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 her stepfather to Dunn and back
again.

"It's only that your name happens to be the same as that of a friend
of ours--a great friend of my daughter's," Deede Dawson said as
though he felt obliged to offer some explanation. "That's all--a
coincidence. It startled me for the moment." He laughed. "That's
all. Well, my man, it happens there is something I can make you
useful in. If you do prove useful and do what I tell you, perhaps
you may get let off. I might even keep you on in a job. I won't
say I will, but I might. You look a likely sort of fellow for work,
and I daresay you aren't any more dishonest than most people. Funny
how things happen--quite a coincidence, your name. Well, come on;
it's that packing-case you saw in the attic upstairs. I want you
to help me downstairs with that--Charley Wright."


CHAPTER IX

THE ATTIC OF MYSTERY


Robert Dunn was by no means sure that he was not going to his death
as he went out of Ella's room on his way to the attics above, for
he had perceived a certain doubt and suspicion in Deede Dawson's
manner, and he thought it very likely that a fatal intention lay
behind.