The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-06
Or the p arrnenter Millions
Copyright 1907, BY Arthur w MachmonD
Bv ARTHURW. MARCElMONT,
Author q BY Right Of Z !" When Was CAT Etc
(Copy;;ght, 1907, BY Arthur ". MarchmonD

RTElUR w. MARCHING
y RIGHT 81 Sword, !" " When | Was
read the refusal as proof Of guilt, and
thus suspicion never fell on Olive
AS the keys wero not found the
locksmith had to be sent for to lit
new ones; and Olive took advantage OF
this to observe exactly which locks
she could now open.
Soon her opportunity came. A tele-l
gram arrived from Merridew that he'll
was coming down to tho Manor: and
Olive was Immediately set to get his
tho rooms which had been OLIVES. and
the son those which her father had
always used. Between the two suites
was an ante-room In which was one
OF the old secret panels with q recess
behind It. This might have been spe-
ciailys constructed for Olives very pur-
pose, asFit was possible for any one
Concealed within 1T to oyerhear all
that passed in Mrs. Merridew's sitting
room.
AIerridew arrived after the time when
Olive was believed to have gone to-
bed. and he went straight to his
mothers room. Olive was watching
for him, and as he passed the spot
where she was concealed she caught
that he was greatly agitated.
The moment he had gone into the
room she slipped into the recess to
listen.
Then she learned that the arrests
had taken place in London; that the
utmost CONSERVATION had been caused,
and that Merridew had come down to
Silverbeech lest his identity as Nav
ford should be discovered.
/ What was OF still greater impor-
lance. he had brought the stolen
papers with him; and he now urged
his mother to hide them in some place
OF secrecy and security. Baron Fels-
koy. to whom they were to have been
delivered. had left England for time.
and until his return they could not be
handed over to any one.
The interview between tho two was
very heated. Mrs. Merridcw, 1T came
out, had insisted upon her son giving
up all connection with hiH old assoc
ciates. I'VE have all this Gilbert
She declared angrily. why them get
into such messSas this other thing
threatens to be?"
I've told you before that they can't
be shaken OF in such way. mother.
Yoh know what they are. They'd tear
ius both to pieces II they got wind of
| this affair here. Besides, this matter
of the secret treaty was virtually set
tiled on before we were certain of all
/ this Parmenter business but I am
! going to cut the painter after tf1is."ss5
II will have nothing to do with It.
GiIbcrt." said Mrs. Merridew. firmly.
and / won't have anything hidden
here. Understand that,. ;,sts
well. yon must: and that's the long
and short OF it."he retorted, doggediY:
and long and angry quarrel fol-
lowed. in which he gained his way IN
the end And as soon as that was
settled he flung out Of the room In a
rage.
Where would she put them? Olive
strained her ears in the effort to fol-
! low her movements about the room.
| She heard thesrattlc of keys. the I'M
| locking OF drawers and the rustic of
Mrs. AIerridew's silk dress, as she
moved from place to place as II in
indecision.
Presently the door was opened.
olive slipped from her hiding place
and saw Mrs. Merrldew go slowly
down the broad staircase. She paused
for a moment by the library; and at
that moment Olive saw that she held
La small packet In her hand. She did
mot enter the library. however, but
Ecrossed the hall and unlocked heavy
door into the corridor which led to a
disused wing of the house.
II Trusting to the concealmentsof her
cloak and the noiseless tread of her
felt shoes. Olive stole after her. 1t
was the first real test OF her ability
as a spy; and the Importance Of ascer-
taining the hiding place of the papers
was SO critical that she could not hest
tate. She was striving now for Jack
rs we'll as for herself His safety as
much as her own depended upon her
skill and nerve. i57s
Without O thought that eager eyes
were watching her every movement
Mrs. Merridew went right along the
scorrIdor and entered the room at the
end. She stood few seconds at the
Threshold holding the lamp she was
carrying high above her head. She
was looking for o hiding place for the
papers. 54i IS
Then she crossed the room to ono OF
the high windows. pulled open one OF
the shutters, reached UP, and hid the
! paper In the fold OF the upper part
She pushed back the shutter, held tho
lamp up to assure herself that the
shutter fitted completely back into
Its recess. and turned to leave the
room.
Olive darted back to ono OF the
i ticed open. and waited there until Mrs.
McrrideW had retraced her steps. lock-
ing the door Of communication behind
5Eher.s55S g3s III s. sssE s iitit III
Eager as she was to obtain posses
sion of the paper. Olive dared not max 4
the attempt yet. She knew that on
some nights the butler went through
A the empty wing just before going tc
i be d. She must be sure that he would
\ not come that night, ,ss
i From this corridor one Of the secret
slsstntrways led to the floor above to q
5|jroom that was also disused, and from
4 there up to tho floor where the ser.
wants quarters We're situated. and as
soon rs Mrs Merridew had gone Olive
4 opened this panel and waited until tho
I mans would have made his rounds
It was q prudent precnution. She
had been waiting about half an hou,
when the door at the end was un.
J: lacked Anoisily. She aid herself an(
! closed the panel, and heard the voice.
OF two men-the buffers and one she
4 did not know--ns they looked into thu
|dtfferent rooms and Skinned ant
\ locked all the doors behind them.
II Then all sWaS Quiet. S5h r. Still {yya Ifnd