"I'll loose you," Deede Dawson said once more, and coming up to her,
he began to fumble in a feeble, ineffectual way at the cords that
secured her wrists.

"Jove, he's tied you up pretty tight, Ella!" he said.

"He believes in doing his work thoroughly, I suppose," she remarked,
lifting her eyes to Dunn's with a look in them that was partly
questioning and partly puzzled and wholly elusive. "I daresay he
always likes to do everything thoroughly."

"Seems so," said Deede Dawson, giving up his fumbling and
ineffectual efforts to release her.

He stepped back and stood behind her chair, looking from her to Dunn
and back again, and once more Dunn was conscious of an impression
that he wished to make use for his own purposes of the girl's
position, but that he did not know how to do so.

"You are a nice scoundrel," said Deede Dawson suddenly, with an
indignation that seemed to Dunn largely assumed. "Treating a girl
like this. Ella, what would you like done to him? He deserves
shooting. Shall I put a bullet through him for you?"

"He might have treated me worse, I suppose," said Ella quietly.
"And if you would be less indignant with him, you might be more
help to me. There are scissors on the table somewhere."

"I'll get them," Deede Dawson said. "I'll get them," he repeated,
as though now at last finally making up his mind.