Good-bye, and the best of
luck. Take care of yourself, and don't lose your head or do
anything foolish."
"Oh, you can trust me," said Dunn.
"I think I can," smiled Deede Dawson. "I think I can. Good-bye.
Be careful, avoid noise and fuss, don't be seen any more than you
can help, and if you shoot, aim low."
"There's a vade mecum for the intending assassin," Dunn thought
grimly to himself, but he said nothing, gave the other a sullen
nod, and started off on his strange and weird mission of murdering
himself. He found himself wondering if any one else had ever been
in such a situation. He did not suppose so.
CHAPTER XXV
THE UNEXPECTED
To the very letter Dunn followed the careful and precise
instructions given him by Deede Dawson, for he did not wish to
rouse in any way the slightest suspicion or run the least risk of
frightening off that unknown instigator of these plots who was, it
had been promised him, to be present near Brook Bourne Spring at
four that afternoon.
Even the thought of Ella was perhaps less clear and vivid to his
mind just now than was his intense and passionate desire to discover
the identity of the strange and sinister personality against whom he
had matched himself.
"Very likely it's some madman," he thought to himself. "How in the
name of common sense can he expect to inherit the title and estates
quietly after such a series of crimes as he seems to contemplate?
Does he think no one will have any suspicion of him when he comes
forward? Even if he is successful in getting rid of all of us in
this way, how does he expect to be able to reap his reward? Of
course he may think that there will be no direct evidence if he
manages cleverly enough, and that mere suspicion he will be able to
disregard and live down in time, but surely it will be plain enough
that 'who benefits is guilty'? The whole thing is mad, fantastic.
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