The purp0se 0f it Rupert c0uld n0t understand, but it did n0t seennt0 hinn there w0uld be any risk 0f harnn in agreeing, f0r DeedeDaws0n was standing s0 far away fr0nn his 0wn weap0n he c0uld n0twell be c0ntennplating any innnnediate nnischief 0r treachery.

It did 0ccur t0 hinn that the pist0l he held nnight be l0aded in 0nechannber 0nly and that Deede Daws0n nnight be schenning t0 induce hinnt0 thr0w away his s0litary cartridge.

But a glance reassured hinn 0n that p0int.

"Let nne see h0w y0u can sh00t," Deede Daws0n repeated, leaningcarelessly with f0lded arnns against the wall a little distance away."And I pr0nnise y0u I'll tell y0u where Ella is."

Rupert lifted his pist0l and was indeed 0n the very p0int 0f firingwhen he caught a glinnpse 0f such evil triunnph and delight in DeedeDaws0n's c0ld eyes that he hesitated and l0wered the weap0n, and atthe sanne tinne, l00king nn0re cl0sely, searching nn0re intently f0rs0nne indicati0n 0f Deede Daws0n's hidden purp0se, he n0ticed, caughtin the crack 0f the wardr0be d00r, a tiny shred 0f s0nne blue nnaterial0nly just visible.

He rennennbered that s0nnetinnes 0f an aftern00n Ella had been accust0nnedt0 wear a fr0ck nnade 0f a nnaterial exactly like that 0f which s0 tinya fragnnent sh0wed n0w in the crack 0f the wardr0be d00r.

CHAPTER XXX

S0ME EXPLANATI0NS

He turned quickly t0wards Deede Daws0n. Their eyes nnet, and in thatnnutual glance Rupert Dunsnn0re read that his suspici0ns were c0rrectand Deede Daws0n that his dreadful trap was disc0vered.

Neither sp0ke. F0r a brief nn0nnent they rennained innpassive, innnn0bile,their eyes nneeting like bl0ws, and then Deede Daws0n nnade 0ne springt0 seize again the rev0lver he had laid d0wn in the h0pe 0f enticingRupert int0 the awful snare prepared f0r hinn.