Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1906 — The Yellow Holly [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Yellow Holly

By FERGUS HUME,

Author of “The Mystery of a Hansom Cab,” Etc.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I—George Brendon, a young Londoner, visits his friend. Leonard Train, who has lodgings in the boarding house kept by Mrs. Jersey. Among the boarders lean elderly maiden lady. Miss Bull. Mrs. Jersey is startled by a piece of yellow holly worn by George. 11—George, whose real name is Vane, tells Train the story of his life. He is an orphan and the grandson of Lord Derrington, but the latter refuses to recognise the marriage of George's father (Lord Derrington's son), who had eloped. Brendon desires to establish his position as Lord Derrington’s heir in order to marry Dorothy Ward. The place of marriage of George's parents is known only to Mrs. Jersey, formerly maid to George's mother. His mother died at his birth, and his father had been murdered In San Remo, Italy, years before. Hl—ln the night Mrs. Jersey is killed with a stilleto by an unknown person. IV—Miss Bull takes charge of the house in behalf of Margery, neice of the murdered woman. The house has been leased from Lord Derrington. V—Mrs. Ward, a heartless society woman, mother of Dorothy, is opposed to Dorothy's marriage to Brendon. The yellow holly had been given to Dorothy by her mother and by the girl to George. Vl—Mr. Ireland, George’s former guardlun. tells him of his mother's marriage and death and his father's murder. The latter was killed after leaving a masked ball in company with a woman s blue domino — who wore a sprig of yellow holly. VII— George, seeking a confession known to have been left by Mrs. Jersey, visits Miss Bull and learns that the dead woman received an annuity from Lord Derrington. George saves a Mr. Bawdsey from death and learns that the latter lives in the Jersey house Vlll—Lola Velez, a dancer, is in love with George and is loved by Bawdsey. Lola's parents lived in San Remo at the time of the murder of Brendon’s father. IX and X—Mrs. Ward invites Trhin to dinner. Ho meets Lord Derrilngton. George visits Dorothy and makes a favorable impression on his grandfather. Mrs. Ward learns from Train that the latter found a yellow holly berry near the body of Mrs. Jersey. CHAPTER XI. UNDER the rule of Miss Bulltor Margery was a mere figurehead—the house in Amelia square was much more lively, but In spite of the air which certainly pervaded the house all things were very proper. Miss Bull was a lady and saw that things were kept decent The boarders feared her bright black eyes and her sharp tongue and were always glad when she retired te her sitting room. But Miss Bull was also liked, as she was a very affable hostess. Margery was now, as ever, her docile slave, and Miss Bull governed with a roti of iron.

Among the new boarders Miss Bull took most notice of Buwdsey, who occupied the mwius formerly inhabited by Train. On his arrival he had asked particularly for these rooms, saying that he had once lived in them when he stopped with Mrs. .Jersey many years before. After some thought Miss Bull remembered the man. He had boarded in the lu»use and had been a great favorite witli madame, but had later gone to America and for some time had remained away. lie expressed the greatest sorrow for the death of the old lady, but declared that he was very pleased with the house as managed by Miss Bull. The little woman liked him, as his conversation was amusing and he was most polite, but had she known that he was a private detective she might not have approved of him so much.

What Bawdsey was she never inquired, as she was the least curious of women. His habits were certainly eccentric, for sometimes he would remain away for a week ami at other times would stop constantly in the house. He often remained in bed for the day and had his meals brought to him. This he called his bed cure ami stated that he suffered from nerves. He told Miss Bull quite gratuitously that he had a small Income. "I am simple in my tastes.” said Mr. Bawdsey, “and what 1 have keeps me in luxury. But a man even of my age must be up and doing. Better to wear out than rust out.”

