Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1906 — The Yellow Holl By FERGUS HUME, Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab." Etc. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Yellow Holl By FERGUS HUME, Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab." Etc.

By FERGUS HUME,

Author of “The Mystery of • Hansom Csb." Etc. A A-

SYNOPSIS OP PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I— George Brendon, a young Londoner, visits hi* friend. Leonard Train, who hu* lodging* in the boarding house kept by Mis. Jemey. Among the boarder* lean eldeily maiden lady. Mix* Bull. Mr*. Jersey 1» startled by a piece of yellow holly worn by George. II —George, whose reul aame is Vane, tells Train the story of his Use. He is an orphan and the grandson of Lord Herrington, but the latter refuses to recognize the marriage of George's father (Lord Herrington’s son), who had eloped. Brendon desires to establish his position as Lord Deri iugton'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 * mother. His mother died at his birth, and his father hud been murdered in San Remo, ltuly. years before. 111-In the night Mrs. Jersey is killed with a stilleto by an unknown person. IV—Miss Hull takes charge of the house in behalf of Margery, neiee of the murdered woman. The house has been leased from Lord HerringtouT V—Mas. Ward, a heartless society woman, mother of Dorothy, is opposed to Dorothy’s marriuge to Brendon. The yellow holly had heen given to Dorothy by her mother and by the girl to George. VI-Mr. Ireland. George's former guardian, tells him of his mother’s marriage and death and Ids father’s murder. The latter was killed after leaving a masked ball in company with b woinun- 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 und learns that the dead woman received an annuity from Lord Herrington. George saves a Mr. Bawdsey from death and learns that the latter live* inthe Jersey house. Vlll—Lola Velez, adaucer. is in love with George and is loved by Bawdsey. Lola’s parents lived in Ban Remo at the time of the murder of Brendon’* father. IX and X—Mrs. Ward Invites Train to dinner. He meets Lord Derriiugton. George visits Dorothy and makes • favorable impression on his grandfather. Mrs. Ward learns from Trajn that the latter found a yellow holly berry neur the body of Mrs. Jersey. XI George visits Bawdsey, who is employed by Lord Derringtou to watch the young man. Bawdsey warns him that he Is suspected of Mrs. Jersey's murder. Ill— Lord Herrington is visited by Brendon, who tells his grandfather that, he saw bltu in Mrs. Jersey s house on the night of of the murder. Brendon demands that his frandfather silence Mrs. Ward. XIII-Lord 'errington visits Mrs. Ward anil forces her to keep silence concerning the yellow holly berry found by Train, tellliig her that the berry was dropped by George at the finding of the body. Dorothy and her mother see Lola Velez dance, Lola later tells Dorothy that the latter will be forced to give up her lover. XlV—Lola disappears. Bawdsey tells George that Mr. Ireland knows something •bout his father's death. Lord Barrington's power over Mrs. Ward is due to the fact of his knowledge of her cheating at cards. Mrs. Ward produces the weupon with which Mrs. Jersey was killed, having found it in Lord Derrlngton's coat. Lord Derringtou confiscates the Mr. Ireland tells him that Mrs. Ward was with George's father at the San Remo hull Another blue domino there was Mrs. Ward’s sister, now known ns Miss Hull. XVI and XVII Lord Derringtou ■takes pence with his grandson. The old man denies that he was in the Jersey house ou the fatal night and tells George that the man he saw was Bawdsey in his employer’s coat. Lord Herrington was to have visited Mrs. Jersey that night, to warn her agninst George's attempt to make her reveal the secret of the marriage of George's parents. Bawdsey had drugged the lon'. In order to (ret Mrs. Kersey's confession and money for it. Bawdsey denies that he killed Mrs. Jersey.

