Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1906 — The Yellow Holley [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Yellow Holley

By FERGUS HUME,

Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab.** Etc. A A

SYNOPSIS OP PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I—George Brendon, a young Londoner, visits bis friend, Leonard Train, who has lodging* in the boarding house kept b.v Mrs. Jersey. Among the boarders is an elderly maiden lady. 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 an orphan and the grandson of Lord Herrington, but the latter refuses to recognize the marriage of George's father (Lord Herrington's ioi>, 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 had been murdered in San Remo, Italy, years before. lIX—In 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, rieice of the murdered woman. The bouse has been leused from laird Herrington. 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 und by the girl to George. Vl—Mr. Ireland, George's former guardian, tells him of his mother’s marriage and death und 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 u confession known to have been left by Mrs. Jersey, visits Miss Bull and leurus that the dead woman received ail annuity from Lord Herrington. George saves b 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 Breudon's father. IX und X—Mrs. Ward invites Train to dinner. He meets Lord Herriiugtou. George visits Dorothy and makes a favorable impression ou his grandfather. Mrs. Ward learns from Train that the latter found a yeiiow 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. Xll—Lord Herrington is visited by Rrendon, who tells his grandfather that he saw him in Mrsf Jersey 1 s house on the night of of the murder. Brendon demands that his f randfather silence Mrs. Ward. Xlll—Lord lerriugton visits Mrs. Ward and forces her to keep silence concerning the yellow holly berry found by Train, telling her that the berry wps drooped 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 about his father's death. Lord Herrington’s power over Mrs. Ward is due to the fuct of his knowledge of her cheating at cards. Mrs. Ward produces the weapon witli which Mrs. Jersey was killed, having found it in Lord Derriugton's coat. Lord Derrington confiscates the stilleto. Mr. Ireland tells him that Mrs. Wurd was with George's father at the San Remo bull. Another blue domino there whs Mrs. Ward’s sister, now known as Miss Hull. XVI and XVII Lord Derrington makes peace with his grandson. The old inan denies that he was in the Jersey house ou the fatal night and tells George that the man he saw was Ruwdsey in his employer’s coat. Lord Herrington was to have visited Mrs. Jersey that night, to w arn her against George's uttempt to make her reveal the secret of the marriage of George's parents. Bawdsey had drugged the lord, in order to get Mrs. Jersey's confession und money for it. Bawdsey denies that he killett Mrs. Jersey. XVIII—Miss Bull-tells Brendon that it was her sister who was accompanied home by his father on the night of the lutter’s murder. Lolu Velez's mother in San Remo owned the daggar with which the murder was committed. XIX and XX —Lola, being in possession of Mrs. Jersey's confession. tries to destroy the church register of tlie marriage of George's parents, in order to prevent his marriage to Uorothy. Lolu is arrested and visited by George, who obtuins Mrs. Jersey's confession from her, after learning from Lola that she had stolen it on the fateful night. Lola had left the duggar I obtained from her mother) in the room w itli Mrs. Jersey.

"But you will marry Mees Vurd!” “I do that in any case. See liera, Lola,” he added artfully, “this marriage register which you wish to de stroy does not matter now. My grandfather has acknowledged me as his heir." She looked at him with wide eyes and pale cheeks." “And you will be mllor you will marry Mees Vurd—you will- you will’’— “I will always be your friend, Lola!” “Sou will marry Mees Yard'/” she persisted, “Loin”—he took her hand—“if we married we would never be happy. I and you are different people. Do you wish to see me happy V” “Yes yes but it is all so quick, my dear. Live times oh, give times till 1 become used.” She sobbed for a moment, then dried her eyes and sat down briskly. “I am ready, my George. You shall be happy, but you must not forget poor Lola—ah, no!” "Of course not,” replied George, patting iier bund. “Now tell me the story. Wait. Was it your mother who told you of my father's death?” “Yes,” assented Lola. “She often talked of your father.” “I heard she was in love with him,” said George slowly. Lola shrugged her shapely shoulders. "That I know not. My dear mother was handsome oh, yes, and dark, and fond of gayness. She might have loved —eh—it is not impossibles.” "Did she ever hint who killed my father?” Lola shook her head. "No. Never did she say anvthings. lie was found dead— stabbed”—she made a gesture—"that was till—all!” Evidently site could tell him nothing, so George reverted to more immediate mutters. “How about that night? You knew that I was going to Mrs. Jersey's on that night?” “Ah, hut yes. You did tell me." “Then what made yofl come also? Was it to see me?” Lolti put her linger in her mouth and looked down. “No, my George. I did want thut confessions of the fat okl lady, to stop you being mllor, and then I thought you would marry only poor Lola.” “How did you know r about the confession?” “That pig man told me.” "Bawdsey ? Why did he tell you ?” “Pschutt!” said Lola contemptuously. “He loves me so, I can twist and twist him so.” She made a rapid motion with her fingers, “We did talk of the death

