Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1906 — The Yellow Holly [ARTICLE]

The Yellow Holly

By FERGUS HUME.

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

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. I CHAPTER J—George Breudou, a young | Londoner, visit* his friend. Leonard Train, j who has lodgings in the boarding house kept by Mrs. Jersey. Among the boardter* is an elderly maiden lady. Miss Bull. Mrs. Jersey is startled by a piece of yellow holly, worn l>y George. ll—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 recognize the marriage of George's father (Lord Derrington’s >oi), who had eloped. Brendon desires to establish bis position as Lord Derrington’s heir in order to marry Dorothy Ward. The place of marriage of Georges 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. Ill—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 Dorotny, 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, tells him of his mother's marriage and death and his father's murder. The latter was killed after leaving a masked bell 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 and X—Mrs. Ward invites Train to dinner. He meets Lord Derriington. George visits Dorothy and makes a favorable impression on Ids 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. Xll—Lord Derrington is visited by Brendon, who telle his grandfather that he saw him in Mrs. Jersey s house on the night of of the murder. Brendon demands that his frandfuther silence Mrs. Ward. Xlll—Lord ierriugton visits Mrs. Ward and forces her 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 up her lover. XlV—Lola disappears. Bawdsey tell* George that Mr. Ireland knows something about his father s death. Lord Derrington s power over Mrs. Ward is due to the fact of his knowledge of her cheating at cards. Mrs. Ward produces the weapon with which Mrs. Jersey was killed, having found it in Lord Derrington’s coat. Lord Derrington confiscates the stilleto. Mr. Ireland tells him that Mrs. Ward was with George’s father at the San Remo ball. Another blue domino there was Mrs. Ward's sister, now known as Miss Bull. XVI and XVII —Lord Derrington makes peace with his grandson. The old man denies that he was in the Jersey house on the fatal night and tells George that the man he saw was Bawdsey in his employer's coat. Lord Derrington 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. Bawdsey had drugged the lord, in order to get Mrs. Sersey's confession and money for it. Bawdsey denies that he killed Mrs. Jersey. XVIII—Miss Bull tells Brendon that it was her sister who was accompanied home by his father on the night of the latter’s murder. Lola Velez's mother in San Remo owned the dagger 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 the marriage of George's parents, in order to prevent his marriage to Dorothy. Lola is arrested and visited by George, who obtains Mrs. Jersey’s confession from her, after learning from Lola that she had stolen it on the fateful night. Lola had left the dagger (obtained from her mother) In the room with Mrs. Jersey. XXl—Mrs. Jersey's confession. A lady's maid, in love'with Mr. Vane, George’s father, she had tried, after the death of his first wife, to prevent his marriage to Jennie Howard (now Miss Bull). After the ball, at which she impersonated Miss Howard, w earing yellow holly for identification. she tried to stab him with a dagger obtained from Lola's mother, but was prevented by Mr. Ireland, who accidentally killed Mr. Vane. XXII —ft transpires that Bawdsey is the former husband of Mrs. Jersey. XXIII—LoIa released from jail with a Hue. Lord Derrington publicly acknowledges George as his heir, and Mrs. Ward consents to Dorothy's betrothal to George. XXlV—Death of Mr. Ireland Bawdsey announces his discovery that Mrs. Jersey was killed by Miss Bull.

CHAPTER XXV.

GEOHGE stared at the triumphant detective in surprise. It seemed impossible that what be stated could be true. Miss Bull was the very last person whom Breudou would have accused. “You must mean Margery,” said George after a time. "No, I don’t,” replied Bawdsey in a determined voice. "I mean Miss Bull, or, ns you know her. Miss Jenny Howard.” “But what reason”— “Ah. that’s a long story! She shah tell you herself.” “Have you had her arrested?” “Not yet. But she will be arrested before the end of the day. I have already communicated with Scotland Yard. It was your idea about Margery that put me on the scent,” Bawdsey said, with great complacency, “though, to be sure, I had my suspicions before. It was to watch Miss Bull that I came "What made you think that she was guilty?” “Well, It seemed to me that she was the only person who could have killed Eliza. She ami Eliza hated one another because of their mutual love for your father.” George groaned. What a lot of trouble his father had caused with his handsome looks and charming manners! Even after his death the fatal attraction he exerciswl seemed to bring about disaster. “She did not kill Mrs. Jersey on that account.” he said. “Walt till you hear. She will tell you. In fact, she asked me to send for you, as she wishes to speak.” “Let me hear how you came to learn that this poor creature struck the blow. You say that It was some remark I made which”—

•‘Yes, it was,” said Bawdsey eagerly, throwing himself into a seat. ‘.‘Your remark that Margery might be guilty”— “One moment,” Interrupted George in his turn. “I may tell you that I have seen Mr. Ireland, and he declares that he never was near the house on that night, that he knew nothing qt

the confession, and that he had no latchkey. He is innocent” “Now that I have beard Mias Bull I know that, sir. She’s the one.” "Well, and how did you find out?” Bawdsey cleared his throat and began, with a most important air: “I rather agreed with your idea that Margery might be guilty,” he said, “and when I turned it over in my own mind I thought it more and more probable. I therefore determined to get Margery alone and work on her fears. Well, it was this morning In the sitting room. Miss Bull had gone out and bad left Margery to make up some accounts. The girl was laboring away at them and getting into a hopeless mess. I came to speak with her and offered to do them. I soon put the accounts to rights and then began to talk of Miss Bull.” “Why of Miss Bull?” “Why”*—Bawdsey .pinched his lip—“I thought at the time that Margery was guilty, and, that if in talking to her I laid the blame on Miss Bull the girl would speak out.” “Well, you accused Miss Bull of the crime?” “In a way I did. Margery denied it.” “What did you say?” “That she might as well confess. 1 declared that I had evidence to prove Miss Bull’s guilt, and that she would be arrested when she came back. I declare, Mr. Vane, I thought the girl would strike me. She was like a wildcat.”

