Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1906 — The Yellow Holly [ARTICLE]

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 Ute. He is an orphan and the grandson of Lord Derrington, but the latter refuses to recognize the marriage of George's father iLord Derrington's son), who had eloped. Irendon desires to establish his position us 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, neioe 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 guardian, Mils 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—a 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 anti X—Mrs. Ward invites Train to dinner. He 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. XI George visits Bawdsey, who is employed by Lord Derrington to watch the young man. Bawdsey warns him that he is suspected of Mrs. Jersey's murder. XII-Lord Derrington is visited by Brendon, who tells his grandfather that he saw him in Mrs. Jersey's house on the night of of the murder. Brendon demands that his grandfather silence Mrs. Ward.

CHAPTER XIII. DOROTHY was by no means of a jealous disposition. Moreover, her love for George was so deep and pure that she trusted him entirely. Nevertheless, having learned from the few words dropped by Vane that Brendon knew Lola, she felt desirous of seeing the woman. That Lola was her rival she never for one moment believed, but the fact remained that Brendon’s name was coupled with that of the dancer, and this incipient scandal annoyed Miss Ward. There was no need for her to ask George why such a report should prevail, for she knew that he would be able to explain in a satisfactory manner, and, trusting him already, It was useless to demand details. Her feelings would remain the same after the telling of his story as they were now; therefore she avoided the disagreeable subject. Nevertheless, she was woman enough to desire a sight of Lola, and induced her mother to take her to the music ball. Mrs. Ward was very pleased to do so, but she was too clever to hint that she guessed Dorothy's reason for making this request. “Certainly, my dear,” she said briskly. “I am very glad that you are coming out of your shell. Men hate a woman who can't talk of everything, and nothing Is talked about but Lola.” “I must educate myself to please men, then," said Dorothy dryly, “so I may as well begin with the dancer. On what night can we go?"' - “Oh, Friday will do. Mr. Vane has invited us to dine at the Cecil, so I’ll ask him to get us a box.” Dorothy would rather have gone with any one than with Mr. Vane. However, there was nothing for It but to accept, since she had brought It on herself. With a smile which encouraged her mother to think she would behave sensibly toward Vane, she agreed to the proposed dinner party and companionship, and Mrs. Ward wrote a note at once.

“I hope when she sees Lola, and hears the stories about that Brendon man, that she may refuse to have anything more to do with him,” was Mrs. Ward’s remark as she sealed her note. “I don't want to get the Brendon man Into trouble by having him arrested for murder. And I don't think Derrington would let me If I did wish It.” Her last speech was prophetic, for the next day Lord Derrington paid a visit to Curzon street and bad a short interview with Mrs. Ward, the gist of which was that she must hold her tongue. “Brendon called to see me the other day,” explained Derrington, looking grim, “and he showed me plainly that he had nothing to do with the matter.” “But how about the holly berry?” “That is easily explained,” replied Derrington, who, anticipating the question, hud prepared an answer. “Brendon was one of the first to see the body, and in touching it the berry fell from the sprig. Afterward—mind you, afterward—Mr. Train found the berry and, not knowing that Brendon had seen the body that morning, thought he had been in the room on the previous night. “I’m sure he was,” insisted Mrs. Ward. “You are sure of nothing of the sort Brendon could not have got downstairs without the connivance of Train, and you heard what Train said.” Then he asked after a pause, “Why did you tell Dorothy to give the sprig of holly to Brendon on that night?” Mrs. Ward shrugged her shoulders and looked down nervously. “Oh, it was the merest kindness on my part,” she said, trying to speak quietly. Der-

rington contradicted her at once. “It was nothing of the Bort,” he declared, with roughness. “You wished him to have the yellow holly in bin coat when he saw Mrs. Jersey bo that the woman might betray herself.’’ “I knew nothing about Mrs. Jersey at the time.” “Oh, but you did! With regard to the holly, you knew from me how it was used in connection with the death of my son at San Remo, and what I did jaot tell you you learned from other people.. But how did you know about Mrs. Jersey ?” “That’s my business.” cried Mrs. Ward, becoming Imprudent. “You are right about the holly. I sent to Devonshire expressly to get some. It was my intention to inclose a sprig in a letter to Mrs. Jersey so as to frighten her”— "What good would that have done?” "My business again,” snapped Mrs. Ward, becoming bolder. “I had my reason for wishing to recall your son’s death to her mind, and I knew that the yellow holly would do so most successfully. When Dorothy came from the park and told me that Brendon was to stop with his friend at Mrs. Jersey’s boarding house, I thought that It would be better to let George wear the sprig. And I managed it in such a way that neither Dorothy nor George gtiessed how I planned the business. And I succeeded. Mrs. Jersey saw the sprig and nearly fainted. I knew then that”— Here she stopped. Derrington saw that it was useless to question her further. She would only He and had been telling lies, for all he knew. “I shall ask you nothing more,” he Baid, rising to take his leave. “You have some reason for nll'this Intrigue, I have no doubt. What your intentions are matters little to me. I came merely to warn you that Brendon is to be left alone.” “You won't have him arrested?” “No. And, what is more, I won’t have him spoken about in connection with that crime.” Mrs. Ward forgot her desire to conciliate Derrington, forgot her desire to marry Vane to Dorothy, forgot everything in a sudden access of rage. “I shall do what I choose!” she cried. “No,” said Derrington quietly and looking her full in the face. “You will obey me.” “Obey you, Lord Derrington?” "Yes. I have tried to conduct this interview quietly, Mrs. Ward, and to hint that your wiser plan is to be silent, but”— “I don’t want hints. I wish for plain speaking," raged the little woman. “How dare you address me like this?” The old gentleman leaned forward suddenly and whispered a short sentence in her ear. Mrs. Ward’s face turned pearly white, and she tottered to a chair, closing her eyes as she fell into it. Derrington surveyed her with a pitiless expression. "You will be silent about Brendon?” he asked. “Yes,” moaned Mrs. Ward. “I will say nothing.” At the meeting at the Cecil Mrs. Ward was herself again. She had quite got over the fright given to her by Derrington, and when she saw him later treated him in her old manner. On his side the old gentleman made no difference, but he wondered how she was carrying herself so boldly. At once it occurred to his suspicious mind that there was some reason for tills defiant behavior, and he determined to watch her. For this purpose be joined the party.