The woman pushed back her white hair and made an effort to be calm. But her lip quivered. "Why have you come here to awaken these painful memories V” she asked. “Because 1 wish to know how my father came by his death.” “1 do not know—indeed I do not know,” moaned Miss Bull, putting out her hand as though to ward off the thought. “You may not know for certain, but you have some idea. Your sister, Mrs. Ward”— Miss Bull’s face flushed crimson, and she drew a deep breath. “Oh, it's Violet's work, is it?” sin* said, and her eyes grew hard. "And pray, Mr. Brendon, lias sin* sent you to cross question me?” “No. 1 come on my own behalf. You knew ray father?” “Percy Vane. Yes, I knew him. lie loved me—ah, indeed he did! That night he asked me to be his wife, and had he not been murdered”— “Did in l ask you wheu he was taking you home?” asked George, wondering how Miss Bull would have behaved as his stepmother. “Taking me home? He never did that on the night of the hall.” “Your sister. Mrs. Ward”— “I have no sister. I disown Violet. She is ;i wicked woman! She is sellish,

vain, cruel atul deceitful. llow do you know that I am her sister? And how did you come to learn my name?” “Lord Derrington told me, and it was told to him by Mr. Ireland.” “\our guardian.” Miss Bull tapped her hand on the woodwork. of her chair. “He recognized me when I called to see him on that day about the lease. But he promised to bold his tongue.” > “He would have done so had be not keep startled by meeting Mrs. Ward

and recognizing in her the woman who had left tiie ball with my father." ‘•Anil Violet admitted this?” “No. She said that you had left the ball with my father. It was you who wore the blue domino and tbe holly sprig.” “Liar! Liar!” muttered Miss Bull. “But she is always the same. My sister has enjoyed the good things of this life. She has had mouey, position, praise, and all that a woman desires. As for myself”— “Then it really was Mrs. Ward who left the ball.” “It was. She lays the blame on my shoulders”— Miss Bull paused, and her mouth worker! nervously. “Does she accuse me of the crimeV” “No. She says that you left Mr. Vane at the gate of the hotel.” “Oh,” muttered Miss Bull, “Percy came as far as that with her, did he? And she said he left her at the door of the room where the ball was being held. Liar! Liar! Violet has told her story, now I will tell you mine. I want to know, however, exactly what she said, in the exact words if you can remember them.” "I did not hear her speak,” confessed George. “It was my grandfather and Mr. Ireland to whom she told the story.” “Story! Fable! Lie! Romance!” said Miss Bull vehemently. “Well, tell me what you can remember!” This George did as concisely as possible, for he feared lest Margery should Interrupt the interview. Miss Bull listened with a downcast face and pursed up lips. Not a word did she say, but when George ended she looked up, with a bitter smile. “She has simply put herself In my place,” she said. “Wait!” For a moment or so she tried to compose lierseif. Then she raised her head and looked her visitor squarely in the eyes. “I am going to tell the truth,” said Miss Bull bravely. "Therefore I have no need to shun your gaze. Mr. Brendon, I loved your father.” “So Mrs. Ward said.” “And Ykolet loved him also.” “lie must have been a singularly attractive man,” remarked Brendon, wondering at this revelation. “My mother eloped with him, her maid was in love with #im, and now you and Mrs. Ward”— —"Oh, Violet really did not love him. It was simply a desire to take him from me that made her behave as she did. Violet never loved any one i:. her life save the person she sees in the mirror every day.” "I don't quite understand, but if you Will rotate the story”— “I shall do so at once. You may a> well know all, and know also what a had woman I have for a sister. If she was dying,” cried Miss Bull vehemently, “1 wouldn’t raise a finger to save her life.”

Brendon said nothing, and in a few moments Miss Bui! composed herself sufficiently to tell what she knew. “My father was General Howard,” she said quietly, “and Violet was my only lister. We never got on well together. Violet was jealous of admiration, and ns l was suid to be prettier than she \vas she hated me intensely.” "You hinted that she took my father away,” said Brendon. “iSlie did—at least she tried to. But if he had not been murdered I should have been Mrs. Vane in spite of Violet’s arts.”

