The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-06

56'sBut you must understand. I've told
Mrs. Merridew that you arc q thorough
take yousto see her now, and you must
isayeyou are" sl
4 Olive winked and nodded. I'll walk
round her. It's mesilf hasn't kissed
the blarney stone for nothin'"
Come. then. She's very dignified
per. So be careful
Sure, my mouth shall be as tender
as Pat Malone's when he put the
cracked egg in HIS mouth as bein' the
softest place about him."
And with this mask OF a Jest and a
merry laugh Olive followed the house,
Keeper for her first Int eryiew with the
enemy who had ruined her and whose
discover.
CHAPTER XII.
The stolen Paper.
view with Mrs. Merridew with her eyes
downcast and her hands crossed. and
dropped q little curtsey5 as if apprOpri-
ately awed and humble in the presence
of SO greats lady.
This is the new maid. madam" an
nouncad the housekeeper, and olive
cnrtseyed again, shot swift glance at
the mistress." and let her eyes fall
again instantly. Mrs Merrfdew was
looking at her very keenly, and Olive,
JAu6SO AuaI as lIspI Cu
less by desire to Judge her fitness
for a servants place than by her un-
easy distrust OF any stranger coming
into the house.
Olive had been quite confident that
she would not be recognized. II Mr.
been mtsled by the disguise. Mrs. Mer-
rtdew. who had seen SO little OF her,
was not likely to pierce It. Her conf
dence was justified.
rt,oS
Sure. it's Molly o'Brieh, maam."
This with her richest brogue.
y thought you knew did not like
Irish girls" said Mrs. Merridew to the
housekeeper. They are always chat
tering SO. hope you don't chatter.
GIRL
II hope know my place better nor
that, ma'am Father O'Clafferty would
tell your honor that"----
Interruption What Is her work, Mrs.
Cooper"
"she's between-maid, madam" repli-
ed the housekeeper.
do you know your work thorough
sure Mrs. Cooper can tell you that
same, ma'am.' replied Olive. slancins
| at the latter.
why. tho girls deformed. What's
the matter with your shoulder?'
a4uey IOlQ me grown 1dSlcTI3OIt
this side nor the other; ma,am.% and
Olive put her hand on the little hump
| she had fashioned and moved the arm
to prove that she could use 1t freely.
She's very, strong girl. madam.
declared Mrs. Cooper. eshe has proved
that already. And were very short
handed Just now"
Sure. I'm not short handed" pro-
tested Olive, as II misunderstanding
this to apply to, herself. See now"
and she stretched out her two hands
Even Mrs. Merridew's hard face re-
Taxed slightly at this. You have her
character, of course. Mrs. "COPPER""
From her last mistress personally.
saw her myself and said how par
the housekeeper. telling the Ito with
the utmost GOODNESS. She was three
years in her last place.
Very we'll Now mind, girl. do your
work we'll and you'll have q comforts
able place. That will do
Olive dropped another curtsey. and
the ordeal was over. Mrs. Cooper took
the door. ':You heard what said
about your work and your character.
I know ] t wasn't strictly true. and you
know 1t too. But you needn't tell any
one else, and shan't The mistress Is
q rare tartar, SO BIO on your guard
when you meet her. But she won't see
much OF you. can sec you will do,
and I've taken q fancy to you. wish
1 all the rest shaped as we'll as you.''3
With that Olite was dismissed to
her work. and set herself. to do it so
Thoroughly and with such unruffled
cheerfulness and willingness to help
\ the rest that every one&quickly grew
to like her.
She had stipulated before coming
that$she should have q room to herself,
land as she was always up first In the
house and was willing tot get things
READY for the rest OF the servants boz
fore they came down, sll Q was allowed
tn go to bed proportionatelN early
}5i It was then that her real task began
Hi searnest. She had brought withsher
1. along black cloak With hood so
i Fashioned that she could at need en-
tirelyg conceal even her face; and hid I
1 denim this she could move freely about
the house when she was supposed to
be in bod.
She had another advantage, Her
! position as between-ma!d enabled her,
even in the daytime. to be In any part
of the manor without rousing suspi-j
5|tcion. She used this freedom to make
.Iherself thoroughly familiar with every
|:change that had been made In the ar
4 arrangement OF the furniture, and for the
II flrSt might or Two Aner TOQ innings SWeIc
more to got accustomed to the work
OF spying and to enable herself to
move about silently and secretly and
i without knocking against chairs and
tables and any other furniture.
While about her work In the day
4 time, moreover, she contrived to ar
5lrange many little hiding places-little
1refuges to Which she could fly at need.
i or where she could conceal herself in
order to overhear conversations be-
A tween mo Their and son when the latter
\ arrived. u, WI
In all ithis her llnowledg 9 of 4 the
secret passage OF the house We're n of
i the greatest advantage to her, and5she
4 found means and opportunity to render
4 them all Il easy of access In case OF
4 emergency. Il li5 AZ Az Sl
4 Three days after her arrival she had
n la great 81 stroke Of luck, III n Mrs. Merri-
5|idew's bedroom she picked up a bunch
\ of key AS these would prove of the
utmost advantage In the secret searches
I she Intended to make. she had no hesi-
s|station In Keeping them, and placed
q ,themS a. terWard In secure hiding, IA
IA cons erabl o. stir 70 flowed tho loss
4 but as Mrs, Merridew had been out
d walking that dny,sEshe could not be
! positive that she had dropped them
4 indoors. The house was Sransacked