The Yellow Holly

odsend to the reporters. They flocked in shoals to Amelia Square and haunted the Jersey mansion like unquiet ghosts. Whenever any boarder went out for a walk he or she would be questioned

eighborhood, Amelia Squ

h in itself was sufficiently unpleasant. Brendon found it particularly so, as he was anxious to get back to his own rooms at Kensington and to his work. But even when he told Inspector Quex that he was merely a visitor and knew nothing about the matter, that zealous officer objected to his

, and he appeared to shun Brendon's company. George knew that Train was impressionable and sensitive, and thought that the sight of the dead and the ordeal of the examination had been too much for his weak nerves. This might have been the case, but Leonard never gave him the satisfa

oint she merely said that she had done so because the death card had been turned up. Taken in conjunction with another card, according to the reading employed by fortune-tellers, a violent death was assuredly prophesied. But, as Miss Bull said, no one was more as

actions for libel until such statements were withdrawn. And certainly, on the face of it, the accusation was absurd. The majority of people who did believe in fortune-telling by the cards insisted that Miss Bull w

as locked as usual, and that she had taken the key from the dead woman's pocket to open it when the police entered. It would appear that Mrs. Jersey had been murdered by some one in the house. Yet not one scrap of evidence could be found to show that any one in the house could possibly be guilty. The boarders were all old, the servants all ordinary human beings, and no motive could be assigned to any one person for the committal of so cruel a crime. Moreover, the fact that the instrument us

ey always put out the light above the door at eleven, or when the guests departed. On this occasion it burned all night, and, as it shines behind c

guests she thought that some of them might be lost in the fog. Therefore she called out after

atching his head, "tha

Bull, "since the front door was locked a

gentlemen are clearly innocent the crime must have been committed by som

," said Harmer. "Madame wo

ot necessary. But Mrs. Jersey may have given one to a friend of hers who came to s

sted no one that far. And I don't think sh

. Taine, who on various occasions

Jersey, or why she was killed, will probably never be known. Ladies and gentlemen, good-day," and the inspe

pened after eleven, it was impossible to say that the criminal had entered the house. Had Mr. Inspector known of this he might have made further inquiries; but he knew not

Duke Street?" asked Brendon

loomily. "I don't want to stop a moment l

thinking, Train. But, so far as I can see, the

l Quex about the door being opened

It was a foggy night, and whosoever entered w

only one outlet to the square, and

"to say nothing of the fog, which would hide any one desirous of

, I wish I ha

you like," said George, v

asked m

, until the whole of my private affairs will come to light. I don't want those to b

left the sitting-room unless I had let you

gnificance of which was lost on Train. "But if the whole of my story ca

st rose on end. "How cou

e to stop with you and reveal my reasons for coming. These have to do with the possession of a secret by the murdered woman. All that, to a policeman, would be suspicious. What would be easier than for me to go do

o trouble. I shall say nothing. I wish I had not

he woman will be buried shortly, and you will be back leading your own life. So far as I am concerned you know that I am not guilty, and that I could

it wasn't. I he

say the assassin came and went in that way. But if he, or she, did, the doo

might

here's no use talking any further. The m

ill you

. Nor is there, for I cannot see my way to prove my legitimacy. We must part, and I shall probab

. Then he glanced at his friend in a doubtfu

"It withered, so I took it out of m

rd gave any one else a

ange question. "Not to my

e sort of thing," he said uneasily, "and its effect on Mrs. Jersey was so

at no conclusion. But in any case I don't see that Miss Ward giving me the

ly, "and if I were you I would ask Miss

be the sen

n why Mrs. Jers

brain is building up a perfect romance," he declared. "Th

ere coming to stop

the Park in the morning. It was then

rnoon tea she ga

k she did it on purpos

g up a romance now," he said. "I never thought anything o

coinci

se one can call berried holly a flower--which awaken

y into the circumstances of the yellow holl

should not be surprised if somet

"However, there is nothing more to be said. My advice to you

olutely i

that. All the same, th

ake as well as for yours," he said, and the two parted, Leonard to pack up, and Brendon to journey

e here," said Train w

ge when he was in his cab. "That fool seems

of the boarders behindhand pay up. Thus there was enough money to go on with, and Miss Bull decided to wait until after the funeral, before deciding what she intended to do herself. When Mrs. Jersey was buried her lawyer made his appearance with the will. It was read to Margery, and Miss Bull stopped beside the poo

t he says?" she

"but I don't understan

ad the will again, but M

s not capable of attending to business. Go and lie

rgery, rising, and then turned to the lawyer. "Let Miss

adviser under his breath, and when Margery had left t

the truth, Mr. James, she was badly treated by her aunt. If you will explain the will to me I wi

mistrust, but she was acting very well on this occasion. Moreover, as Margery was not likely to prove a lucrative client, Mr. James was a

"Madame leaves to Margery Watson, her niece, the money in the green box i

l recollect, the cloth

ull, raising her black eyes inquiring

rrington, and he only let the ho

hat rathe

ved from him an annuity of five hundred a year and the lease of this house--by the year, remember--from December

Bull, quite composed. "I understand you to

Mrs. Jersey is dead it will not be renewed. Lord Derringto

sey?" asked Miss Bull, scenting a

that, and if I c

but you see in the interests of that poor gi

go. "I have nothing more to do in the matter and m

ss Bull, quietly. "Wh

ood, fifteen years ago. Mrs. Jersey wished to set up a boarding-house, so Lord Derrington placed her in here. Every stick in the plac

ss Bull, rising in her prim manner. "By the way, Mr. Jame

he lawyer, looking rather

s. If no one else will assist this

inspired mistrust, and, kindly as she appeared to be acting towards Margery, he could not help thinking that there was mo

hat the terms would be as before. If any chose to stop they would be welcome, but those who decided to go could have their bills made out at once. Having thus acted as the mouthpiece of Margery, Miss Bull took the girl away to the sitting-room

d, "I want you to pay the greatest attention to what I a

looking at the peaked white face with ad

ord Derrington is the owner of this house, and he leased it to your aunt by the year--a very strange a

tell you anyth

she said in a rather ominous manner; "at all events, ther

annu

e hundred a year. I don't know the reason why he did so, and as such reason is not pertinent to matters in hand I do not wish to know, but the annuity m

een with my aunt. She was my

I shall be your security. With the money in hand--I have counted it, and with that in the bank it amounts to two hundred pounds--we can continue the boarding-house. A few of th

ried Margery with me

g sister--" her lips tightened again as she said this--"and I love you, my dear, for your goodness. Well, we shall keep on

u are--how g

girl. "I do not wish to leave this place or lose you.

cking in Miss Bull's maiden breast: but certainly the way in which the old woman was treating the helpless girl showed th

ed in Margery's name. Some of the boarders went; but others came in their place, and these being younger added to the gayety of the house. So all was settled, and Miss Bull became a person of importance. Sh