The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-22
Or the Parmenter Millions
By ARTHUR w. MARCEIMONT,
Author Of By Right Of Sword" When Was Gar Etc.
Copyright, 1907, BY Arthur w. MarchmonD

| 3.
Don't you talk about sleeping II off.
| You'll sleep soundly enough * down
there" and Mrs. Tlsley stretched out
her lean hand toward the window again,
lsputtered OUT the words vindictively,
and Their nodded at Olive with a leer,
lcunning, malicious, triumphant and bib
uloGs.
Olive smiled with deliberate provo
cation. II suppose you have no idea
OF how extremely silly you look when
you're In this maudlin state. Mrs. It's
ley she said. but pray don't think
| I believe word you say, or that
| you frighten me In tho slightest de-
gree"
This drew another outburst with
further references to the mine shaft.
and jeering hints OF the terrors of
starvation. But as no fresh infor-
nation was to be cleaned from the
repetition of the threats, Olive ceased
to provoke the woman
Another thought had occurred to
her, indeed--to take advantage of the
woman's condition to 1ys II MerrideW
was really away from the house this
old crone was too feeble to prevent
an escape. In the middle of her ha-
rangue, therefore, Olive rose. saying
she would go and look at the mine
shaft OF which she had heard SO much.
| Tho woman ran toward the door and
caught hold OF, Olive. The grip was
so feeble that Olive could have thrown
her aside without the least difficulty.
but Mt that moment she heard heavy
football In the house below and stop
ped.
y sho would not repent the mistake
OF the previous OCCASION. IL there was
a man In the house--whether Merrf-
dew or some other---she would not
succeed III getting away. She allow
ed the woman to appear to oyerpower
her, therefore. and to force her back
into her chair.
When she was alone again Olive
] Thought carefully over all that the wo-
man had said. She had been telling
| TIE truth Her small. vicious nature
| had found pleasure in haunting her
/ victim with the fate in store for her,
! dwelling With catllke pleasure upon
| the torture she thought she was. in
/ nictiag.
4 Placing ner ono chair close to the
/ window, she was able to see the shalt
of which the woman had spoken wish
| such insistent malice. 1t was situated
about hundred yards from the back
/ door of the house. and SO placed that
/ it was quite possible for any one not
Knowing OF It's whereabouts to fall
into 1t.
II was Just such n means as Merit
/ dew's cunning would be likely 10 en-
/ ploy. II he We're 10 throw her down
| the shaft alive-and the woman had
laid stress on the fact that size was to
die of starvation-there would be no
| prospect save that of certain death.
Nor would there be any proof of
J murder. There might be suspicion;
there must be that of course. but Mer-
ridew would not be stopped by any
such consideration as that. We had
/ taken that risk all through his career.
Besides there was n great chance that
! her body would never be discovered
Yes, she believed the woman's story.
/ Merridew had had ceremony OF mar
/ riage gone through. and could produce
4 his witnesses and the forged register,
.lif he were ever driven to fight his
claim to Silverbeech and the fortune:
4 and 1t would be the easiest thing In
/ the world for him at once to spread
the report of their marriage. coupled
with some lie to the effect that she had
| run away from him directly after
ward and had mysteriously disap-
i peared.
1 That mine would never reveal Its
/ grim secret. 1t would indeed be easily
practicable for him to purchase the
place, If 1t was not already his, and fill
up the shaft and so bury the secret
4 The devilish cunning of the plan was
worthy of the man,
1t fascinated her, and 1t required all
I the strength OF will In her nature TO
enable her to tear herself away from
4 the thought of it and turn to her Bible.
With sheer logged perseverance, she
fastened her attention on what she
read until the calm and solace of the
I holy words soothed and cheered her.
IN q a
hours slipped away unnoticed, and it
i was not until the dusk was closing in
and reading became difficult that she
4 remembered the woman had not
brought her tea/at the usual time.
y Any change from the routine of the
day was an object OF suspicion, and
4 when she closed her book 1t was to sit
considering whether the omission lad
), any sinister significance.
! The little room was almost dark
when Mrs. Tisley arrived. She was
\ now in very different mood Nc
4 longer truculent, insolent and abusive
! but sleek, sly and cringing almost
Y She was sorry she had forgotten the
\, tea. but had been busy. She was afraid
! Olive would be both hungry an6
!, thirsty. but she had brought more
bread and butter than usual. She SET
it on the table with a sm..,k and wen,
/. away.
; Her mind l<eeny on the alert, Olive
Tread all this as full OF suspicion ano
was instantly on her guard. Tho mea
had been kept back in order that hel
!. hunger and thirst might make her the
) more eager for it and more likely Il
take 1t without question.
A sharp and rapid scrutiny of every
thing on the table convinced her tina
/, both the tea and milk We're dangerous
!, and she was about to pour them ava.
d when she caught the sound of a ste,
on the stair. She poured outea cup o
, tea quickly. and was apparently put
, ting it to her lips when Merridey
, entered.
Afew words only passed He aske
!, her If she meant to do what he re
quired, ard when she refused, he an
ltnounced that he had changed his plan
ii and was going away at once, haVin
: resolved to keep Olive prisoner unit
i she yielded,
+ ASH refusing to even listen to- hin
I, she put the cup to her lips and besa
T. to drink the tea, She did 1t quit
naturally, Sas though she had not
I shade OF do%Abt about the8contents, Bu
I she saw him glance as he went GU
"a n '3t1Nt