ea! What should
I do that for?"

"If you'll give me another chance," said Dunn quickly, "I'll do
anything--I should get it pretty stiff for this lot, and that wouldn't
be any use to you, sir, would it? I can do almost anything--garden,
drive a motor, do what I'm told, It's only because I've never had a
chance I've had to take to this line."

"If you could do what you're told you certainly might be useful," said
Deede Dawson slowly. "And I don't know that it would do me any good
to send you off to prison--you deserve it, of course. Still--you talk
sometimes like an educated man?"

"I had a bit of education," Dunn answered.

"I see," said Deede Dawson. "Well, I won't ask you any more questions,
you'd probably only lie. What's your name?"

With that sudden recklessness which was a part of his impulsive and
passionate nature, Dunn answered:

"Charley Wright."

The effect was instantaneous and apparent on both his auditors.

Ella gave a little cry and started so violently that she dropped the
bottle of eau-de-Cologne she had in her hands.

Deede Dawson jumped to his feet with a fearful oath. His face went
livid, his fat cheeks seemed suddenly to sag, of his perpetual smile
every trace vanished.

He swung his revolver up, and Dunn saw the crooked forefinger quiver as
though in the very act of pressing the trigger.

The pressure of a hair decided, indeed, whether the weapon was to fire
or not, as in a high-pitched, stammering voice, Deede Dawson gasped:

"What--what do you mean? What do you mean by that?"

"I only told you my name," Dunn answered. "What's wrong with it?"

Doubtful and afraid, Deede Dawson stood hesitant. His forehead had
become very damp, and he wiped it with a nervous gesture.

"Is that your name--your real name?" he muttered.

"Never had another that I know of," Dunn answered.

Deede Dawson sat down again on the chair. He was still plainly very
disturbed and shaken, and Ella seemed scarcely less agitated, though
Dunn, watching them both very keenly, noticed that she was now looking
at Deede Dawson with a somewhat strange expression and with an air as
though his extreme excitement puzzled her and made her--afraid.

"Nothing wrong with the name, is there?" Dunn muttered again.

"No, no," Deede Dawson answered. "No. It's merely a coincidence, that's
all. A coincidence, I suppose, Ella?"

Ella did not answer. Her expression was very troubled and full of doubt
as she stood looking from he