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made not the least sound and very cautiously he began to push the
door back； the tiniest fraction of an inch at a time； so that even
one watching closely could never have said that it moved。
When； after a long time； during which the muffled weeping never
ceased； he had it open an inch or two； he leaned forward and peeped
within。
It was a bed…chamber； and； crouching on the floor near the fireplace；
in front of a low arm…chair； her head hidden on her arms and resting
on the seat of the chair； was the figure of a girl。 She had made no
preparations for retiring； and by the frock she wore Dunn recognized
her as the girl he had seen on the veranda bidding good…bye to John
Clive。
The sound of her weeping was very pitiful； her attitude was full of
an utter and poignant despair； there was something touching in the
extreme in the utter abandonment to grief shown by this young and
lovely creature who seemed framed only for joy and laughter。
The stern features and hard eyes of the unseen watcher softened；
then all at once they grew like tempered steel again。
For on the mantlepiece； just above where the weeping girl crouched；
stood a photograph … the photograph of a young and good…looking；
gaily…smiling man。 Across it； in a boyish and somewhat unformed
hand； was written
〃Devotedly yours；
Charley Wright。〃
It was this photograph that had caught Dunn's eyes。 Both it and
the writing and the signature he recognized； and his look was very
stern； his eyes as cold as death itself； as slowly； slowly he pushed
back the door of the room another inch or so。
CHAPTER V
A WOMAN AND A MAN
The girl stirred。 It was as though some knowledge of the slow
opening of the door had penetrated to her consciousness before as
yet she actually saw or heard anything。
She rose to her feet； drying her eyes with her handkerchief； and
as she was moving to a drawer near to get a clean one her glance
fell on the partially…open door。
〃I thought I shut it；〃 she said aloud in a puzzled manner。
She crossed the floor to the door and closed it with a push from
her hand and in the passage outside Dunn stood still； not certain
what to do next。
But for that photograph he might have gone quietly away； giving up
the reckless plan that had formed itself so suddenly in his mind
while he watched the burglar at work。
That photograph； however； with its suggestion that he stood indeed
on the brink of the solution of the mystery； seemed a summons to
him to go on。 It was as though a voice from the dead called him to
continue on his task to punish and to save； and slowly； very slowly；
with an infinite caution； he turned again the handle of the door
and still very slowly； still with the same infinite caution； he
pushed back the door the merest fraction of an inch at a time so
that not even one watching could have said that it moved。
When he had it once more so far open that he could see within； he
bent forward to look。 The girl was beginning her preparations for
the night now。 She had assumed a long； comfortable…looking
dressing…gown and； standing in front of the mirror； she had just
finished brushing her hair and was beginning to fasten it up in a
long plait。 He could see her face in the mirror； her deep； sad
eyes； swollen with crying； her cheeks still tear…stained； her mouth
yet quivering with barely…repressed emotion。
He was still watching her when； as if growing uneasy； she turned
her head and glanced over her shoulder； and though he moved back
so quickly that she did not catch sight of him； she saw that the
door was open once more。
〃What can be the matter with the door？〃 she exclaimed aloud； and
she crossed the room towards it with a quick and somewhat impatient
movement。
But this time； instead of closing it； she pulled it open and found
herself face to face with Dunn。
He did not speak or move； and she stood staring at him blankly。
Slowly her mouth opened as though to utter a cry that； however；
could not rise above her fluttering throat。 Her face had taken on
the pallor of death； her great eyes showed the awful fear she felt。
Still without speaking； Dunn stepped forward into the room and；
closing the door； stood with his back to it。
She shrank away and put her hand upon a chair； but for the support
of which she must certainly have fallen； for her limbs were
trembling so violently they gave her little support。
〃Don't hurt me；〃 she panted。
In truth he presented a strange and terrifying appearance。 The
unkempt hair that covered his face and through which his keen eyes
glowed like fire； gave him an unusual and formidable aspect。 In
one hand he held the ugly…looking jemmy he had taken from the
burglar； and the new clothes he had donned； ill…fitting and soiled；
served to accentuate the ungainliness of his form。
The frightened girl was not even sure that he was human； and she
shrank yet further away from him till she sank down upon the bed；
dizzy with fear and almost swooning。
As yet he had not spoken； for his eyes had gone to the mantlepiece
on which he saw that the photograph signed with the name 〃Charley
Wright；〃 did not now stand upright； but had fallen forward on its
face so that one could no longer see what it represented。
It must have fallen just as he entered the room and this seemed to
him an omen； though whether of good or ill； he did not know。
〃Who are you ？〃 the girl stammered。 〃What do you want？〃
He looked at her moodily and still without answering； though in his
bright and keen eyes a strange light burned。
She was lovely； he thought； of that there could be no question。
But her beauty made to him small appeal； for he was wondering what
kind of soul lay behind those perfect features； that smooth and
delicate skin； those luminous eyes。 Yet his eyes were still hard
and it was in his roughest； gruffest tones that he said：
〃You needn't be afraid； I won't hurt you。〃
〃I'll give you everything I have；〃 she panted； 〃if only you'll go
away。〃
〃Not so fast as all that；〃 he answered； coolly； for indeed he had
not taken so mad a risk in order to go away again if he could help
it。 〃Who is there in the house besides you？〃
〃Only mother；〃 she answered； looking up at him very pleadingly as
if in hopes that he must relent when he saw her in distress。
〃Please； won't you take what you want and go away？ Please don't
disturb mother； it would nearly kill her。〃
〃I'm not going to hurt either you or your mother if you'll be
sensible；〃 he said irritably； for； unreasonably enough； the extreme
fear she showed and her pleading tones annoyed him。 He had a
feeling that he would like to shake her； it was so absurd of her
to look at him as though she expected him to gobble her up in a
mouthful。
She seemed a little reassured。
〃Mother will be so dreadfully frightened；〃 she repeated； 〃I'll give
you everything there is in the house if only you'll go at once。〃
〃I can take everything I want without your giving it me；〃 he
retorted。 〃How do I know you're telling the truth when you say
there's no one else in the house？ How many servants have you？〃
〃None；〃 she answered。 〃There'