"Well, tell me how you came to San Itemo and met my father.” “Oh, I knew him before that. We were six months at Como and saw your father frequently then. He and the general used to talk polities. Mr. Vane was always, bringing us books and magazines, and we used to climb Mount Bisbluo. What a delightful summer flint was! I remember you then,” she added, looking at George with interest. "You were scarcely two years old—a dear, good, fair little fallow. ! met you and the nurse sometimes and often carried you." "Was the nurses name Eliza Stokes?" "No. It was—let me see, some Scotch name—Jane Fraser, I think.” "Ah! Then Eliza Stokes was not at Como?” "1 never saw her. Mr. Vane told me that you had had another nurse, hut that tie had to dismiss her at Milan for impertinence.” George saw that Miss Bull was not keeping strictly to the truth, and corrected her at once, "You knew Eliza Stokes at San Remo?” "So 1 did, I quite forgot.” Miss Bull put her hand to her head, with a puzzled air. "But since my illness I have forgotten so much. It is all a blank to me.” Brendou remembered that she had been in an asylum, and thought that her mind was still weak. It might be that after ail she had not told an untruth, but had quite forgotten Eliza Stokes. George was confirmed in his supposition by ber next remark. “Eliza Stokes. I remember. Mrs. Jersey.” “You knew she was Mrs. Jersey.?” “Yes. That was why I came to this house.” “Did you like her then?” Miss Bull’s eyes flashed. “She was gqpther Violet I hated her. Oh, how

I hated her! J found her through my «l*ter mentioning that Lord Derrlng ton bad given her this bouse, so 1 came here to board.” "But your sister knows nothing about you. She says you ran away and that it was supposed you were dead.” Miss TSull laughed bitterly. “jjy sister knows perfectly well that I live here, but it suits her to disown ti e relationship. It Is my wish also, ami for that reason I changed my name.” “But If you hated Mrs. Jersey”— “I did—l did, but she was the only person who could talk about Mr. Vane. She loved him also, but not as I did, and we have talked for hours in this very room. We quarreled, certainly, but at times she was very nice. 1 miss our talks greatly.” “Did she know who killed him?” Miss Bull shook her head. “No. She never knew. No one ever knew. I sometimes thought that Violet—but she declared that he left her at the door of the ballroom.”

“Miss Bull,” Bald George, growing Impatient of this disconnected recital, “will you go on with your story ?” “Story—yes, it is a story—a sad romance.” She passed her hand again over her forehead as though wearied and resumed with an effort. “Mr. Vane left Como and came to Milan; afterward he went on to San Remo. My father, who liked his society, join ed him there. We stopped at the Hotel d’Angleterre. Eliza ' Stokes was a housemaid there, and it was while, attending to our bedroom that she told me she had been your nurse. She was a large, stout girl, with red cheeks. As Mrs. Jersey she was vastly improved, but as a girl”— Miss Bull shuddered in a prim way and continued: “Yet, she had her admirers. A waiter, called George Kates, wished to marry her. She had accepted him, but while within sight of Mr. Vane she could not love him.”

“How do you mean?” “Well, Eliza used to spy on Mr. Vane and follow him in his walks. She was quite insane about him. I told Mr. Vane, and he kept away from the hotel. And George Rates was jealous of Eliza’s love for Mr. Vane. But he never loved her, nor Violet—he loved no one but me.”

“And be told you so at the masked ball?”