“I wish she had,” growled George.

“She said if I arrested Miss Bull she would' kill me. I said, ‘As you killed your aunt.’ She up and said: ‘Yes, I did kill her. Miss Bull is innocent, and you know she is.’ Of course, when she admitted the fact, I at ouee began to suspect Miss Bull.” “Why did you do that?” “Because if Margery had been guilty she would not have owned up. But If Miss Bull was guilty, Margery would certainly take the guilt on herself. While Margery was threatening me and taking the guilt on herself, Miss Bull came in. That stupid girl ran to her and fell at her feet, crylug that I knew all, but that she would die for her dear Miss Bull.”

“And what did the woman say?”

“She asked me if I knew. I said I did. She demanded how I found out. I told her that that was my business. She began to smell a rat and suspected that I was bluffing. She would have held her tongue, but Margery was in such terror for her friend that she came out with the whole story.” “The girl is half witted. All this may not be true.”

“Oh, yes, It Is. When Miss Bull saw that the game was up she sat down and admitted that she had killed Mrs. Jersey. She also said that she was glad the truth had come to light.” “She was raving,” said George incredulously. “No; she wasn’t. She told me the whole story in the calmest manner, just as though she were asking me to have a cup of tea. Then she asked me to send for you and sat down to play patience. She is desperately anxious to see you.” George shuddered and followed Bawdsey down the stairs. It seemed terrible to him that such a fragile little creature as Miss Bull should be subjected to this disgrace. He did not condone her crime. She had acted wrongly and must take the consequences. But he could not forget that she was Dorothy’s aunt, and be wished he could see some way of rescuing her from this dreadful position. Miss Bull was, as Bawdsey had stated, playing patience. Seated at the very table where her victim had sat, she dealt the cards and seemed quite Interested in the game. Margery was seated In a chair near at hand, looking with tearful eyes into the face of her friend. Beyond the fact that Miss Bull was whiter than usual she showed no signs of emotion. “You have come, George,” she said, addressing him by his name. "I am glad to see you. Mr. Bawdsey, you may go.” Bawdsey shrugged his shoulders and, with a glance at George, went out. After all, he had heard the story before and did not particularly care to hear it again. Besides, Bawdsey was a kindly man, and he felt sorry that he had proceeded to such extremities. Miss Bull shuffled her pack of cards and laid them away in a box. “I shall play that game no more. I have been playing patience all my life, but the end has come, and I am glad it has come. I suppose you were astonished when Mr. Bawdsey told you?” said she, looking with piercing eyes at Brendon.

“I was. I never thought that you—you”— “That I would kill Mrs. Jersey," finished the woman quietly. “Why not? She was a bad, wicked creature, and caused the death of your father. She boosted of It." “Where? When?” asked the astonished young man. “In this very room. In my presence. But to make you understand I had better tell you all.” “One moment. Miss Bull. When you told the fortunes on that night did you Intend to kill Mrs. Jersey?” “No. The death card did turn /tap.

That wm a strange coincidence, George. When I came down the stairs I had i4> more idea than you of killing the wretched woman.” “What made you do it?” “I am telling you,” replied Miss Bull, folding her hands on her lap. “Wait and hear. Mrs. Jersey was very rude to me on that night. I Intended to remonstrate with her. She added insult to Injury by locking Margery in her bedroom, so as to keep her from me. I beard her scolding Margery in the passage, and when all was quiet and Mrs. Jersey had gone down the stairs I went up to Margery’s room and unlocked the door. Mrs. Jersey bad struck the poor child, and she was sobbing on her bed. I then determined to go down for the second time and see Mrs. Jersey.” “For the second time? Were you down before?” “I was,” replied Miss Bull calmly. “I wondered who Mrs. Jersey had coming to see her, particularly after she had lost her courage when she saw a yellow holly in your coat.” “You noticed that?” “Yes, and I noticed the holly also. I wondered why you wore it. The sight of it put irto my mind that fatal night when he’’—Miss Bull brushed aside her thoughts—“but _ no matter. I thought I would see if Mrs. Jersey was seeing any one, and also I wished to talk about the yellow holly.” “But why should you trouble about seeing any one?”

Miss Bull looked down and then looked up abruptly. “Mrs. Jersey would have sent me back to the asylum if she could, and I was always afraid lest she should see some one secretly about the matter. I crept down the stairs, leaving Margery in my room playing at patience. Mrs. Jersey’s door was closed. I heard the murmur of voices, and I put my ear to the keyhole. I heard that dancer—afterward I learned that it was the dancer—l heard her accuse Mrs. Jersey of having killed Percy Vane.” “On what grounds did Lola base that accusation ?” “She said her mother told her.” “And what did Mrs. Jersey say?” asked George. [concluded next week]