The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-18
nation. she nearly let her cup fall in

! nation. she nearly let her cup fall in
establishment.
"Sakes alive! You don't say! Why,
you're the Miss he came over to MARI
Try! II he knew we'd met, he wouldn't
ray a thing! My!" shn cried. Should
think would tell you! And after what
| you did for me to-day, too
After some moments out came her
story. She had been brought up by
Mrs. Merride% as drudge; put to do
all the household work. with kicks.
\ blows. and abuse az her only payment.
/ thrust into thousand temptations, and
| Mt last, when the rest were forced to
| leave the States. put into prison on
| false charge OF theft.
| olives blood boiled as she listened
| to the recital.
but I'm getting some of my own
backs' continued Selma II told you
| was getting wise to their plans; and
| I'll tell YOU. He was the head OF a
| bunch OF crooks-thieves, you know
hut swell thieves-and had to skip.
That was when he came over to find
and marry you. 1 don't know the
whole OF that game; but 1t was crooked.
you bet. When I came out of prison
l heard he had come over to this side.
and one OF tho gang they had bested
1
| low, and told me where to find some OF
| the bunch. rounded them up, all
| right. all right. and then bluffed them
into taking care of me-
| do you really mean that Gilbert
Merridew is n theft" cried Olive.
You ask any police captain in Chi
cago. About as warm stuff az any
crook. Why. the gang is operating
| here in London. There's Nine. Bon.
court at the head with him. She's
swell head, sure. Does the society play
somewhere in London; spreads herself
| with n big splash. but a crook like the
rest sure. There's big scheme on
| now about some pa sers in which some
one in your Foreign Bureau. or what
ever It Is called, Is involved"
The Foreign Office. do you mean?'
cried Olive. eagerly. She was now in
tcnsely excited. .'Do you know the
name? Was 1T F'eIlowes7''
II don't know: but I can find 1t all
out; should like TO do It for you. be-
cause I'd like TO see you again sha
said very simply. Guess you're about
the only soul in this big city of yours
| I'd care to, either
For a moment Olive hesitated wheth-
err to tell the whole story of the Mer-
| ridews' treatment of her TO this
| strange girl, but decided 10 walt for :.
| while; at all events until a future
| meeting. when can SEQ you again2'
she asked You will do me a service
shall remember all my life II you
can get me the information about all
| this"
sure WILL Either meet mo any
where you like or come here, say, in
| two days time. Ill have 1t all right.
all right"
THANK Heaven we have met" cried
| Olive earnestly. ''Eut you'll not say
n word about me?''
| That's cinch, sure was the re-
ply. with a smile. III they got wise
| to it. guess they'd be mad and just
| want TO put the seas between U.S."
| Then you had better know how IL
| write to me in case of need" said OIL
| I've shrewdly: and she wrote down Mr..
Easements address and gave 1t to Sell
| ma.
The girl took the paper. read 1t over
| two or three times. and then lit a
match and burnt 1t very deliberately.
Reckon It's safer" she said laconi-
,caily.
| With smile at her caution, Olive
rose to leave. She was anxious to get
away to think over all she had learn
| ed. Selma, held her hand and looked
| wistfully into her eyes. Guess you're
about the only girl I eyer thought I'd
care to kiss she said, neryously, and
almost sadly. But maybe you don't
cotton to zach tricks. Don't, II you
don't mean 1t. i know you're white,
I've sized you up
But I do declared Olive and
/ kissed her.
Selma sighed. II hope we shall meet
again; but 1t would be just my luck
| not to-.
Impulsively Olive kissed her again.
She was deeply touched by the weary
I 4 Az
shall be friends. Selma, you'll see" she
| said y
/ i just love to hear you say that. but
p, and she finished with doleful
shake OF the head and another deep
sigh as the tears welled up In her
eyes. Your going Just makes me feel
awful lonesome again, YOU bet yer.
1 Don't forget me-"
/ When Olive left the house she hurried
Loft at quick pace, and calling the
I-hrst hanson she met drove home; and
on the drive her thoughts were busy
with all the strange news she had
Learned from Selma Hammond. And
the girl was to the full as strange as
the story she had told. Olive was.
however, fully convinced Of her sln-
|cerlty.
1T is like special intervention OF
Providence" she said to herself Just
when she had been on the verge OF
Il
i her belief In Gilbert Merridew's rascal
Elty had come to urge her forward with
Iredn4bled energy.
Y Gideon Mawford! a Chicago crook
4 and a leader OF crooks! She knew the
.neaniflg OF the term we'll enough, and
In d moment 1t was plain how he and
his mother had been able to concoct
their plans against her at Sheffield SO
rapidly. They had been able to use
some OF the BUNCH as Selma had
termed them.
1T was indeed a momentous dscov-
cry, and Olive was bursting to tell
Jack airithe great news. She debated
with herself whether she should not
tell Inspector Robson, when they were
discussing that evening the incident
In which he had rendered her such
Timely help in the afternoon. But shs q
decided to tell Jack first; and after
ward. IF necessary, to run down and
4 discuss 1t with Mr.. Easement
She put one question to tho In
spector. Turning the conversation
i iCot 5o,l tI, 1t..eI mo pH q