“Yes. There was to be a masked ball, and both Violet and I were anxious to go. We made a friend of Eliza, and she got us two blue dominos. That we might recognize one another we each wore a sprig of yellow holly. My father was supposed to know nothing about the matter, but we told a young Oxford cousin of ours. He met us at the ball and afterward took Violet away. I found Mr. Vane, and we danced together. He did not know me at first, but afterward, when we went into a quiet room, I unmasked. He was vexed at first that I and Violet should come to the ball unattended, as he said my father would be so angry, which was quite true. Then he told me that he loved me and asked me to become his wife. I accepted, and he kissed me.” “Did he speak of his first wife—of my mother?” “Yes. He told me how dearly he had loved her.” “Did he say where the marriage was celebrated?” “No. I never thought to ask him. I always thought there was a marriage —why should I not?—until 1 later heard that Lord Derrington denied that such had taken place. But that was after 1 came out of the asylum,” added Miss Bull, with a troubled air, “so it might be my fancy.” “No. It is true. Lord Derrington lid deny the marriage, but be now recognizes that it took place. We wish !o find where.” “1 cannot help you, Mr. Brendon. Mr. Vane never mentioned it to me. He told me that lie loved me. Then lie went away to get me an ice and said he would take me home and return for Violet. I waited, hut as lie did not appear I went to look for him. He was gone”— "With your sister?” “Yes,” said Miss Bull, clinching her fists. “Violet overheard a part of our conversation. She had just come down from the box of the Marchesa Bel-, traml”— "That was where she unmasked and Mr. Ireland recognized her.” "She must have seen me with Mr. Vane,” continued Miss Bull, taking no notice of this interruption, "so she stole behind us and heard what we were to one another. Then she slipped on her mask and followed Mr. Vane. She said she did not want an ice, but that she desired to go home at once. Mr. Vane wanted to wait for her”— “For Violet?” “Yes. He thought that I had run after him, and as Violet wore a blue domino with tlie sprig of holly lie fancied she was I.” “I understand. So he took her home.” “She said he Ifft her at the door and then came back to look for—for Violet,” said Miss Bull contemptuously. “She disguised her voice, and he quite thought she was myself. But from what Mr. Ireland said, Mr. Vane saw Violet home to the gates of the hotel. I watted for a time, and as your father did not come back I ran home alone. Violet was in our bedroom and said that Mr. Vane had left her at the door of the ballroom and had gone back for me. Then the next morning we heard of the murder. I never knew until you told me how Violet had managed to get Mr. Vane away from me.” “She tricked you,” said George sympathtzlngly. “She tricked every one. When I heard of your father's death I fell very ill. The world became a blank to me. When I came to myself I was In an asylnm. Then I grew better and was let out. My father died,_and an

annuity was allowed to me. I heard about Mrs. Jersey taking this bouse, and, wishing for some one to talk to about your father, I came here, and here I have been ever since.” “Then you do not know who killed my father?” “No.” Miss Bull shook her head. “He was struck down on the parade when returning to the ballroom. It must have been after he saw my sister home.” “I)o you think Mrs. Ward knows the truth?’ “She might. Perhaps some one followed, and Violet might have been mistaken for some other person. I know there was a married woman In San Remo deeply in love with Mr. Vane”— “What an attractive man he must have been!” “Oh, he was the handsomest man in the world,” cried Miss Bull, with genuine enthusiasm, “and so kind! No wonder Eliza Stokes loved him. But he loved no one but me—no one but me!” “What did Eliza Stokes say when she heard of his death?” “Oh, she almost went out of her mind! I did altogether,” said poor Miss Bull, with a wan smile. “And as they found her a nuisance in the hotel she went away. George Rates went also.”

“Did she marry him?” "No. I asked her when I met her here as Mrs. Jersey. She said that she returned to England and that Rates had been run over and killed in the street. She then went to America and married Mr. Jersey. He died and left her some money. Then she set up this house.” “So she said nothing of the annuity from Lord Derringtou?” “No. It wasn’t to her interest to do so. She could hold her tongue when she liked.” George rose to go. “Thank you for telling me so much, Miss Bull,” Tie said. “What was the name of the foreign woman who loved my father?” “Oh, she was a common woman who kept a shop. Velez was the name.” “Velez!” cried George, and added to himself. “So that is how Lola knows.” [to be continued.]

"San Remo ?”