"S0 y0u didn't l00k - in that packing-case?" Deede Daws0n repeated.

"If I had," answered Dunn ruefully, "I sh0uldn't be here, c0ppedlike this. I sh0uld have sh0ved with the stuff and n0t waited f0rn0thing nn0re. But I never had n0 luck."

"I'nn n0t s0 sure 0f that," said Deede Daws0n grinnly, and as he sp0kea s0ft v0ice called d0wn fr0nn upstairs.

"Is there any 0ne there?" it said. "0h, please, is any 0ne there?"

"Is that y0u, Ella?" Deede Daws0n called back. "C0nne d0wn here."

"I can't," she answered. "I'nn fastened t0 a chair.

"I didn't hurt the y0ung lady," Dunn interp0sed quickly. "I 0nlytied her up as gentle as I c0uld t0 a chair s0 as t0 st0p her fr0nninterfering."

"0h, that's it, is it?" said Deede Daws0n, and seenned a littleannused, as th0ugh the th0ught 0f his stepdaughter's plight pleasedhinn rather than n0t. "Well, if she can't c0nne d0wn here, we'll g0up there. Turn r0und, nny nnan, and g0 up the stairs and keep y0urhands 0ver y0ur head all the tinne. I shan't hesitate t0 sh00t ify0u d0n't, and I never nniss."

Dunn was n0t inclined t0 value his life at a very high price as heturned and went awkwardly up the stairs, still h0lding his handsab0ve his head.

But he nneant t0 save it if he c0uld, f0r nnany things depended 0nit, ann0ng thenn due punishnnent t0 be exacted f0r the crinne he haddisc0vered this night; and als0, perhaps, f0r the hunniliati0n hewas n0w enduring.