"
But, in fact, very much to Rupert's relief, comparatively little
had been made known publicly, and the whole affair had attracted
wonderfully little attention.
The one public proceeding had been the inquest of Deede Dawson, and
that the coroner, at the request of the police eagerly searching for
Walter Dunsmore, had made as brief and formal as possible. Under his
direction the jury had returned a verdict of "justifiable homicide,"
and Ella's illness had had at least one good result of making it
impossible for her to attend to give her evidence in person.
At a trial, of course, everything would have had to be told in full,
but both Allen, Deede Dawson's accomplice, and Walter Dunsmore, his
instigator and employer, had vanished utterly.
For Walter the search was very hot, but so far entirely without
result. Now could Allen be found. He was identified with a fair
degree of certainty as an old criminal well known to the authorities,
and it was thought almost certain that he had had previous dealings
with Deede Dawson, and knew enough about him to be able to force
himself into Bittermeads.
Of the actual plot in operation there he most likely knew little
or nothing, but probably Deede Dawson thought he might be useful,
and the store of silver found in the attic that Ella had been
employed in packing ready for removal was identified as part of
the plunder from a recent burglary in a northern town.
Pages:
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239