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at first； led above to three large attics with steeply…sloping roofs
and evidently designed more for storage purposes than for habitation。
The doors of two of these were open and within was merely a collection
of such lumber as soon accumulates in any house。
The door of the third attic was locked； but by aid of the jemmy he
still carried； he forced it open without difficulty。
Within was nothing but a square packing…case； standing in the middle
of the floor。 Otherwise the light of the electric torch he flashed
around showed only the bare boarding of the floor and the bare
plastered walls。
Near the packing…case a hammer and some nails lay on the floor and
the lid was in position but was not fastened； as though some
interruption had occurred before the task of nailing it down could
be completed。
Dunn noted that one nail had been driven home； and he was on the
point of leaving the attic； for he knew he had not much time and
hoped that downstairs he would be able to make some discoveries of
importance； when it occurred to him that it might be wise to see
what was in this case； the nailing down the lid of which had not
been completed。
He crossed the room to it； and without drawing the one nail； pushed
back the lid which pivoted on it quite easily。
Within appeared a covering of course sacking。 He pulled this away
with a careless hand； and beneath the beam of his electric torch
showed the pale and dreadful features of a dead man … of a man； the
center of whose forehead showed the small round hole where a bullet
had entered in； of a man whose still…recognizable features were those
of the photograph on the mantel…piece of the room downstairs； the
photograph that was signed：
〃Devotedly yours；
Charley Wright。〃
For a long time Robert Dunn stood； looking down in silence at that
dead face which was hardly more still； more rigid than his own。
He shivered； for he felt very cold。 It was as though the coldness
of the death in whose presence he stood had laid its chilly hand on
him also。
At last he stirred and looked about him with a bewildered air； then
carefully and with a reverent hand； he put back the sackcloth covering。
〃So I've found you； Charley；〃 he whispered。 〃Found you at last。〃
He replaced the lid； leaving everything as it had been when he
entered the attic； and stood for a time； trying to collect his
thoughts which the shock of this dreadful discovery had so
disordered； and to decide what to do next。
〃But； then； that's simple；〃 he thought。 〃I must go straight to the
police and bring them here。 They said they wanted proof； they said
I had nothing to go on but bare suspicion。 But that's evidence
enough to hang Deede Dawson … the girl； too； perhaps。〃
Then he wondered whether it could be that she knew nothing and was
innocent of all part or share in this dreadful deed。 But how could
that be possible？ How could it be that such a crime committed in
the house in which she lived could remain unknown to her？
On the other hand； when he thought of her clear； candid eyes； when
he remembered her gentle beauty； it did not seem conceivable that
behind them could lie hidden the tigerish soul of a murderess。
〃That's only sentiment； though；〃 he muttered。 〃Nothing more。
Beautiful women have been rotten bad through and through before
today。 There's nothing for me to do but to go and inform the police；
and get them here as soon as possible。 If she's innocent； I suppose
she'll be able to prove it。〃
He hesitated a moment； as he thought of how he had left her； bound
and a prisoner。
It seemed brutal to leave her like that while he was away； for he
would probably be some time absent。 But with a hard look； he told
himself that whatever pain she suffered she must endure it。
His first and sole thought must be to bring to justice the murderers
of his unfortunate friend； and to secure； too； thereby； the success
almost certainly of his own mission。
To release her and leave her at liberty might endanger the attainment
of both those ends； and so she must remain a prisoner。
〃Only；〃 he muttered； 〃if she knew the attic almost over her head
held such a secret； why； didn't she take the chance I gave her of
getting hold of my revolver？ That she didn't； looks as if she knew
nothing。〃
But then he thought again of the photograph in her room and
remembered that agony of grief to which she had been surrendering
herself when he first saw her。 Now those passionate tears of hers
seemed to him like remorse。
〃I'll leave her where she is；〃 he decided again。 〃I can't help it；
I mustn't run any risks。 My first duty is to get the police here and
have Deede Dawson arrested。〃
He went down the stairs still deep in thought； and when he reached
the landing below he would not even go to make sure that his captive
was still secure。
An obscure feeling that he did not wish to see her； and still more
that he did not wish her to see him； prevented him。
He descended the second flight of steps to the hall； taking fewer
precautions to avoid making a noise and still very deep in thought。
For some time he had had but little hope that young Charley Wright
still lived。
Nevertheless； the dreadful discovery he had made in the attic above
had affected him profoundly； and left his mind in a chaos of
emotions so that he was for the time much less acutely watchful than
usual。
They had spent their boyhood together； and he remembered a thousand
incidents of their childhood。 They had been at school and college
together。 And how brilliantly Charley had always done at work and
play； surmounting every difficulty with a laugh； as if it were merely
some new and specially amusing jest！
Every one had thought well of him； every one had believed that his
future career would be brilliant。 Now it had ended in this obscure
and dreadful fashion； as ends the life of a trapped rat。
Dunn found himself hardly able to realize that it was really so； and
through all the confused medley of his thoughts there danced and
flickered his memory of a young and lovely face； now tear…stained；
now smiling； now pale with terror； now calmly disdainful。
〃Can she have known？〃 he muttered。 〃She must have known … she can't
have known … it's not possible either way。〃
He shuddered and as he put his foot on the lowest stair he raised
his hands to cover his face as though to shut out the visions that
passed before him。
Another step forward he took in the darkness； and all at once there
flashed upon him the light of a strong electric torch； suddenly
switched on。
〃Put up your hands；〃 said a voice sharply。 〃Or you're a dead man。〃
He looked bewilderedly； taken altogether by surprise； and saw he
was faced by a fat little man with a smooth； chubby； smiling face
and eyes that were cold and grey and deadly； and who held in one
hand a revolver levelled at his heart。
〃Put up your hands；〃 this newcomer said again； his voice level and
calm； his eyes intent and deadly。 〃Put up your hands or I fire。〃
CHAPTER VII
QUESTION AND ANSWER
Dunn obeyed promptly。
There was that about this little fat； smiling man and