Miss Bull assented. She liked to hear Bawdsey tell of his travels, and frequently asked hinUinto her sitting room for that purpose. He seemed to have been everywhere and to have seen everything. It appeared from his own confession that he began his travels at the early’ age of seventeen, when he went to Milan. And the man talked freely about himself—so freely that Miss Bull, in spite of her suspicious nature, never dreamed that all this chatter was for the purpose of throwing dust in her sharp eyes. A week after the little dinner at Mrs. Ward's. BawdSey sfrnt a note to Brendon asking him to call on a certain afternoon, and when George, anxious to continue the acquaintance and curious to know how Bawdsey hud procured his address, arrived, he was shown up to the well known room. Bawdsey welcomed him with enthusiasm ami much in the same style us Lola did, but in a less theatrical manner. “My preserver!” said Bawdsey, shaking hands vigorously, and George laughed. “You put me in mind of a lady I know,’’ he said. “She uses the same term—quite unnecessarily, as It happens.” “I don’t agree with you,” answered Bawdsey, to the astonishment of his visitor. “When a woman is rescued from starvation she has a right to call her good Samaritan the best of names.” “Oh,” said Brendon, taking a seat, “so Lola has told you.’’ Bawdsey nodded. “I guess so,” said he, with a pronounced American twang —somewhat too pronounced, George thought “She told me all about your visit the other night” “Did she never speak of me before?” . "Why, of course she spoke. I tell

you, sfr, that the girl is just bubbling over with gratitude.” "Yet you said when last we met that she meant me harm.” “Jealousy, Mr. Brendon, sheer Jealousy. I heard her talking of you and wishing to marry you. You see, I love her.” “So she told me.” “Quite so, and she informed me that she had informed you. Well, I was a trifle jealous, as I'd lay down my life to make that lady Mrs. Bawdsey. But when I learned that you admired and were almost engaged to Miss Ward”— "You seem to know a great deal about me,” said Brendon, nettled. “I made it my business to find out, sir.” George looked at him helplessly. He found it difficult to understand what all this meant. “Of course I know, from what Lola said, that you are a private detective," he remarked, with hesitation. “Vidocq & C 0.,” said Bawdsey briskly, “23 Augusta street. Strand. That’s me, Mr. Brendon, but you needn’t mention it in this shanty.” “Will you answer a few questions, Mr. Bawdsey?” asked George. “Yes. Fire ahead.” “You are a private detective?” asked George. “That’s so. Vidocq & Co.—an attractive title, I guess." “And you were employed by Lola to watch me?” "I was. Love will do anything for the object of its affections.” “Humph! There are different waysof looking at that. But you were also engaged by Lord Derrington to watch me?” Bawdsey did not display the least surprise. “That's very creditable to your observation, Mr. Brendon. It’s true.”

“How did Lord Derrington find out that I was passing under the name of George Brendon ?” “Well, sir, if you will shove advertisements into the paper asking about the celebration of the marriage of Percy Vane and Miss Rosina Lockwood you must expect to be dropped upon.” “And you looked me up?” “Quite so. I have had you under observation for the last six months. Any more questions, sir?” “Only one.” replied George. “Will you tell me exactly you are doing here?”

“Certainly. "You shall have the w’hole story, Mr. Brendon, but in the first place I shall ask you a question in my turn. Do you know why I asked you to come and see me today?” Brendon shook his head. “I have not the least idea,” he confessed. “I’ll enlighten you,” was the other man's reply. “To warn you that you are in danger of arrest.” “I in danger of arrest?” George jumped up. “What do you mean?” “Oh, my meaning is clear enough. There is a chance that you may be accused of having murdered Mrs. Jersey.” George dropped back into his chair with a white face. “You must be mad to say such a thing. Who accuses me?” “Lord Derrington.” “On what grounds?” “On certain information he obtained from Mrs. Ward. She is your bitter enemy. You lee, Mr. Brendon, it is not her game that you should marry the daughter. Mrs. Ward knows that you are a clever man with a will of your own and that she will not be able to twist you around her finger, which is what she wishes to do with any son-

in-law who may come her way. She will stick at nothing to get you out of the way.” “But she doesn’t know that I claim to be Lord Derrington’s grandson?” “Indeed, she does,” replied Bawdsey quickly. “Derrington told her all about it” “Why?” “Now, that,” said Bawdsey, shaking his head and looking puzzled, “is one of the things I can’t make out” George thought for a moment “I was at Mrs. Ward’s the other evening,” he said slowly. “Lord Derrington was there. Did he know then that 1 was hl* grandson?”

“He did.’ He has known ever since you put the advertisement In the paper and I looked you up." “And Mrs. Ward knew also who I was?” Bawdsey nodded. "Yes. And after that evening she came to see Lord Derrington to suggest how you should be got rid of.” “Ah!” George was now perfectly cool as he saw that Bawdsey, being so frank, was ready to be his friend. “And how did she propose to do that, Mr. Bawdsey? By having me arrested”— “With the alternative that you should give up all attempts to prove your birth and go to Australia.” “And surrender my claim to Miss Ward’s hand?” “Of course. It’s a case of threatening, Mr. Brendon.”

