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work and risk would have gone for nothing。
When he alighted at his destination he was a little before time；
and so he got himself something to eat at a small public…house near
the station before starting on his fifteen…mile walk across country。
Though he was not sure； he did not think any one was observing him
now。 Most likely his movements up to the present had appeared
satisfactory； and it had not been thought necessary to watch him
longer。
But he was careful to do nothing to rouse suspicion if he were
still being spied upon； and after he had eaten and had a smoke he
started off on his long tramp。
Even yet he was careful； and so long as he was near the village he
made a show of avoiding observation as much as possible。 Later on；
when he had made certain he was not being followed； he did not
trouble so much； though he still kept it in mind that any one he
met or passed might well be in fact one of Deede Dawson's agents。
He walked on sharply through the crisp autumn air； and in other
circumstances would have found the walk agreeable enough。 It
was a little curious that as he proceeded on his way his chief
preoccupation seemed to shift from his immediate errand and intense
eagerness to discover the identity of his unknown foe； with whom he
hoped to stand face to face so soon； to a troubled and pressing
anxiety about Ella。
Up till now he had not thought it likely that she was in the least
real danger。 He knew Simmonds； the man Walter had promised to put
on watch at Bittermeads； and knew him to be capable and trustworthy。
None the less； his uneasiness grew and strengthened with every mile
he traversed； till presently her situation seemed to him the one
weak link in his careful plans。
That the trap the unknown had so carefully laid for himself to be
taken in； would assuredly and securely close upon him； Dunn felt
certain enough。 Walter would see to that。 Sure was it； too； that
the enterprise Deede Dawson had planned for himself and Allen at
the Abbey must result in their discomfiture and capture。 Walter
would see to that also。 But concerning Ella's position doubt would
insist on intruding； till at last he decided that the very moment
the Brook Bourne Spring business was satisfactorily finished with
he would hurry at his best speed to Bittermeads and make sure of
her safety。
Absorbed in these uneasy thoughts； he had insensibly slackened
speed； and looking at his watch he saw that it was two o'clock； and
that he was still； by the milestone at the roadside； eight miles
from his destination。
He wished to be there a little before the time arranged for him by
Deede Dawson； and he increased his pace till he came to a spot
where the path he had to take branched off from the road he had
been following。 At this spot a heavy country lad was sitting on
a gate by the wayside； and as Dunn approached he clambered heavily
down and slouched forward to meet him。
〃Be you called Robert Dunn； mister？〃 he asked。
Dunn gave him a quick and suspicious look； much startled by this
sudden recognition in so lonely a spot。
〃Yes； I am；〃 he said； after a moment's hesitation。 〃Why？〃
〃If you are； there's this as I'm to give you；〃 the lad answered；
drawing a note from his pocket。
〃Oh； who gave you that？〃 Dunn asked； fully persuaded the note
contained some final instructions from Deede Dawson and wondering
if this lad were one of his agents in disguise； or merely some
inhabitant of the district hired for the one purpose of
delivering the letter。
But the lad's drawled reply disconcerted him greatly。
〃A lady；〃 he said。 〃A real lady in a big car； she told me to wait
here and give you this。 All alone she was； and drove just like a
man。〃
He handed the letter over as he spoke； and Dunn saw that it was
addressed to him in his name of Robert Dunn in Ella's writing。
He blinked at it in very great surprise； for there was nothing he
expected less； and he did not understand how she knew so well
where he would be or how she had managed to get away from
Bittermeads uninterfered with by Deede Dawson。
His first impulse was to suspect some new trap； some new and
cunning trap that； perhaps； the unconscious Ella was being used
to bait。 Taking the letter from the boy； he said：
〃How did you know it was for me？〃
〃Lady told me；〃 answered the boy grinning。 〃She said as I was to
look out for a chap answering to the name of Robert Dunn； with his
face so covered with hair you couldn't see nothing of it no more'n
you can see a sheep's back for wool As soon as I set eye on 'ee；
says I … 'That's him；' I says； and so 'twas。〃
He grinned again and slouched away and Dunn stood still； holding
the letter in his hand and not opening it at first。 It was almost
as though he feared to do so； and when at last he tore the envelope
open it was with a hand that trembled a little in spite of all
that he could do。 For there was something about this strange
communication and the means adopted to deliver it to him that struck
him as ominous in the extreme。 Some sudden crisis must have arisen；
he thought； and it appeared to him that Ella's knowledge of where
to find him implied a knowledge of Deede Dawson's plans that meant
she was either his willing and active agent and accomplice； or else
she had somehow acquired a knowledge of her stepfather's proceedings
that must make her position a thousand times more critical and
dangerous than before。
He flung the envelope aside and began to read the contents。 It
opened abruptly； without any form of address； and it was written in
a hand that showed plain signs of great distress and agitation：
〃You are in great danger。 I don't know what。 I heard them talking。
They spoke as though something threatened you； something you could
not escape。 Be careful； very careful。 You asked me once if I had
ever heard a man with a high； squeaky voice； and I did not answer。
It was to a man with a voice like that I gave the packing…case I
took away from here the night you came。 Do you remember？ He was
here all last night； I think。 I saw him go very early。 He is Mr。
Walter Dunsmore。 I saw him that day at Wreste Abbey； and I knew I
had seen him before。 This morning I recognized him。 I am sure
because he hurt his hand on the packing…case lid； and I saw the mark
there still。 He and my stepfather were talking all night； I think
I couldn't hear everything。 There is a General Dunsmore。 Something
is to happen to him at three o'clock and then to you later； and they
both laughed a great deal because they think you will be blamed for
whatever happens to General Dunsmore。 He is to be enticed somewhere
to meet you； but you are not to be there till four； too late。 I am
afraid； more afraid than ever I have been。 What shall I do？ I
think they are making plans to do something awful。 I don't know
what to do。 I think my stepfather suspects I know something； he
keeps looking； looking； smiling all the time。 Please come back and
take mother and me away； for I think he means to kill us both。〃
There was no signature； but written like an afterthought across one
corner of the note were the scribbled words：
〃You told me so