But he still distrusted Clive's discretion； and feared some rash
and hasty action that might ruin all his plans； and allow Deede
Dawson time to escape。
Besides he felt that the immediate task before him was to find
out who Deede Dawson's new companion was； and； if possible；
overhear anything they might have to say to each other。
That； and the discovery of the new…comer's identity； might prove
to be of the utmost importance。
〃I can't explain now；〃 he said hurriedly。 〃I'll see you tomorrow
sometime。 Don't do anything till you hear from me。 Your life may
depend on it … and other people's lives that matter more。〃
〃Tell me who you are first；〃 Clive said quickly； incautiously
raising his voice。 〃I can manage to take care of myself all right；
I think； but I want to know who you are。〃
〃H…ssh！〃 muttered Dunn。 〃Not so loud。〃
〃There was a fellow made an attack on me one night a little while
ago；〃 Clive went on unheedingly。 〃You remind me of him somehow。
I don't think I trust you； my man。 I think you had better come
along to the police with me。〃
But Dunn's sharp ears had caught the sound of the house door
opening cautiously； and he guessed that Deede Dawson had taken
the alarm and was creeping out to see who invaded so late at night
the privacy of his garden。
〃Clear out quick！ Quiet！ If you want to go on living。 I'll stop
them from following if I can。 If you make the least noise you're
done for。〃
Most likely the man they had seen in his company would be with him；
and both of them would be armed。 Neither Clive nor Dunn had a
weapon； and Dunn saw the danger of the position and took the only
course available。
〃Go；〃 he whispered fiercely into Clive's ear。
CHAPTER XV
THE SOUND OF A SHOT
He melted away into the darkness as he spoke； and through the night
he slipped； one shadow more amongst many； from tree to bush； from
bush to tree。 Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands
and knees； and once lay fiat on his face when against the skyline
he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or
two on his right hand。
On his left another shadow showed； distinguishable in the night
only because it moved。
In a moment both shadows were gone； secret and deadly in the dark；
and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung
upon a slender chance； for if either of them was discovered the
leaping bullet would do the rest。
It would be safe and easy … suspected bur