The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-20
Copyright 1907. BY Arthur w. Marchmon

this, somehow, and ind out who you
are and what your game is Come on"
and no dragged her roughly across the
room to the door.
CHAPTER ixLvI1T.
In the Dend Of Night.
Only the meresty accident saved Olive |
from the discovery which must have
followed had Purvis carried out his
to take her up to the presence
of Mrs. Merridew to repeat to her the
story about Selma Hammond.
In his anger Purvls stumbled against
chaif. and for the moment loosened
his grip on olives arm. With a sud-
den jerk she freed herself and darted
back to the window; and just at the
moment two OF the gardeners crossed
the gravel path on to the lawn and
began to work at flower bed.
III We Nitrate me loike that ag'fn I'll
call for help. sor; but II yen let me
bide I'll tell ye all know. Ye've
no call to trate me loike this" she said.
AN IL we were to do what we said, ye'd
be afther niver SEEM your child ngin."
In his fury ho had started to capture
her again. but paused at seeing the
two men outside. Tell me, then" he
said sternly. .rhis is every thing in
the world to me, mind"
Olive told him then all that she
knew of Selma; that she was certainly
his daughter, and had told her OF the
Merridews and her life with them; that
she did not know Mrs. Merridew was
her mother. and had no recollection of
him: and that when 1t had been found
out that she and Selma had met, the
girl had been taken away.
If he now said word of this to
either the mother or the son. she
warned him that Selma would be GER
tainly taken away and placed out OF
his reach.
He listened intently, only breaking
in now and then with fierce oath of
rage aiai threats OF what he would
do to revenge his childs treatment.
But when Olive ended by saying that
she believed she would be able to get
at Selma, and that some friends, whom
she had Interested In her, were at that
moment seeking her and had In all
probability found her, his rage changed
to emotion, and he nearly broke down.
Sure, my heart was just breakin'
for the poor colleen. dear. swate thing
that she is, and as innocent of wrong
as babe, an calm me her only frind
in all the world: an what could / do.
whin I came here and found out who
they was, but try to help her? An
now you would ruin me for it,
| mo, no. Mollie. Don't be scared. I
| won't breathe word of what you've
told me till my girl is safe in my
arms again. You're n good girl, a
peach OF a girls and no one shall hurt
you. I know too much for these folks
to think of crossing me. Don't cry
now" he added. for Olive appeared to
be sob bling violently.
ooh! It's ruined OF am entoirely, an
all for dom Kindness" she walled.
refusing to be comforted. They'll
/ turn me out widout iver a word of
character; an whnt1l OF be afther
dom thin?" and her sobs increased in
violence.
Turn you out! I'd like to see 'eni
try it. I'd turn them out first. Why,
word from me and all this He
checked himself abruptly.
"Ohl it's not you, sor. but the mis-
tress. your wolfe, that 'ud do it. oh.
what'll OF do? Whatll OF do? A day
| of black sorrow is this for me, aIonna.'
T. Come, my girl. cheer up. I can't
tell you why. but I've got tho whip
here and could bring all this tumbling
about their ears: and they won't dare
to touch you IL I only crack it. MY
little Selma's friend is my friend. Come
cheer up"
AT this Olive consented to be COM
forted Having got out of a very nwk-
ward predicament and having gained
/ in addition most encouraging informa-
ton, she had no further use for tears
/ She exacted n promise from Purvis
that on no account would he let fall
4 q hint of what she had told him, and
gave one in return that she would lei
i him know the instant she had news
4 of Selma.
They were excellent friends when
i they parted, and Olive returned to the
I servants hall to be nssailed with g
hundred questions as to what the new
master had had to say to her during
the long time he had kept her talking
to him It was little difficult tc
fence with the eager curiosity which
had thus been aroused. but Olives
4 laughing good nature, aided by some
. Slight invention, succeeded.
:. She avoided Purvis for the rest OF
the day. and. as Mrs. Merridew re.
NAMED in bed, there was nothing t
lprevent Olive from having a Ions
| nights rest
On the following day matters had il
], some degree settled down in the house
! hold, and Mrs. Cooper kept tho ser
!. wants hard at work to make up To-
; the previous days slackness. Oliv'
again avoided Purvts but he foun,
her once to ask whether She had We
= had any news OF Selma
(, No more than half dozen sentences
passed between them but furthe
!, reference which he made to his hol,
over, the Merridew's started q fresl
!. train of thought in olives mind.
She was growing very anxious I
! hear that Mr.. Easement had foun
ii Selma, and her plan was to worl
q through the girl to induce Purvis t
3 tell her all he knew about the Merri
/. dews. and especially about the oil
t marriage. 1t was a problem bese
1 with the greatest difficulties. II Pur
! Wis really had the hold he. said owe
4 the others and could force them +
! do an he wished, it was, OF course
4 lin the highest degree Improbable tina
d he would say anything which woul
i affect their possession of q forum
+ from which he could look to gain $
( great a share
4 HsIr he could be goaded to passion h
!. would speak Hell had shown her tina
I during the interview of the pYeviou
y day, He had also displayed dee
Iaffectton for Selma, but no was not
) t,,,o - l,t,hn,n any sentiment eXcept rag