The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-20


worst fears.
The sound of blows. a groan. and
the noise OF a short struggle came
from Purviss bedroom.
Here, then. was the meaning OF the
secret return.
Murder
CHAPTER XLTN.
The Sacred Household.
AS Olive stood dazed and awestruck
by the gruesomc sounds OF the deed in
Purvis's bedroom, she saw in a flash
the meaning of what had so puzzled
her day or two before In Merridew's
conduct-his apparently empty threat
to hand Purvis over to the police.
1t was intended as the cover to this
deed OF blood. To account for HIS dis
appearance 1t would be very plausl-
BILE story that Purvis, hearing of Mer
ridew's intended return. had fled rath-
er than face him The cunning was
worthy OF the man.
Before Olive could decide what to do
tho door of Purviss room opened and
Merridew came out carrying the man
across his shoulders.
Purvis was not dead. Olive heard
his breathing as he was carried past
her hiding place; but he hung limp,
helpless and unconscious. and she saw
that his hands were tied to his sides.
Merrldew carried his victim along the
| corridor into n room in tho unused
wing OF the manor.
Olive jumped to the conclusion that
he had been afraid to complete the
work in the bedroom and mealit to fin
ish it in the deserted room.
This must be prevented at any risk;
and as soon. as she saw where he was
going. she darted out to raise an alarm.
| II possible she must do this without
letting 1t be known that 1t was her
act; and the means occurred to her as
she ran.
| There was a big electric alarm bell
in the house which could be set clang-
ing from a push on every floor, and
one of the pushes was close to her
| room. Once started, 1t could only be
| stopped by an appliance below stairs.
| She set 1t to Changing and then
darted into her own room. She tore
off some of her clothes, and. as the
! frightened servants came rushing into
| the passages. she Joined them and ran
with them down stairs. making more
1 clatter and show of alarm than any
body.
. On the floor below Merridew, White
as death and trembling with rage and
demanded the cause of all the hubbub
who had r,ng the aiarpl bell and TO,
what cause.
4 To start the belief among the scared
maidscrvants that there were burglars
In the house was an easy matter; moth
| ing spreads faster than the contagion
of fear; and Olive, with a hint here, Il
start there, and a cry or two OF fright
soon convinced some of them that they
I had actually seen the thieves.
4 Some one must go round the house
or they would all be murdered In their
beds, was her next suggestion, put for.
ward through the frightened house
Keeper: and as soon as this was SET
4 tied upon and the commotlon was u,
its height, Olive succeeded in slipping
away.
She knew that Merrdew would be
afraid to go near his victim again until
! the commotion had died down, even Ii
; he had ventured to do anything more
!, at all that night; and she had thought
of means of saving Purvis.
n Ihe room to which MerrideW hal
J token him was one which led by &
secret means to an inner chnmbe,
J which had been one OF the famous hid
, Ing places OF old. This inner room
. was reached by the concealed stair.
case from the ground floor Of tho
/, unused wtng-the same staircase which
had enabled her to escape when sh,
. had followed Mrs. Merridew when thu
latter had hidden tho papers.
1t ran right from the top of tn,
bottom of the manor. Rushing up Il
!. her bedroom, Olive snatched up Il lit
: tie flask of brandy and bottle o
eau de cologne, threw on her. darl
!. cloak, descended the staircase, gained
i rI,o MI
/, tered the room where Purvis lay.
! She had been right. He was no
dead. and her little lamp soon enable,
;, her to see the extent OF his injuries
Hc had been struck a heavy blow OIL
. the head, and was stunned. But nj
. blood had been shed. Olive knew TIL
: reason. She had read of sandhaggins
, and Nerridew had had recourse to tina
: method with Purvls.
, For a long time she endeasored t
! restore him to consciousness, but with
: out success, and at last had to abau
q don her attempts.
a Precious time was passing, and with
out waiting for him to regain hi
i senses, she dragged him into the fnne
q chamber, and, returning. opened TIL
window OF the room where he had bee
: carried. intending to suggest the i'm
t preston that he had recovered an
z had strength to escape.
4 1t was now necessary for her to g
and see what was Passing in thu
+ house, and for this purpose she Wen
4 back upstairs. and, leaving her cloa
3 III her room, ran down to join the othe
servants.
Fear had now given way to curl
;. osiry and superstition. Who lla
!, sounded the alarm bell? No one knew
: NIerridew, furious at the interruptio
OF his scheme had offered ten pound
: 70, the Information, Nowing that tn
Z fool should be bundled neck and Gro
out OF tho house on the instant.
!, The men said the apparatus mus
:, have got out OF order, but the wonsel
y with the housekeeper at their iiea'
= set 1t down to ghosts. II was an ONE
y q. eyil Some one was going to die
and ut Olives cautious prompting moi
> than one OF them declare. that the
y would sit up for the rest OF the nigh
y Merridew wr, like u mailman whe
he heard of this. and sent them all Q
y to bed with the threat OF disnLssl
. for any one who refused to go, Oily
u knew his reason, and had so worke
% IN the fears of the rest that Withol