“Was Lord Derrington agreeable to this suggestion?” “Yes. He hates you and told me to see you and put the matter to you. You have a week to think over it, and at the end of that time, Mr. Brendon, if you don't leave England you will be arrested.” “No,” replied Brendon calmly, “I will not be arrested. Setting aside the fact that there is no evidence which implicates me in the crime, Lord Derrington, for his own sake, will not have his grandson arrested and his , dirty linen washed in public. Whether there was a marriage or not, I am his flesh and blood. Why does he hate me?” , “I can’t say, sir. He never explained, but he does hate you.” “Humph! I see no reason. A man can’t help his birth, and I am quite as presentable as Walter Vane.” “Much more so,” said Bawdsey quickly. “He is a fool and a miserable little beast. He sent a bracelet to Miss Velez.” “Oh, and naturally you think the wofst of him. Well, it is no use my conjecturing the reason of Lord Derrington’s dislike, but I can well understand why Mrs. Ward wishes me out of the way. On what grounds does she accuse me of being concerned hi this crime?” “On the strength of a story related by a friend of yours, who”— “I knew it,” Interrupted Brendon, starting up and beginning to pace the room. “That was why she asked Leonard Train to dinner.”

“She got out of him that you had been in the sitting room of Mrs. Jersey at midnight.” “That is untrue,” began George violently, when Bawdsey stopped him. “So it is, to Mrs. Ward, to Lord Derrington and to the public; but, so far as I am concerned, Mr. Brendon, it is a fact. You were in Mrs. Jersey’s room about the time she was murdered.”

“How can you prove that?” asked George quickly and very pale. “Oh, I can prove it easily enough, and I will soon. But confess.” “That I killed the woman? No; I never laid a finger on her.” “I believe that,” said Bawdsey. “If I thought you were guilty I should—no, not even then. You saved my life, and I’m grateful.” “I believe you are my friend,” said George gloomily, sitting down. “You would have been arrested by now were I not, Mr. Brendon.”

“No. I tell you neither Mrs. Ward nor Lord Derrington will go so far. They will try to intimidate me, but they won’t succeed.” “You'll fight them?” George set his face. “While there is breath in my body.” “I knew you were a plucky one,” said Bawdsey admiringly, “but you must be aware that your position is perilous.”

“One moment.” said Brendon. “Why does Train believe that I w-as in Mrs. Jersey's room?” “He found beside the table a yellow holly berry, and you wore”— George started. “I did—l did,” he muttered. "It must have been brushed off the sprig when I stooped to touch her.”

"Ah!” said Bawdsey in a voice of triumph. “Then you admit you were in the room?” “Yes, to you, but to no one else.” “I’m glad you trust me so far," said Bawdsey, genuinely pleased. "Your confidence is not misplaced, Mr. Brendon. And you saw Mrs. Jersey?” “I saw her body. She was dead.” “At what time was that?” “About 12 o’clock.” "Why did you not give the alarm?” “What?” George smiled derisively. “You think I have put the rope round my neck?” "No, but—well, no matter. We can talk of that later. But as to getting out of this room when the door was locked?” “I didn’t get out of this room. Mr. Bawdsey. I” “Wait a bit. Come into the room you slept in,” said the detective, leading the way. “I have made a discovery.”

The bedroom was in the same condition as when Brendon had last seen it, witli the exception that the wardrobe was moved to one side. The wall at the back, which divided the room from the passage, appeared a blank, but on touching a spring a masked door opened. Shelves were revealed and it was evident that this door formed the back of a cupboard that was in the passage-a cupboard used by the housemaid, as was apparent from the dust shovel and brooms lying within it. For a moment Bawdsey left the door open and looked at Brendon with quiet triumph. Then he snapped the door to aud the wall appeared in its former blank condition. No one, without making a close examination, would have suspected the presence of that secret door. “A housemaid might open the cupboard door in the passage at any time,” explained Mr. Bawdsey, accounting for his action, “and it would never do for her to look through the back of the shelves into this room. She might talk, Mr. Brendon, and then

there would be trouble. Yes”—Bawdsey rubbed his nose and locked at the aston i shed George—“l am sure there would be trouble.” [TO BE CONTINUED.]

"My preserver!”