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one。 〃Now you put a bullet into the middle of this circle and I'll
put one afterwards through the second circle； and the one who is
nearest to the dots I've marked； wins。 What have you to say to that？
Seems to me better than our killing each other。 Isn't it？〃
〃I think you're playing the fool for some reason of your own；〃
answered Rupert。 〃There's only one thing I want to know from you。
Where is Ella？〃
〃Let me know how you can shoot；〃 answered Deede Dawson； 〃and I'll
tell you； by all that's holy； I will。〃
Rupert hesitated。 He did not understand all this； he could not
imagine what motive was in Deede Dawson's mind； though it was
certainly true enough that once they began shooting at each other
neither man was at all likely to survive； for Rupert knew he would
not miss and he did not think Deede Dawson would either。
Above all； there was the one thing he wished to know； the one
consideration that weighed with him above all others … what had
become of Ella？ And this time there had been in Deede Dawson's
voice an accent of twisted and malign sincerity that seemed to
say he really would be willing to tell the truth about her if
Rupert would gratify his whim about this sort of shooting…match
that he was suggesting。
The purpose of it Rupert could not understand； but it did not seem
to him there would be any risk of harm in agreeing； for Deede
Dawson was standing so far away from his own weapon he could not
well be contemplating any immediate mischief or treachery。
It did occur to him that the pistol he held might be loaded in one
chamber only and that Deede Dawson might be scheming to induce him
to throw away his solitary cartridge。
But a glance reassured him on that point。
〃Let me see how you can shoot；〃 Deede Dawson repeated； leaning
carelessly with folded arms against the wall a little distance away。
〃And I promise you I'll tell you where Ella is。〃
Rupert lifted his pistol and was indeed on the very point of firing
when he caught a glimpse of such evil triumph and delight in Deede
Dawson's cold eyes that he hesitated and lowered the weapon； and at
the same time； looking more closely； searching more intently for
some indication of Deede Dawson's hidden purpose； he noticed； caught
in the crack of the wardrobe door； a tiny shred of some blue material
only just visible。
He remembered that sometimes of an afternoon Ella had been accustomed
to wear a frock made of a material exactly like that of which so tiny
a fragment showed now in the crack of the wardrobe door。
CHAPTER XXX
SOME EXPLANATIONS
He turned quickly towards Deede Dawson。 Their eyes met； and in that
mutual glance Rupert Dunsmore read that his suspicions were correct
and Deede Dawson that his dreadful trap was discovered。
Neither spoke。 For a brief moment they remained impassive； immobile；
their eyes meeting like blows； and then Deede Dawson made one spring
to seize again the revolver he had laid down in the hope of enticing
Rupert into the awful snare prepared for him。
But quick as he was； Rupert was quicker still； and as Deede Dawson
leaped he lifted his pistol and fired； though his aim was not at
the man； but at the revolver lying on the top of the roll of carpet
where Deede Dawson had placed it。
The bullet； for Rupert was a man who seldom missed； struck the
weapon fair and whirled it； shattered and useless； to the floor。
Deede Dawson； whose hand had been already outstretched to seize it；
drew back with a snarl that was more like the cry of a trapped wolf
than any sound produced from human lips。
Still； Rupert did not speak。 With the smoking pistol in his hand
he watched silently and steadily his helpless enemy who； for his
part； was silent； too； and very still； for he felt that doom was
close upon him。
Yet he showed not the least sign of fear； but only a fierce and
sullen defiance。
〃Shoot away； why don't you shoot？〃 he sneered。 〃Mind you don't miss。
I trusted you when I put my revolver down and I was a fool； but I
thought you would play fair。〃
Without a word Rupert tossed his pistol through the attic window。
They heard the tinkling fall of the glass； they heard more faintly
the sound of the revolver striking the outhouse roof twenty feet
below and rebounding thence to the paved kitchen yard beneath； and
then all was quiet again。
〃I only need my hands for you；〃 said Rupert softly； as softly as a
mother coos to her drowsy babe。 〃My hands for you。〃
For the first time Deede Dawson seemed to fear； for； indeed； there
was that in Rupert Dunsmore's eyes to rouse fear in any man。 With
a sudden swift spring； Rupert leaped forward and Deede Dawson； not
daring to abide that onslaught； turned and ran； screaming shrilly。
During the space of one brief moment； a dreadful and appalling
moment； there was a wild strange hunting up and down the narrow
space of that upper attic； cumbered with lumber and old； disused
furniture。
Round and round Deede Dawson fled； screaming still in a high shrill
way； like some wild thing in pain； and hard upon him followed Rupert；
nor had they gone a second time about that room before Rupert had
Deede Dawson in a fast embrace； his arms about the other's middle。
One last great cry Deede Dawson gave when Rupert seized him； and
then was silent as Rupert lifted him and swung him high at arm's
length。
As a child in play sports with its doll； so Rupert swung Deede
Dawson twice about his head； round and round and then loosed him
so that he went hurling through the air with awful force； like a
stone shot from a catapult； clean through the window through which
Rupert had the moment before tossed his pistol with but little
more apparent effort。
Right through the window； bearing panes and sash with him； Deede
Dawson flew with the impetus of that great throw and out beyond
and down； turning over and over the while； down through the empty
air to fall and be shattered like a piece of worthless crockery
on the stone threshold of the outhouse door。
Surprised to find himself alone； Rupert put his hand to his
forehead and looked vacantly around。
〃My God； what have I done？〃 he thought。
He was trembling violently； and the fury of the passion that had
possessed him and had given his mighty muscles a force more than
human； was still upon him。
Going to the window； he looked out； for he did not quite know what
had happened and from it he looked back at the wardrobe door。
〃Oh； yes；〃 he said。 〃Yes。〃
He ran to it and tore open the door and from within very tenderly
and gently he lifted down the half…swooning Ella who； securely
gagged and tightly bound； had been thrust into its interior to
conceal her from him。
Hurriedly he freed her from her bonds and from the handkerchief that
was tied over her mouth and holding her in his arms like a child；
pressing her close to his heart； he carried her lightly out of that
dreadful room。
Only once did she stir； only once did she speak； when lifting her
pale； strained face to him she murmured very faintly something in
which he just caught the words ：
〃Deede Dawson。〃
〃He'll trouble us no more nor any one else； I think；〃 answered
Rupert； and she