of your fathers. I lamented that my poor mother did loves your fathers unhappily, as I did love you. And I was enraged to think that your fathers had died. I did ask Bawdsey who made the stab—gave the death?—eh, it is, so I asked,” she added, nodding. “He could not say, but he declares that Mrs.—what you call her—eh, but my friend, Mrs.”— "Mrs. Jersey. Bawdsey declared that she knew?” Lola nodded. "It was so,” she assented. "Mrs.—what you call that fat lady s—she write out all she know of your father’s death and of his marriages. I say to myself that I would get that confession and learn where the marriage was made. Then I woulu burn the book that no one might learn. After I would say to you that I could tell who killed your father if you made me matlame your wife.” "That's a very pretty plot,” said Brendon. “So far you have carried It out. You have the confession”— Lola put her hand on her breast. “He is here,” she said, nodding. “I carries him ulways—always!” "Give it to me, Lola.” Her eyes opened In wide alarm. “Ah, no, you will not ask me. I keep him to myself all.” George saw that the moment was not propitious. But he was deter mined to get the confession before he left her. However, he begged her to continue her story. “How did you know the house?” he asked. "It was the scarlet windows”— “I remember. Bawdsey gave you that for guide.” “Bah! He knew not I was going,” said Lola, with a shrug. “I got out of hini the fool man all that I did want. I thought I would get to the fat ladys on the night you were with her, that I might have you for helps if she was euruged.” “It seems to me that you protected yourself very well.” “With the daggers—oh, yes. I said to myself that if my George did not come for the fogs, that Mrs.—what you say—Jursey, oh, yes, would be enraged, and I would have trouble. 1 took the stiletto to save myself.” “How did you get into the house?” “Wait, ah, wait! I did not dance all that night. I said I was ill, and 1 came aways. I took the daggers and a cloak, and I went to the square—it is not far from my houses”— "No. You just turn the corner of the street,” said Brendon. "Well?” "I walked by the walls. It was after 10 o'clocks. I walk round and round the squares, and 1 then see a red lights. The door open—it was open, and many people came out of the houses. The fat lady was on the steps, waving her hands—so.” Lola waved her hand. “A crowd was around. I came into the crowd, and when the fat lady was down shaking with the handshake I aid slip into the house.”

"That was clever of you,” said George, wondering at the dexterity with which Lola had managed to enter without exciting suspicion. “And then wlmt did you do? Did you meet any one?” “Ah, but no. I ran into a place. There was a room with a light, and that I did go into”— "Mrs. Jersey's sitting room,” murmured George. “Yes?" “I was afraid to he thrown out. my dear, and I hided behind a curtain of the window. The fut lady she did come in and close the door. She talked to herself of Lord Derrington coming, and did seem enraged at him wishing to come yon understand?” “Y'es. What then?” “She took from u box”— “A green box, Lola?” “Yes, a green box—she did take a blue envelope, and she looked at a paper—a white paper she took from the envelope. She laughed, and said that milor wpyld love to have this. I say to myself behind the curtains: ‘lt is the confessions, I will have it.’ Then she did put it in the envelopes and leave it on the tables. It was near me. I could steal”—

“And you did!” said George impatiently. “But no. my George. I did try, and madrtme she snw r my arm. With a cry she leaped to the doors. I come out and say that I wish to talk of the deaths of Monsieur Vaues. She turns most white, and did not cry no more. Then she ask me what I want. I told madaiue I was of San Remo, and did talk of my dear mother, and of her love for Monsieur Vane. But tills pig womans insult my mother. I become enraged, I bring my dagger and wave it so.” Again Lola made a dramatic gesture. “I say that I kill her. She fall on her knees and hide her face. Then I did take the confessions out of the blue envelopes and hide it.” “That was very clever of you, Lola. Did Mrs. Jersey see?” “Ah, but no she did not. I take it when she was with the eyes covered. Then having all what I was desired, and seeing her so afraid, I had the contempt look you. I say, ‘There, there,' and I throw the dagger at her feets. then I go to the door and say I would depart. She beg me to stop. I did stop, and we talk of San Remo and of my mother. I say that you were my

love, and That Monsieur Vane was the father of you"— “Then she knew who I was on that night?” “Ah, yes, but she did. I say you wish to see her the next day. She say, ‘I will tell him nothings, and now go, for I have to see a great gentlemans.’ I was quite happy.” “Did she not miss the confession?” "No! I said nothing of wanting that. It was in my pocket. The blue envelope was on the table. She never thought but what it was within. Then she ask me to say nothing to any one about San Remo, and we part quite happy. She allowed me out of the door and closed it again, oh, so softly. I saw her no more.” “You left tne dagger behind?” "It was on the floors where I threw it. i wished to get away with the confessions lest she should call me thieves. I did not wait for to take the dagger. 1 departed. That is all.” “Humph!" said George. The story scorned likely enough. After letting 1..;.a out of the house Mrs. Jersey then came to see if he and Train were In bed. Expecting Lord Derrington and knowing front Lola who he was, she itj doubt expected George to interrupt the interview. But finding him, us she thought, in bed, site departed satisfied. Their she met Margery, and after locking her in her room went down to meet her death. It was 11 when ull this happened, and Bawdsey. in the coat of Lord Derrington, arrived close upon 12. Therefore, as Lola left Mrs. Jersey alive and Bawdsty found her dead, she must buve been killed in the interval, and whoever had done this had used the dagger left by Lola. However, George had learned all lie wished to know in the meantime, and it only remained to get the confession from Lola. She refused to give it up. George entreated, cajoled, stormed, insisted, but she still held out. “No, I will not; I will not,” she kept saying. Finally he hit on a solution of the difficulty. “If you do not give it to me it will be taken from you when you go to prison.” “Ah, but will it?” cried Lola, wide eyed with alarm. “Certainly, and will probably be published in the papers. Keep it if you like, Lola, but don’t blame me if you get into trouble over it. I assure you if you keep it they will take it.” Lola pulled a white packet from her breast and ran with it to the fire.

‘They will not have it. I bum—l bum,” and she threw the papers on the tire. George shot past her, snatched them out before they could catch alight, and thrust them into his pocket. Lola turned on him like a tigress, and he thought she would strike him. She seemed inclined to do so. Then unexpectedly she threw up her arms and fell into a chair weeping. “It is the end—you love me no more—we part - we part. The confessions will part us. all—all, alas!” [to be continued )

George shot past her.