The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-20
CHAPTER, xLv1.-continued.


Olive to place tine resemblance which
had perplexed her before. 1t was Sell
ma Hammond's face which his recalled.
His mention of the name, Selma, had
helped her memory; and she saw at
once that here was something which
She ought to be able to turn TO good ac-
count.
After she had done the work which
was waiting for her. she went up to
her room and wrote a letter to Mr..
Easement. urging him to find the girl as
soon as possible and have her within
reach to be brought to the Manor the
instant 1t became necessary.
She must set herself at once to win
upon Purvis and secure his confidence
II was clear that he knew the whole
history OF the Merridews in days gone
by. He held the clue to that old mar
riage. therefore, and from him she could
get the truth.
Another thing was clear. AS Purvis
had spoken OF Mrs. MerrIdew as his
wife. She must have married him,
knowing well that she was already
married to her father. supposing that
that marriage had really taken place;
and 1t was with sinking heart that
che saw how Purvlss story. so far as
she had heard IL, confirmed the Merri-
dews' statement.
Everything agreed In pointing In the
same direction. Indeed. The further she
probed, the stronger appeared tho evil
dence in favor OF that marriage The
photograph with its inscription, My
wife that Is to be-" had been the first
thing to really Brighten her; and now
that Purvis had arrived-the event
from which she had hoped SO much
his account only added to her fears.
When Merridew returned Olive could
not get away to listen to the meeting
between the two men; and when at
night she stole out to listen she heard
little OF any importance.
Mrs. Merridew was in bed and the
two were closeted together in Merri-
,iew's room. Taking risk. she switched
Off the light In the corridor and
crouchel in the darkness, with her ear
TO the keyhole in the effort to learn
what passed.
She could only gather that sort of
truce had apparently been made, and
the scent OF cigars and the clink of
glasses told that they We're drinking
and smoking together The voices Were
not raised in anger.
For two hours she waited, until the
movement of chairs warned her that
shey were coming out She ran back
and hid. Soon the door opened and
.liey came out together. Both had been
Drinking, and Purvis was so helpless
hat Merrdew had to support him. He
was muttering and mumbling inco-
horently as they passed Olive, anc
Merridew was humoring him.
They went into bedroom close by
Which Olive herself had had to gel
ready for the visitor. and she heart
tliem fumbling about in the dark, til
Merridew found the switch, and turned
mp the light.
Both remained some time ii, TIL.
room: Merridew apparently helping
Puryis to undress. and at length the
former came ont alone. AS he turned
10 shut the door. the light from within
fell on his face and showed it drawn
wrathful. sinister and murderous He
paused a moment outside the room, his
hands clencfed, and then went to his
own room.
Olive had seen such a look on hi.
face before. and understood 1t. I
dashed across her thoughts that alread,
his mind was full of the intent to clea
from his path the man who had thu
unexpectedly appeared to menace him
nnd she waited on In her hiding plac
lest he should make some attempt tina
very night. s8t
She knew his reckless daring an,
that he would face almost any risk t.
carry his purpose. Another thing sh
gaw--that the risk would be less If TIL
thing were done ut once. before Purvi
could have had time to get known t
the neighborhood.
So far, only the rootman who hn
admitted him, the cabman who sha
brought him. and Olive herself kneN
of his presence in the house, Mrs
Merridew herself had given Olive he
orders to prepare the room and not I
mention the matter.
With these lhoughte whirlng throug
her head together with a vague pei
s reption That it was to her INTEREST i
protecr Purvis, she heard Merrldew
door open, and saw him come out int
the corridor
He switched up the light a secon
10 make sure that no one was abou
then turned it off again and crer
softly along to the room where Pnrv4
lay snoringeso heavily In his drunke
slumber that the sounds reached Div
She shranS close into her hidtn
place as he came OH ~.
6 Had he, too, recognized thats6tE
4 "a sooner Lhs, fsll work was done the 4l.s'