The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-01


had forbidden her to give their names.
Having resolved to make the most
of that excuse, in default OF any other,
she turned to consider the story she
should tell about the events at Crom-
well Gardens. This was comparatively
easy. She had really found out moth
ing of consequences, even IT she had
bean wishfu1 to tell 1t. There could be
no harm in saying that the Minister
lay in bed late in the morning, and
that Jack brought papers to him which
were dealt with in the room adjoining
the great mans bedroom; or again,
that no papers of any consequence
We're kept at the house.
But there was the terrible alterna-
tive to be faced--that Merridew recog-
nized her. She sat with pursed lips
and frowning brow as she thought OF
this, and tried to form some plan or
action. She saw the peril ahead Oh
her quite clearly. and 1T frightened
her. Her very life would be at stake.
She had seen for herself that these
men were resolute, desperate and very
dangerous. They were stalking their
safety and perhaps their lives on the
issue of the conflict they carried on
against society and the law. Treachery
was the one great capital crime they
would never pardon. Their own Sc
curity made it essential that any act
of the kind should be punished to the
uttermost. And, IL Merridew recos-
nized her. single word from MIN
would be her death sentence.
That he would gladly speak that
word It was impossible for her to
doubt. Her death meant everything
10 him in regard to her fathers Tor
tune. He had already planned II, IN
deed. she believed. in that attack upon
her on the journey to Sheffield.
Nor could she look for one single
syllable TO be uttered In her defence.
While Karl Hartmann believed IN her.
he would stand by her. But Wnen ne
learned that she had not only betrayeo
the rest. but had fooled him In order
TO get the opportunity, hate would
take the place of every other feeIns
and he would become her worst enemy
and the loudest in demanding her
punishment.
She had been playing with fire, mad
tritied designedly with these nerce pas
sions. and had aroused forces whicn
would be merciless in the hour OF her
discovery.
Her thoughts might we'll be gloomy.
and when Anna came at length to
call her to go with them. 1t was all she
could do TO assume the air OF lndlt-
ference and composare by which alone
she could hope to fight off discovery.
Anv thought she had entertained OF
attempting an escape on the way, 10
the meeting was checkmated by the
arraneements Rosensteln had made. Il
four-wheel cab was waiting at the
door. and Rosenstein rode inside with
Karl and her, while his compalon
mounted the box with the driver.
If he had anticipated her secret
thoughts he could not more effectually
have frustrated them. That he was
determined to get her to the meeting
was clear; and that he would do his
worst for her when there, his sullen,
angry looks evidenced.
The meeting was to take place in
Rosenstein's house--a detached build
ing situated in quiet square on the
border line between Clerkenwell and
Islington-a place admirably situated
for such purpose. 1hueeo'
the more Olive saw of tho arrange
ments of the men, the more she was
impressed by the thoroughness with
which all their plans We're conducted
Method was revealed in every par
ticuar
Very little was said during the drive.
IRosensteins presence was restraint
on Karl and Olive was not sorry. 1t
would have been difficult to talk on
any subjects except that of which all
were alike full. and to speak about that
would onsy have led to alteration
and quarrelling.
Olive was glad to be left to think.
indeed. AS the hour of crisis approach
ed her courage rose to meet 1t. AL
though she realized to the full the ma
ture of the peril. and could not see
any way out of IT, she had. neverthe-
less a conviction that some way would
be found.
1t was true that she had fooled these
men, that she had crept into their
secrets, using falschoods and deceit for
that purpose: and that IL the need
came she meant to betray them. But
at the same time her motive had been
right. She was lighting against foul
wrong and evil, striving to unmask
a scheme OF villainy and scoundrelism.
and doing, sturdy battle for her own
! rights and her lovers safety.
! She could not believe, therefore, that
they were destined to triumph over
her But how the victory was to he
won in the face of the terrible coils
4 that surrounded and held her. she
could not see.
| wien at iSH6lil tile dllSi
they all alighted she was perfectly cool
land collected--cooler. indeed, than the
rest, They left the vehicle some little
I way before they reached their des-
tination and stood together in a group
until 1t had driven off. Then they
walked some few hundred yards, Rosen.
stein and hts companion being behind
and Karl by Olives side.
Even when they reached the house,
Rosensten went forward alone to open
! the door leaving his companion stand
ing behind Olive. He was obviously
resolved 10 prevent any attempt at
escape even at eslast minute,
Some of the others had already
arrived ana as they paused second
lin the narrow, dimly lighted hallway
IQlive gave an Involuntary start and
caught her breath as she heard Gil
bert Merridew's strong, strident, com
K mandng voice.
4 The hour of crisis had come at length
CHATTER NV.
II The Trial of n Traitor.
a Rosens:ein brushed past them as the,
. stood in the hall and opened -the sec.
ond door Ii proved to he Il room be-
tween the front narlor and nne Ia.