l that. It changed
his plans, for now he could go to the police immediately. And it changed
also his conception of how these people were likely to act.

Before, it had not entered his mind to suppose that he ran any special
risk of being shot at sight, but now he understood that the only thing
standing between him and instant death was the faint doubt in his
captor's mind as to how much he knew.

It seemed to him his only hope was to carry out his original plan and
try to pass himself off as the sort of person who might be likely to be
useful to the master of Bittermeads.

"Don't shoot, sir," he said, in a kind of high whine. "I ain't done no
harm, and it's a fair cop--and me not a month out of Dartmoor Gaol. I
shall get a hot 'un for this, I know."

The little fat man did not answer; his eyes were as deadly, the muzzle
of his pistol as steady as before.

Dunn wondered if it were from that pistol had issued the bullet that had
drilled so neat and round a hole in his friend's forehead. He supposed
so.

He said again

"Don't shoot, Mr. Deede Dawson, sir; I ain't done no harm."

"Oh, you know my name, do you, you scoundrel?" Deede Dawson said, a
little surprised.

"Yes, sir," Dunn answered. "We always find out as much as we can about a
crib before we get to work."

"I see," said Mr. Dawson. "Very praiseworthy. Attention to business and
all that. Pray, what did you find out about me?"

"Only as you was to be away tonight, sir," answered Dunn. "And that
there didn't seem to be any other man in the house, and, of course,
how the house lay and the garden, and so. But I didn't know as you was
coming home so soon."

"No, I don't suppose you did," said Deede Dawson.

"I ain't done no harm," Dunn urged, making his voice as whining and
pleading as he could. "I've only just been looking round the two top
floors--I ain't touched a thing. Give a cove a chance, sir."

"You've been looking round, have you?" said Deede Dawson slowly. "Did
you find anything to interest you?"

"I've only been in the bedrooms and the attics," answered Dunn, changing
not a muscle of his countenance and thinking boldness his safest course,
for he knew well the slightest sign or hint of knowledge that he gave
would mean his death. "I'd only just come downstairs when you copped me,
sir; I ain't touched a thing in one of these rooms down here."

"Haven't you?" said Deede Dawson slowly, and his face was paler, his
eyes more deadly, the muzzle