Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1906 — The Yellow Holly [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Yellow Holly

By FERGUS HUME,

Author of “The Myitery of « Hansom Cab.” Etc. JL

SYNOPSIS OF PBBVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I—George Brendon, a young Londoner, visits hit) friend. Leonard Train, who hue lodging* in the hoarding: house kept by Mrs. Jersey. Amonp the boarders Is an elderly maiden iady. Miss Bull. Mrs. Jersey is startled by a piece of yellow holly worn by George. ll—George, whose real name Is Vane, tells Train the story of his life. He is art orphan and the grandson of Lord Herrington, hut the latter refuses to recognize the marriage of George’s father (Lord Herrington's to 0. who had eloped. Brendon desires to establish his position as Lord Herrington'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 kad been murdered in San Kemo, Italy, years before. Ill—ln the night Mrs. Jersey is killed with a stilleto by an unknown person. IV—Miss Bull takes chargeof the house in behalf of Margery, netoe of the murdered woman. The house has been leased from Lord Herrington. V—Mrs. Ward, a heartless society woman, mother of Dorothy, is opposed to Dorothy’* marriage to Brendon. Tim yellow holly had been given to Dorothy by her mother and by the girl to George. Vl—Sir. Ireland, George's former guardian, tells him of liis 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 thut the dead woman received an annuity from Lord Herrington. Geprge 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 Sun Remo at the time of the murder of Breed on’s father. IX and X—Mrs. Ward invites Train to dinner. He meets Lord Derrlington. 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 Herrington to watch the young man. Bawdsey warns him that lie is suspected of Mrs. Jersey's murder, XII —Lord Herrington 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. Xlll—Lord Herrington visits Mrs. Ward and forces tier to keep silence concerning the yellow holly berry found by Train, telling 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 op her lover. XIV-Lola disappears. Bawdsey tells George that Mr. Ireland knows something about his father's death. Lord Herrington's power over Mrs. Ward is due to the fact of nis know ledge of her Cheating at cards. Mrs. Ward produces the weapon with which Mrs. Jersey was killed, having found it in Lord Herrington's coat. Lord Herrington confiscates the stilleto. Mr. Ireland toils him that Mrs. Ward was with George's father at the San Uem,> ball Another blue domino there was Mrs Ward's sister, now know n us Miss Bull. XVI and XVII Lord Dorrington makes peace with tiis grandson. The old man denies that he was in the Jersey house on the fatal night and tells George that the man lie saw was Bawdsey in his employer’s coat. Lord Dei ringtou was to have visited Mrs. Jersey that night, to warn her against George's attempt to make her reveal the secret of the marriage of George's parents. Baw dsey had drugged the lord, p, order to get Mrs. Sersey’s confession and money for it. Hawdsnv dentes that he kil’ad Mrs. Jersey. XVIII Mi-s Bull tells Brendon thut it was Imr sster who was accompanied home by his father nn the night of the latter's murder. bohi Velez's mother in San Remo owned the daggar with which the murder was committed.

CHAPTER XX. IT aiis 4 o’clock when George left Buwdscy. The two had spoken little of th(> newspaper paragraph which informed them of Lola’s escapade. Although her name was not mentioned there was no doubt in the mind of ISrendon that she was the culprit. The newspaper gave, the year of the book when the sheet was torn, and that corresponded to the year when Percy Vane married-or had been supposed to marry—ltosinn Lockwood. And this was the explanation of Lola's absence from town. She had not flikl from the rebuke of I.trendon, hut had gone to do him an injury by destroying the evidence of his parents' marriage. This tin illy was the meaning of her wild threat to Dorothy, Lawdscy was much upset over the news, lie would have tic 1 Immediately to Wargrove, hut same special business kept him in t >wn. Ii .ever, lie purposed to go the next morning by the tirst train. But George was g.iing that very day. Lola could not have known that Ids parents had been married at Wargrove without having seen Mrs. Jersey's confession wherein the fact was probably mentioned. Therefore she must have obtained the confession iu some way. How she achieved tbis, George could not conjecture. Then ho thought of Lola’s hot Spanish blood, of tiie stjletto—a peculiarly foreign weapon—and shuddered. It occurred to him that Lola herself must have stabbed the woman.

He found that a train left Liverpool street station for Southend at ten minutes past 5 and that Wargrove was u tiny rural town which could be reached in an hour. Ever quick and expeditious in ills movements, at the appointed time lie was on bis way down the country. It was a dull Joqs py. It seemed that the new town or Wargrove was tin* place where the train striped, but old Wargrove was three miles distant, and it was there that the parish church was situated. As it proved, there was no necessity for George to go there. Lola was stopping in the policeman’s house prior to her removal to the prison at Chelmsford. Her attempt tit robbery had been committed on the previous day, and Breudon thought she would have already been removed. However, he was informed that there was some delay owing to the illness of the Chelmsford inspector, and therefore Lola would have to remain in Wargrove for another twelve hours. Breudon was glad to hear this, as it would save him u long journey. He thanked the policeman who find explained and was directed by the man to the house of his superior officer, which wffiT’on the outskirts of the towui. George goon found a.semi-detached bouse with

