The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-20
CHAPTER xLvI1.
Uuryts Asserts IIiinself.


curtain which hung across the niche
in which she stood. and hs he went
by the scent of almonds was borne to
her nostrils. She knew the smell
prussic acid.
Murder was in his mind, and the
problem of how to prevent the crime
without discovering herself pressed
upon Olive. The circumstances were
such that even slight alarm raised
in the house would frighten Merridew.
But how was she to raise 1t. and how
at the same time rouse Plirvis to a
sense Of his danger2 Rack her wits as
site would, no expedient occurred to
her.
Merrfdew reached the door and stood
listening to the noisy sleep of his in
tended victim within. AS his fingers
closed ON the handle of the door Olive
felt an all but uncomfortable impulse
to scream. and she had to c1ench her
hands and press them to her bosom in
the strain Of that moment.
But the next instant the tension WAS
relaxed. Either some subtle instinct
had warned Purvis OF his danger. or
he had been shamming drunkenness In
order to test Merridew, for the door
was wrcnched open from within. and
the two men stood confronting each
OtDer IaCe 10 lace.
Merridew staggered back In his sur
prise and stared at Purvis, white-faced
and ahashed.
"Hullo, Gilbert. what Is it?" cried
Purvls. in voice thick with drink
assumed, as Olive believed. II had
dream that some one was trying the
door," and he hiccoughed and reeled
against the door frame as IL helpless
with liHuor.
Merridcw's lips moved without words
coming for the moment You cried
out in your sleep. and I thought you
were H." he stammered then.
I'm all right. I'm all right, boy.
Don't you worry about me. Go to bed
yourself. and he hanged to YOU" and
he staggered back into the room,
between Purvis and Mrs. Merridew. the
latter had not attempted to deny the
truth of his assertion that he was her
husband
Merridcw gazed an instant. at tho
locked door and then turned with un-
steady steps and crept back to his own
room.
Convinced that there would be mo
renewal of the attempt that night, and
that Purvis was thoroughly on the
watch, Olive sped away silently up
stairs.
The next morning there was vio-
LENT quarrel between the two men. 1t
was spoken of openly In the servants
hall. Purvis had announced openly tina;
he was Mrs. Mcrridew's husband: the
son had denied it to his face before
two OF the servants. and had left the
house, threatening That II Purvis was
| there on his return he would be handed
over to tho police. Mrs Merridew, III
| and panic-stricken, remained in bed
Knowing the truth as she did, Olive
was puzzled by this step OF Merridew's
| In the conversation she had overheard
| 1t.
| police? But that there was some sim
| lister meaning behind the threat she
| did not doubt She had come to know
/ that he neither spoke nor acted with
out motive.
| Purvis meanwhile staggered about
| the Manor with all the air of owner
ship. He went through the stables and
| the gardens giving orders for this and
| that to be done. evidently resolved tc
assert his rights as master. The whole
household was agog with the excite.
ment OF the event. Work was neg.
lected and gossip incessant
! Dawlefgh had gone away with Mer.
ridew, and thus Olive was free from
his watchful. irksome attentions. She
had no use for him any longer. There
were far more. important matters tc
absorb all her thoughts than the vague
revelations about Merridew's pas
| which the valet had promised to tel
her.
She was bent on gaining Purvis':
favor. and the disorganized condition
Eof the household must be urged to hell
this purpose She was one of the onl,
servants who did any work. or rathe
appeared to do It. for she used tho pre-
text Of the work to find 4 chance o
/ speaking to Purvis.
4 1t came In the afternoon. Elatet
over the result of his quarrel witt
i Merridew. and knowing that his threa
about the police was mere air, Puryi
drank llberally OF the excellent win
+ the butler had put before him at lunch
4 con. He was In a loQuacious moo
and would have talked to the man, blu
the latter, being doubtful about hi
position. deemed silence the hes
L course.
After luncheon Purvis sat smoking
8 by the open French window of the Ii
brary when Olive. who knew where Ii
II was, passed on the veranda,
, Come here, YOU he called.
rs it me you name, sor?' she CRIED
I as If in establishment.
why, Its the little Irish girl. q
course It's YOU / mean. Come Il
here
Feigning reluctance Olive approache
the window.
"T mean here. inside the room. Com
along. / want TO talk to YOU" he in
sisted.
!. What moight your honor be please
Ito want wild meg" she asked.
: He winked slyly. IT kept that secre
!. for you all right. I told you you ha
: done me good turn. So you did. an
shun't forget it either. You're SAT
! Ito stay in this house, whoever, els
goes, you see If you aren't"
"Sure. I'm much obliged to you
: honour; but saw the loight OF koint
:, ness in your eyes the instant locke
:, into them"
!, We'll, look into them again and Sc
! If it's still there and lie laughed.
! "Oh sor" cried Olive shrinkin
, away.
:, : 8"Irs All right. girl. Don't you u
. afraid of mo, There are plenty wi
= H . 'N .