The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-20

them Merridew would not dare to take
the risk OF going near Purvis; and 4
every hour she could keep him away
would serve to render more probable
the suggestion that the latter had
| made his escape.
With the servants in this mood OF
| fiat rebellion, olive mad0a another
clever move. She started rumor that
all the commotion had been caused by
| the new master: and while Merridew's
back was turned for n moment some OF
them began knocking at his door and
calling to him.
| Hearing this. Arerridew came rush
ing up in great alarm and drove them
away. He stood with his back to the
door and again ordered them all to
4 bed. Olive could guess his reason for
not daring to let them enter the room.
He had carried Puryts out, clad only In
\ his night shirt, and had not yet had
time to return and make away with
| the mans clothes and arrange the room
to look as IL Purvis had really fed.
1 His present action would be full OF
\ suspicion when the facts came out:
and she read In his agitated looks that
he perceived this clearly enough. She
saw yet another move che could mako
| later on. She was desperately eager
leave the rest of the servants; and she
contrived matters SO that Merridew
1 should not have any chance of getting
either to the bedroom or to Purvis
himself Merridew was like n1adrnan
In his fury at this apparently acci-
4 dental espionage. and Olive worked on
4 1t cunningly. The corridor would be
4 cleared now and then for minute or
two; and in the belief that he could
safely set about that which was essen
tial for his safety. he would make n
4 start. Then Olive would start some
q report. and with one or two OF the
4 girls would go flying up to the landing:
I and the hubbub would break out all
over again..
In this way she wore him out until
! he felt the net closing round him. The
entire failure of his scheme was grow
Ing irnminents and the evidence against
him increasing steadily. while he chafed
and raved In his Impotent efforts to .
prevent IT..
Once. for few minutes. Olive stole
: away and rushed to Purvis, taking
With her some milk and bread. He
had recovered consciousness. but was
faint and i'll from tho terrible blow
, he had received.
Hurriedly she explained what had
occurred. He remembered awaking to
!. find Merridew about to strike him and
the slight struggle he had made, but
nothing more until he had come TO
i, himself She assured him she could
and would save him: and that her plan
: was to wait until she could get him
some clothes and then smuggle him,
!, out OF the house that evening. But
II this was to be done. he must stay
where he was and make no noise or
disturbance of any sort. Merridew
J Must be led to believe that he had
Z, already got away.
al With this promise, which he gave
e readily. she rushed off to make her
: next move. It was now the time when
the ordinary work of the house COM
g menced, and getting the i,ousekeeper's
d Ispsss keys to the bedrooms. she took
v advantage of Merridew's absence and,
}, broom and dustpanain hand, she Went
+ | to Purvis's room and threw the door
wide open.
d Then with loud scream and shouts
s for help. she rushed to the head Of the
: main staircase and fell down as it
II fainting
II Merridew ran out from his mothers
!, room. and the servants came rushing
Y from all directions to learn the causa
"What is 1t now?" demanded Ner
4, rtdew. angrny.
ri Sure It's murther, it's murther. i'll
: slurther," cried Olive. shrieking and
screaming hysterically, and pointing
toward Purvis's room. "Oi whit to
Il clene the new masther's room-oh, oil.
& obi" she screamed again.
."rhe girls mad! Send her out OF
g the house." cried Merrtdew. white to
il the lips.
Il But it was too late to stay the SER
e wants. Some of them ran to the room
t and saw the condition OF things for
themselves. That this had been the
d cnuse of all the disturbance of the
q previous night was an inference patent
n tn them all;N and once again very
! pandemoniunl of confusion was let
n loose.
:. you set OF FOOLS roared Merridew.
e I5",ro make this Internal row because
h the man has got sup and gone out for
@ a walk. That's all 1t means"
q Sure he's kilt himsilf first thin.
cried Olive. For wild mo own dyes
e / seen his ghost whn l inferred hould-
oil ing up this" and she picked up the
: weapon with which the blow had been
III struck and showed signs of renewing
* Ter hysterical outbursts.
a The rest We're too scared to laugh
l. lnt the Irtshism, but Merridew turned
on her sayagely
III "You Irish idiot, how could a man
ID Kill himself and go out? You're lll..a
$. OF drunk with fright"
IN sure I'll ntver be able to clane this
10 room by mysilf. at tall, at ALL ste
lie answered with apparent inconsequence.
s. and began to sweep the carpet as y
1t not knowing what she was doing III
her panic.
10 "Had we better send for the ponce.
l. sir?" asked one of the men.
l. police? No, you idiot" stormed
AIerridew. MIR. Purvis has gone out
l. without our seeing him. that's all. me
is room was locked when tried to rouse
err him before. Go down stairs. you men;
,e and Mrs. Cooper. II you want to Keep
N your situation here. just set these girls
A. to work and restore some sort o.
I'd order"
Tho men went away then, and Mrs.
70 Cooper hustled one or two of the maids
u out Of the room, telling one OF theHA
ut to remain and help olive,
Il, "How did you get into the room,
,rtl girl" Merridew asked Olive.
"Sure. lust opened the door, sor.
= lsthat was all" she answered. trembling
-, .,l,i.. ~ fINaA