tinguishable in the night only
because it moved.

In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark,
and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a
slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet
would do the rest.

It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at
midnight--nothing could be said. He lay very still with his face to the
dewy sod, and all the night seemed full to him of searching footsteps
and of a swift and murderous going to and fro.

He heard distinctly from the road a sudden, muffled sound as Clive in
the darkness blunderingly missed his footing and fell upon one knee.

"That's finished him," Dunn thought grimly, his ears straining for the
sharp pistol report that would tell Clive's tale was done, and then he
was aware of a cat, a favourite of Ella's and often petted by himself,
that was crouching near by under a tree, most likely much puzzled
and alarmed by this sudden irruption of hurrying men into its domain.
Instantly Dunn saw his chance, and seizing the animal, lifted it and
threw it in the direction where he guessed Deede Dawson to be.

His guess was good and fortune served him well, for the tabby flying
caterwauling through the air alighted almost exactly in front of Deede
Dawson on top of a small bush. For a moment it hung there, quite unhurt,
but very frightened, and emitted a yell, then fled.

In the quietness the tumult of its scrambling flight sounded
astonishingly loud, so that it sounded as through a miniature avalanche
had been let loose in the garden.

"Only cats," Deede Dawson exclaimed disgustedly, and from behind, nearer
the house, Dunn called:

"Who's there? What is it? What's the matter? Is it Mr. Dawson? Is
anything wrong?"

"I think there is," said Deede Dawson softly. "I think, perhaps, there
is. What are you doing out here at this time of night, Charley Wright?"

"I heard a noise and came down to see what it was," answered Dunn.
"There was a light in the breakfast-room, but I didn't see any one, and
the front door was open so I came out here. Is anything wrong?"

"That's what I want to know," said Deede Dawson. "Come back to the house
with me. If any one is about, he can just take himself off."

He spoke the last sentence loudly, and Dunn took it as a veiled
instruction to his companion to depart.

He realized that if he had saved Clive he had done so at the cost of
missing the best oppor