“It is the first time 1 have been to a music hall for years,” he explained to Dorothy. “But Walter has been talking so much about this new dancer that I felt I must see her.” “Why did you not dine with uS at the Cecil?” asked Dorothy. “I always prefer to dine at borne, my dear young lady. Besides, it does not do for an old man to wag his graybeard uninvited among the young.” ” Meantime Mrs. Ward was chatting amicably to Vane and to a vapid war office clerk who had formed a fourth at the Cecil dinner party. The box was large and easily held the party. Mrs. Ward had a position directly in front, where she could see and be seen, but Dorothy kept herself behind the curtains. She could see the stage excellently, but did not wish to be recognized by any chance acquaintance. In an opposite box sat a red haired man In Immaculate evening dress. Derrington recognized him as Bawdsey, but did not think it necessary to show his recognition. He sat at the back of the box between Vane and the war office clerk and kept a watchful eye on Mrs. Ward. That little woman sparkled like a diamond. She criticised the bouse, admired the decorations and applauded the comic songs. It might have been that this Indifferent attitude was one of defiance, as she must have known that Derrington was watching her. But she acted her part consummately, and he could not help admiring her coolness. “What an admirable actress,” thought the old lord, “and what a dangerous womanf’ The ballet came at the end of the first part of the programme. When the curtajn ipse Dorothi_was sokanxlous to

behold Lola that she leaned forward so as to show her face to the whole bouse. Bawdsey saw her and put his glass to his eye. He smiled slightly, and Derrington wondered why he did so. But at that moment, and while the stage was filling with dancers, he arose to receive some newcomers. These were none other than Miss Bull’ and Margery, tor whom Bawdsey had procured the box. The little old maid was whiter than ever and wore her useal gray dress. Margery was smajtly gowned in green, and with her light hair and stupid red face looked anything but beautiful. She placed herself in the best position, being evidently directed to do so by Miss Bull, for that lady preferred the shade. At all events, she secluded herself behind a curtain and kept her beady black eyes persistently on the stage. On seeing that the two were comfortable, Bawdsey disappeared and did hot .return till the end of the ballet. Derrington saw ail this, but no one else in Mrs. Ward's box took any notice. And why should they? Bawdsey and his party were quite unknown to them. Dorothy could not say that Lola w<is handsome, but she had about her a wild grace which was very fascinating. When dancing she seemed to think of nothing but the revels in which she was engaged. She never cast a look at the house, and Dorothy noticed this. She was therefore somewhat surprised when, during the second scene, she saw Lola deliberately look in the direction of the box and stare at her piercingly for quite a moment or two. Rather confused by this sudden regard, the girl drew back. Lola noticed her no more, but continued to dance. “Let us go now,” said Dorothy, wipen the wild dance of Lola was at an end. “I wish I had not come.” She was interrupted by an ejaculation from her mother. Mrs. Ward also was standing up, but her eyes were fixed on Miss Bull. The little old maid, as though feeling the influence of that glance, slowly looked in Mrs. Ward’s direction. The eyes of the two women met. From those of Miss Bull flashed a look of hate, and she withdrew behind the curtain of the box. Mrs. Ward was white and shaking. Clutching Vane’s arm she requested to be taken to her carriage. “It’s too much for me,” she said, alluding to the ballet Derrington stood on the pavement when the brougham rolled away bearing the mother and daughter, both silent, both pale. He was alone, as Vane and the war office clerk were back again in the hall. “Humph!” said Derrington, bls eyes fixed on the retreating carriage. “So you know that little woman who called to see me about the lease. I wonder how that comes about. Miss Bull knew Mrs. Jersey, and you, Mrs. Ward, sent that yellow holly. I wonder”— The old man stopped. He could not quite understand what Mrs. Ward was doing, but he repeated his former observation. “A dangerous woman,” said he. “I shall speak to Bawdsey about her.” And, making up his mind to this, he went in search of the detective, [TO BE CONTINUED.]