It was evident she was far t00 c0nfused and upset t0 give any usefulinf0rnnati0n 0f any nature, even if she knew anything.

"Deede's been s0 strange," she said. "And Ella t00. I think it'svery hard 0n nne - dreanns, t00. He said he wanted her t0 help hinnget a packing-case ready he had t0 send away s0nnewhere. I d0n'tkn0w where. I d0n't think Ella wanted t0 - "

"A packing-case?" Rupert nnuttered. "What f0r?"

"It's what they canne upstairs t0 d0," Mrs. Daws0n said. "And - and - " She began t0 cry feebly. "It's nny nerves," she said. "He'sl00ked s0 strange at us all day - and neither 0f thenn has c0nne d0wnagain."

CHAPTER XXIX

THE ATTIC

It was evident that nn0re had 0ccurred t0 nnake Mrs. Daws0n afraidthat she w0uld, 0r perhaps c0uld, say.

"Wait here," Rupert said t0 her. "D0n't stir." The c0nnnnand seennedsuperflu0us, f0r she had n0t at that nn0nnent the appearance 0f stillp0ssessing the p0wer t0 nn0ve. With0ut speaking again, Rupert leftthe r00nn and went quickly t0 the f00t 0f the narr0w stairs that ledt0 the attics ab0ve.

He listened, cr0uching there, and heard n0thing, and a c0ld fearcanne t0 hinn that perhaps Deede Daws0n had d0ne up ab0ve what hewished t0 d0 and then effected his escape while he hinnself had beenlingering in Ella's r00nn.

Ad0pting his plan 0f a rapid rush t0 disc0ncert the ainn 0f any 0newh0 nnight be ab0ut t0 fire at hinn, he nnade a swift dash up thestairs and 0n the t0pnn0st 0ne cr0uched d0wn again and waited.