The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-13

changed while In Mrs. Tnunton's keep
ing. or else the wrong paper had been
stolen in the first instance.
Merridew was bitterly angry. He
WAS equally positive that Mrs. Tann-
ton had nothing to do with 1t. and
even limited that his mother, In her
fear at having the thing In the house,
had herself made the exchange. In this
strain they wrangled for an hour.
Then she asked about Purvis. He am
swered with an ont1. and added that
he had sent q cable to Chicago. which
would reach Purvis on leaving prison,
together with money to take him
across the Atlantic. but his thoughts
We're all OF the mysterious change Of
the paper. and lie continued to harp
on the subject, repeating his belief
that In some way Dawle.gh had found
out about 1t and had served him this
trick. He had always suspected the
valet of being a spy on him.
All the next day this condition of
storm continued Merridew had u series
of q,iarrels with every one with whom
he came in contact. his mother and the
valet In particular And in the after
noon. when starting for n ride In his
car. he abused the chauffeur for some
trifling fault. aid ended by knocking
the man out OF the car and starting
alone.
Mrs Merridew's nervous unrest was
Increased by all this until she was
really i'll. She lay on the couch in her
room PROSTATE and miserable. olive
icontrfved to be chosen to take her tea
up to her. and when she saw the mis-
cradle. hunted look In her eyes, she
tune which she had schemed to get had
done her little good. indeed, thought
Olive.
wouldn't We have the doctor ma'am?
Or Is there nothin' can get yer?'
II am not III. girl" was the cross
reply. II haven't slept for night or
two through neuralgia. That's ALL
would be bathin' your face again.
ma'am? 1t did yer power Of good the
other mornin'."
Eyes. get the eau de cologne"
She fetched 1t and bathed Mrs. Mer-
ridew's forehead You have a gentle
touch. girl. Tor all your roughness."
That's what my dear ould mither
used to say whin rubbed Her for the
rheumatics. ma'am. All. she was a suf-
ferer now. il you loiks. Was ye liver in
.Oireland. ma'am?"
Don't worry me- said Mrs. Merri
dew testify.
Olive went on bathing her face with
out speaking. and in the silence they
heard the sounds of wheels on the
gravel OF the drive.
Mrs. Merridew sprang UP on the in
slant. What's that? Go and see. At
once. Never mind anything else. Go
and see." she cried excitedly
Sure. it's only a cab. na'am." said
Olive. going to tho window.
Yes. but who is in 1T? Go and find
out and come and tell me ut once.
Quick, quick. Do what say and don't
stand staring there like BOBBY
Olive hurried out OF the room. ran
down the front flight of stairs and
looked into the hall.
The cab driver had Just set down his
passenger, and the two We're wrang-
ling about the fare. The quarrel end
ed by the passenger turning, away with
an oath and entering the house with
a stumbling. dragging step.
Olive had good view of him as he
came UP the steps. An old man of
powerful frame. but bent and bowed.
and wearing clothes that We're new
and ill-htting: coarse features. clean
shaven, wearing wig which had no
sort Of color relationship with the
.bushy gray eyebrows from under which
ipeered a pair of small brown eyes. rest
less, furtive and hunted in express
sion.
Old, harried. lined and ~repugnant as
the face was. Olive recognized it at
once as, that of the man whose photo
graph she had found in Mrs Merridew's
ldesk-Gcorge Purvis--and 1t suggested
a resemblance to some other face she
had seen recently. but could not place.
II want to see Mrs. Merridew--Mrs.
Rachel Merridew," said the man. The
use of the Christian name confirmed
Olive in her belief.
'.What name shall4I say?" asked the
footnan.
Never mind the name, my man. Take
my message"
IT will see II my mistress can see
your and he put him In the little
room where visitors of uncertain po-
aition were left to wait
Olive went down and met the FOOT
man. '"That'll be the sintleman ! was
to take right up to her the minute he
came" she said. and waited While Pur-
yis wns fetched. She walked up in front
or him.
AZ she opened the door Mrs. Merri-
dew asked eagerly: We'll. what was
lit"
"Shure, here is tho gintieman, ma'a'n'
+ 3 j :
She made way and Purv's stepped
forward.
swell. Rachel" he said.
There was no reply. Mrs. Merrlde@
mad fallen back unconscious.
CHAPTER NLNT.
Husband and Wife.
The stroke which Olive had dealt ny
bringing Purvis straight into the pres
ence of Mrs. Merridew had gone right
home, and uttering u little cry she
5lsnelt by the unconscious woman ana
set about restoring her.
Purvis looked on With q GRIM marc
smile, then sat down to wait for the
return slof consciousness. It's only
Painting at from JOY at seeing me. Let
her blde a bit, my girl Shell come
around all right" he said presently.
otis deadly III she Is. sor. shes
been ailin' badly this last day or two,
replted olive. ooh, my dear MISTRESS
''Ah, got wind IN some way OF inc
pleasure In store for her, ne sala
itiriy, and grinned-
AN it's meslf that's caused this
by bringin' van up wiaout warnin';
and olive wrung her hands. "Sure, lts
discharged I'll be
"No. you won't. won't give YOU
.nway. Perhaps you did me u good turn.
-. i,pn,y{np NJ That'll he all right