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which would have also to take a much more circuitous route。
He jumped the hedge； therefore； that lay at the wood's edge and
slid down the steep bank into the sunken road beyond where he found
himself standing in front of Walter； who held in his hands a gun
levelled straight at Rupert's heart。
〃I could have shot you time after time in there you know；〃 he said
quietly。 〃From behind that bush and from out of the bracken； too。
I don't know why I didn't。 I suppose it wasn't worth while； now
I shall never be Lord Chobham。〃
He flung down his gun as he spoke and sprang on a bicycle that he
had held leaning against his legs。
Quickly he sped away； leaving Rupert standing staring after him；
realizing that his life had hung upon the bending of Walter's finger；
and that Walter； with at least two cold…blooded murders to his
account； or little more to hope for in this world or the next； had
now inexplicably spared him for whose destruction； of life and honour
alike； he had a little before been laying such elaborate； hellish
plans。
With a gesture of his hands that proved he failed to understand；
Rupert ran on and crossed a field to where he saw some horses
grazing。
One he knew immediately for one of his father's mares； and he knew
her also for an animal of speed and endurance。
The mare knew him； too； and suffered him to mount her without
difficulty； and without a soul on the farm being aware of what was
happening and without having to waste any precious time on
explanations or declaring his identity； Rupert rode away； sitting
the mare bare…backed； through the New Plantation towards Bittermeads；
where he hoped； arriving unexpectedly； to be able to save Ella
before the danger he was sure threatened her came to a head。
Of one thing he was certain。 Deede Dawson would never do what his
companion in villainy had just done； he would spare no one； fierce；
malignant and evil to the last； his one thought if he knew they had
and vengeance approached would be to do what harm he could before
the end。
CHAPTER XXVIII
BACK AT BITTERMEADS
When； riding fast； Rupert Dunsmore came in sight of Bittermeads he
experienced a feeling of extreme relief。 Though what he had feared
he did not quite know； for he did not see that any alarm could have
reached here yet or any hint come to Deede Dawson of the failure of
all his plotting。
Even if Walter had had the idea of returning to give his accomplice
warning； he could not have come by the road on his bicycle as quickly
as Rupert had ridden across country。 And that Walter would spend
either time or thought on Deede Dawson did not appear in any way
probable。
To Rupert； therefore； it seemed certain that Deede Dawson could know
nothing as yet。 But all the same it was an immense relief to see
the house again and to know that in a few moments he would be there。
He tied up the mare to a convenient tree； and with eyes that were
quick and alert and every nerve and muscle ready for all emergencies；
he drew near the house。
All was still and quiet； no smoke came from the chimneys； there was
no sign of life or movement anywhere。 For a moment he hesitated
and then made his way round to the back； hoping to find Mrs。
Barker there and perhaps obtain from her information as to the
whereabouts of Deede Dawson and of Ella and her mother。
For it seemed to him it would be his best plan to get the two women
quietly out of the way if he could possibly do so before making any
attempt to deal with Deede Dawson or letting him know of his return。
For the mere fact that he was back again so soon would show at once
that something had gone seriously wrong； and once Deede Dawson knew
that； he would be； Rupert well realized； in a very desperate and
reckless mood and ripe for committing any mischief that he could。
Cautiously Rupert opened the back door and found himself in the
stone…paved passage that ran between the kitchen and the scullery
and pantry。 Everything seemed very quiet and still； and there was
no sign of Mrs。 Barker nor any appearance that she had been that
morning busy about her usual tasks。 The kitchen fire was not
lighted； a pile of unwashed crockery stood on the table； there had
apparently been no attempt to prepare any meals。
Frowning uneasily； for all this did not seem to him of good omen；
Rupert Went quickly on to the living rooms。
They were unoccupied and did not seem to have been much used that
day； and in the small breakfast…room Deede Dawson had been accustomed
to consider his special apartment； his favourite little travelling
chessboard stood on the table with pieces in position on it。
There was a letter； too； he had begun but not finished； to the
editor of a chess…column in some paper； apparently to the effect
that a certain problem 〃cooked；〃 and that by such and such a move
〃the mate for the first player that appeared certain was unexpectedly
and instantly transferred in this dramatic manner into a mate for
his opponent。〃
The words seemed somehow oddly appropriate to Rupert； and he smiled
grimly as he read them and then all at once his expression changed
and his whole attitude became one of intense watchfulness and
readiness。
For his quick eye had noted that the ink on the nib of the pen that
this letter had been written with； was not yet dry。
Then Deede Dawson must have been here a moment or two ago and must
have gone in a hurry。 That could only mean he was aware of Rupert's
return and was warned and suspicious。 It is perhaps characteristic
of Rupert's passionate and eager temperament that only now did it
occur to him that he was quite unarmed and that without a weapon of
any kind he was matching himself against as reckless and as
formidable a criminal as had ever lived。
For want of anything better he picked up the heavy glass inkpot
standing on the table； emptied the contents in a puddle on the floor；
and held the inkpot itself ready in his hand。
He listened intently； but heard no sound … no sound at all in the
whole house； and this increased his apprehensions； for he knew well
that Deede Dawson was a man always the most dangerous when most
silent。
It was possible of course that he had fled； but not likely。 He
would not go； Rupert thought； till he had made his preparations
and not without a last effort to take revenge on those who had
defeated him and in this dramatic way turned the mate he had
expected to secure into a win for his opponent。〃
Still Rupert listened intently； straining his ears to catch the
least sound to hint to him where his enemy was； for he knew that if
he failed to discover him his first intimation of his proximity
might well come in the shape of the white…hot sting of a bullet；
rending flesh and bone。
Then； too； where was Ella； and where was her mother？
There was something inexpressibly sinister in the utter quietness
of the house； a quietness not at all of peace and rest but of a
brooding； angry threat。
Still he could hear nothing； and he left the room； very quickly and
noiselessly； and he made sure there was no one anywhere in any of
these rooms on the ground floor。
He locked the front door and the back to ma