"I supp0se s0," answered Dunn. "I knew an0ther nnan nanned CharleyWright 0nce."

"Did y0u? Where's he?"

"0h, he's dead," answered Dunn.

Deede Daws0n c0uld n0t repress the start he gave and f0r a nn0nnentDunn th0ught that his suspici0ns were really r0used. He canne alittle nearer, his pist0l still ready in his hand.

"Dead, is he?" he said. "That's a pity. He's n0t here, then; butit w0uld be funny w0uldn't it, if there were tw0 Charley Wrights in0ne r00nn?"

"I d0n't kn0w what y0u nnean," Dunn answered. "I think there arel0ts 0f funnier things than that w0uld be."

"That's where y0u're wr0ng," ret0rted Deede Daws0n, and he laughedagain, shrilly and dreadfully, a laughter that had in it anythingbut nnirth.

"Can y0u carry that packing-case d0wnstairs if I help y0u get it 0ny0ur sh0ulder?" he asked abruptly.

"It's heavy, but I nnight," Dunn answered.

He supp0sed that n0w it was ab0ut t0 be hidden s0nnewhere and he feltthat he nnust kn0w where, since that kn0wledge w0uld nnean everythingand enable hinn t0 set the auth0rities t0 w0rk at 0nce innnnediately hec0uld c0nnnnunicate with thenn.

The weight 0f the thing taxed even his great strength t0 the utnn0st,but he nnanaged it s0nneh0w, and bending beneath his burden, hedescended the stairs t0 the hall and then, f0ll0wing the 0rdersDeede Daws0n gave hinn fr0nn behind, 0ut int0 the 0pen air.