The Yellow Holly

was her dancing distinguished by any special grace; but about her there was something weird and original, which appealed to her audience. Such an extraordinary dancer had never been seen on the stag

cing her to the public, and she owed her positi

n. Turning aside into the shadow of a wall he found a woman lying there, exhausted with cold and hunger. Always anxious to do good, h

ruth; but she confessed to her temper, to a certain episode connected with the stabbing of a woman of whom she was jealous, and to the many quarrels which had resulted in her being thrown out of employment. Finding Italy too hot to hold her, she had danced her way to Paris through various small towns, but here, as elsewhere, her temper proved her ruin. Then she had cross

n engagement in a ballet. It was a Dresden china piece, and the violent dancing of Lola was by no means suited to the Watteau costumes and stately dances of the powder and patches type. But the manager--a shrewd Jew calle

the frantic revels over which Lola presided, and night after night the little music-hall was filled to overflowing. Lola made good use of her fame. She insisted that her salary should be raised, took modest lodgings in Bloomsbury, and, for

his excessive gratitude rather trying. Even then he was in love with Dorothy, whom he had met twice or thrice, and he was not disposed to accept the wild passion which Lola so freely offered to him. He tried to make her see reason, to look upon him as a friend and not as a lover, but in her insane way s

and for a few weeks Lola did not see him. She followed him to his rooms, but found him absent. Then she saw his name in the papers connected with the Amelia Square tragedy, and wrote to him. He accepted her invitation and came to supper, less because of her desire than because he wished to speak to her about Bawdsey. The name of Lola Velez on the lips of the red man had startled Brendon almost as much as the fact that Bawdsey appeared to be acquainted with him. George could not recall meeting the man, and as he was not yet sufficiently famous for his name to be on the lips of the public, he won

hated scenes, and these Lola was always making. In vain had he tried to break her of these melodramatic tendencies. Her hot Southern blood would not cool, and she overwhelmed him with protestations o

rn looks. She was rather tall, very slender, and she moved with the dangerous grace of a pantheress. Her face was oval, sallow and thin, with ever-changing expressions. She was never two

ed in moderately good English, and

e that sort of thing!" And so saying he threw down hi

b was at the right angle. She wore a diamond comb in the Spanish fashion. So fond was she of jewels that George sometimes fancied she must have Jewish blood in her veins. All her sa

llusion to Brendon's action. "But what would you--it is the fo

lf. A tall silver lamp with a pink shade shed a roseate light on the white cloth, the glittering crystal, and the quaint silver spoons and forks. Lola had picked up these th

nds were cooked in the Italian fashion, and there was a foreign air about the supper which was grateful after a long course of English cooking. What with the foreign dishes, the pink-shaded lamp, and the candles likewise in pink shades

ekeeping; "it is to your mind. Yes? Eh, my friend, I c

ed George, reaching for the Chia

ips and on lighting it. George wriggled uncomfortably, but it was no use objecting to Lola's ways. She

ably by the fire and she was puffing also at a cigarette, "now

in the armchair opposite. She showed a dainty foot encased in a red stocking and a red shoe. Lola was all in crimson fro

sh of her wonderful eyes. "That is

Her remark about having a friend in San Remo ran in his m

n anywhere? All Ital

er than Spain. Ye

parents sold oil to their ruin. They came to Italy, to Milan and made money t

rrupted Brendon, ruthlessly. "I ask

looked at him with narrowing eyes as s

n, only I was thin

think--

hich does not co

is to me," she res

be reas

ng in quite a French way. "I leave reasons to your chilly English ladies. I--eh, bu

you talk like this, L

o you. Let it be adieu

sit down. Give me some more wine and a

compose herself. In a flaming temper she whirled about the room, talking all the time.

id George, quietly, a

You are an angel of the good God. Dearest--my own----" She

. "Lola, do you wish me

ly, and

r chair like a Christ

irl of scarlet draperies. "Decidedly I am a Christian. I go to

, Lola? I was told tha

her chair with a

worst. Tell me who speak, t

don't want

es!" She subsided sul

ather alarmed, for he did not wish

be but for the other womans. Imbecile that I am to think of you who kick me hard--hard. A

asonable attitude. Lola tossed her head, and her expression changed to one of a

she demanded defian

rily. "I have given you no cause

nt grief. "Why did I not die? You fed me with foods and made me shine in this London; y

me watched?" ask

the other woman," s

broke off. "It has no

here is another--another--oh, you cruel! Name of

er nothing--you s

. You do not know me

d again, if you dare to--to--bah!" George stamped in his turn.

"Ah, but no," she sobbed, "I do love you

ou got to watch me--you hired to watch me?" George advisedly used the word "hired" as he thought she might have engaged one of her fr

a, sitting up with a hard expres

much?" asked Bren

ose," retorted Lola,

tective you engaged. You have been

slip, became more obstinate than ever. More to show her cal

began to put two and two together. Certainly he might be wrong, and Bawdsey might have nothing to do with the matter. Still it was worth while trying to startle Lola into a

you think it is a man. Bah! why n

e both," said George, taking his seat, "but I should h

feet with such manifest alarm that George k

ce serenely. "Did Bawdsey whe

lazing eyes. "Did he say I do wish you

, and don't distress yo

. She tried to recover lost ground. "I do not know his names," she said sullenly;

e truth," said Brendon, a little cruelly. "Come,

o, not one sou. H

Bawdsey is in

ot one, two, three little trifles for him. Chup! He is old--h

Well, then, Lola, did you get hi

me flowers--oh, many, many flowers--tho

in that," said George, deliberatel

had flowers from his

on began to think that there was some meaning in all these things and plied Lola with questions. She was sulky at first and would not answer. But Brendon knew h

, or over fifty, years of age. H'm! He know

t--nothing

ome nice tales." He fixed a keen glance on h

But she still held to her declaration of

ove with you, and must have told you much. Did he infor

ould he? I knew

w did yo

ived in San Remo when--oh, they d

im?" asked George, marveling

ne know a

re no su

I know nothings," s

ow did you and Bawdsey come t

down at her foot as she told

ng his coat over his arm, he moved towa

him. "No! no!" she cried in lively ala

ude toward me by telling the truth?" George hated to make such a s

ill say all. Ask what you will. Sit, my little cabbage--a wine in th

pleading face, "you are my frien

she said sadly. "

the yielding mood should pass away. "You ma

ade a presentation to me by Kowlaski. I learn that he l

--yes,

watch you. I tol

name?" asked B

ything--oh, y

back. "All--all wha

what you would not tell to me, my dear.

Bawdsey mention

speaks of San Remo. This--this Bawdsey as

murder,

friend. Of the mur

. "Did he know that the man who was

was difficult ab

to be acquainted with these facts. A spy--Derrington is employing him. And the man is boarding in Ame

ge," said Lola, with a pout. "If you are as what you

e?

vagant rage. "But she will not have you. No, you are mine. You will be Brendons--as I

ell you the na

he gutter. But I love you--ah, yes I love you!" She threw her ar

soberly. "Lola, hold your tongue about what you have told

put on his coat. "But you are cruel, w

?" asked George,

w. I know. You will never