The Man They Couldn't Arrest

Lyall cut in with a rasp of anger. "cut that out! I've not come here to listen to damnfool sermons from such a model of saintly rectitude as you. I get my living in the way that best suits me! you're fighting for time, you hound. that's all you're doing . you've got a warning through with one of your confounded Inventions. you----"

Dain held up his hand in gentle depreciation..

I assure you there is not another soul in this house except ourselves who is aware of your presence here," he said. "I think I am intelligent enough to be able to look after myself. I have no need of outside protection. my knowledge of your movements is such that, had I wished I could have had the house surrounded by special police from the Yard---- hours before you were due to arrive. At least you will admit that."

"I'm admitting all that!" snarled Lyall savagely. "And I want to know how it's done! That's what am here for, talking to you instead of putting a bullet through you. That's why I didn't shoot you point blank moment I got the gun into my fingers. I want to know?"

"And I don't propose to tell you. I'm giving you a last chance Lyall. Here in this room is a dumb witness taking down your every action, recording your every word, with a fidelity that is as unquestionable as it is imperishable. I'm not merely pointing things out to you now, I'm pleading with you. You are blessed with every great and splendid gift the fates can shower upon you. Do, for the love of any of those precious things that you may hold dear to you. quit this imbecile business you are practicing now. Quit it----cut it out----- stop it for good and all and keep at least, the shame of your unmasking from those two dear women at Greydene."

Willard Lyall was breathing hard, but never for a moment did the hand that held the gun waver from its dead line pointing full at Valmon Dain's heart.

"Very pretty! very pretty,"he said. "But that stuff doesn't cut one grain of ice. I've already had that fight out, had it out with my soul years ago. You can keep your platitudes up under your tongue. The only thing I'm thanking you for is the knowledge that your servants have not been warned. and all that talk about me not being able to get out of the house alive leaves me chilly. If I can't get out, no one can get in! That's pretty blunt and plain isn't it? You just listen here, Mr. Valmon Dain. I'm not going to murder you. You're going to commit suicide. As neat and obvious a little job as ever you saw in your life."

Dain sighed. Lyall's pig-headedness was marching him headlong to his own doom. If Lyall fired that gun there was no power on earth could save him ni. Only Valmon Dain himself knew the oddity that was cast in the making of that revolver.

"Lyall," he said, " I've given you your last chance to see reason. I've done my best to show you how utterly hopeless your position is. I've-----"

"I've got the gun!" snapped Lyall shortly.

"that only makes your position the more hopeless. Man! can't you see! I cannot tell you more than I have without throwing away my own life. And whatever else I am, I am not quite madman enough to do that--- not for such a loathsome brute as you, anyhow. There's blood on your hands, Willard Lyall, the blood of at least two other human beings, and that by your own confession."

"my confession?" This morning when you are talking to Tansy the jeweller. Don't you remember? Tansy may have done the actual jobs for you, but the murders are on your head and you know it."

Lyall snarled at him. "Is there anything you don't know about my private life?" he growled.

"Very little," replied Dain blunt. "The whole of that conversation of yours with Tansy is known to me. The other morning you received a telegram----a telegram which congratulated you on making a certain decision. That decision was only made an hour previously. The shock of it was so great that---- probably for the first time in your life, you fainted. is that true? Do you still think I'm lying or bluffing? For I assure you I am doing neither. And in the same breath I assure you that I think you are perfectly right in going forward with what you propose doing."

"What do you mean?" The question clicked out from between Lyall's teeth.

"I mean that I sincerely hope you will carry on with your effort to kill me. The mere act will entail your own end. That's all. shoot, you fool and be damned yo you."

"Amazingly brave , aren't you?"