a notice on It and on knocking at the door explained his errand to a brisk little woman. She pursed up her lips, looked Inquisitively at him with bright eyes and called her husband. George produced a sovereign, but the official, although his eyes twinkled, hesitated to take the bribe. It was then that Mrs. Policeman came to Brendou’s assistance. v “Nonsense, Jeremiah,” she said briskly. “Let the young gentleman see his young lady. She’s dying to have a sight of him.” “It’s all very well,” grumbled Jere miah. “But ’tis against the law.” “You can be present at our Interview if you like.” “There, Jeremiah, you can’t have the gentleman saying fairer than that." Here the sharp little woman nudged her husband's arms. This was a hint for him to swallow his scruples and take the sovereign. Jeremiah agreed, and shortly the sovereign was in his pocket and he was leading George to a back upstairs room. Before introducing George to this abode it struck Jeremiah that the pris oner had been Inquired for as “the young iady.” He stopped Brendon at the door. “Might you know her name, sir?” “She Is the most celebrated dancer in London, and her name is Lola Velez,” said George. “I don’t suppose she’ll ht> punished much for this. She’s mad at times.”

“Oh, if she’s mad she’ll get off lightly, but them parish register to be torn —it’s bad work that. My father were a sexton," explained Jeremiah soberly. “And naturally you think Mile. Velez has committed the most atrocious of crimes. But don’t stand chattering here, my good fellow. I have to return by the 9 train,” “I’ll wait outside,” said Jeremiah as he slowly unlocked the door. Lola was seated by the window staring out into the darkness. On the table was a small lamp, and a fire burned in the grate. Lola started up when the door closed again. “Who Is—who is?" she asked In her rapid way. and came toward him. “Lola,” began* George, but he got no further. She ran forward and cried out: “Oh, my dear one, hast thou come in anger? —Trample me, - make me as earth, beloved, but be not enraged—ah. no —all, no!" “Lola,” lie said, taking a chair near her, "I have come as your friend.” "Not in auger -ah, hut yes. in anger.” "I am not angry. lam very sorry," “Alt, hut in your eyes—they sparkle. I see Mees Yards. Ido try to steal the church You are furiously enraged.” “Look at me and see.” But Lola would iv>t, so George took her chin and made her gaze directly into his eyes. Lola’s were filled with

tears, but after a time she began to smile. “Ah, you are not enraged. It was for you I did it. I wish my dear George to myself—all—all.” “You know that is impossible.” “But it is not. I will have you.” “Not at all,” said George deliberately. “You will marry Bawdsey.” "That pig—cow—horrible and miserable! No, uh, no!” She sprang to her feet. “Nevet ! I do swear,” and producing a small bluck crucifix from her dress she kissed it vehemently. "Now, Lola, I wish you to tell me the truth.” “Ah, but I will. When you are kindness I tell you all.” “Do you know that you have done a wrong thing?” "Pscliutt,” she said contemptuously. “I give that old maus knocks on the heads, but he Is alive. Oh, yes, I did not kill him.” "I don’t mean the assault, though that is bad enough. But your trying to destroy the register of the marriage.” “It Is your fault,” cried Lola impetuously. “For Toves of my’ George I did so. I wish you not to marry any but me.” “We can talk of that later, Lola. Answer me a few questions, and make no remarks.” “1 will, do what you say. my friend,”

said Lola, nodding. George thought for a moment. “How did you learn that Wargrove was the place where my parents were married?” “Ah, you want to know all and then trick me.„ I will not tell.” “Then I will explain to you.” “Aha. you cannots—you know nothings at all. Pah! La, Ja, la, la.” George spoke sternly. “Lola, I know more than you give me credit for. I have seen the dagger.” This time he struck home, for she started. “What dagger?” “The Btiletto you left in Mrs. Jersey’s room.” "» “I did nothings. I was not there.” “Yes, you were. For all I know you may have killed the womau.” “But it is foolish you talk, George. I did not. She was frightened— oh, very much afraid.” “So much that she gave you the confession you asked for?” “Ah, yes—yes—yes,” cried Lola, then seeing she had betrayed herself she began to be alarmed. “Ah, you will say nothing. I would not tell anys but my George. He loves me. He will not see me dead.” “Good heavens. Lola, did you kill the woman?” “That fat ladys in black silk? Ah, no, I did not. But she was so afraid of the kailfe.” “You left her alive on that night?” “Why, yes, my George. We part—ob. such good friends.” Lola blew a kiss from her finger tips. “She quite pleased, immense!” “Well, Lola, as you have told so much, you must tell me all.” “There is nothing to say,” she replied, turning sullen. George rose. “Then I shall go away,” lie declared. “I came here to be your friend, Lola, and to save you from getting into further trouble. But if you will not be candid”— He moved to the door. “Ah, my heart, do not go. Soul of my soul, leave me not. I will do nnythings what you ask of me.” “Then tell me the whole story of your visit to Mrs. Jersey.” [TO BE CONTINUED. I

“ Never! I do swear.”