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I The Tl I Holly i / j J Ciijvyrijjht. 1CC3. by G. /, , "Wnl. whatever licr reason was, I did {rlutt she asked. Bhe agreed to pay me u rent, and her uicney was as ) go pi as any one else's. Ue.sides, I felt 1 tlJit as my tenant I could keep her u?ler my own eye. When she was ?ray 1 never knew hut what she tight die and part with the secret to some que else, who might come on mo ..for blackmail also. I thought It best j.\frs. Jersey should have the house, so ; she went into it and used the old furvniture. 1 don't deny but what she was fa good business woman und made the house pay. At all events she was never behindhand with her rent." "I wonder she paid you any at all." "Oh, she had her annuity and was nfraid of pressing ine too hard. I refused to let her the house on a seven years' lease. Bhe only had It from vonr to vn-n? o?*/1 In "?? T ' 1 -? .'"I., lu IUUI tmj( 1 Kqil a check upon her. She knew if I once lost my temper 1 would throw her over and acknowledge you as my heir." "I wish you had done so," said Brendon moodily. "It would have saved a lot of trouble." . "I do so now," replied Derriugton testily. "Better late than never. Well, Mrs. Jersey lived and flourished for v -fifteen years. 1 tried to flud you out* - George, lest^Mtejshould get at youi'? "Oh, was thai why you offero^ to make iuc an nllo^inec?" J "It was. I Intcbfltd ' > gfve you u yearly income on condition that you went to Australia. Then I could be Bure that Mrs. Jersey would not seek you out. But you refused my offoi and disappeared." "I went to college under the name of Brendon," observed George. aiiu luai its wuy airs, jersey never found you nnd why I could not conit across you until you put those adver tisemcnts nbout the marriage lnto.the papers. It was that which"? "Yes; so Bawdsey told ine. You had nie watched." "I did," said Derrlnglon, "and in that way I found out that you were going to stop in Mrs. Jersey's house." "How did you learn that, sir?" asked George in surprise. "I never told nny one." "Oh, yes; yon told Lola." "So I did," said Brendon quickly "She bothered me to come and seo her. and I said that I jpns going to st&p in' the neighborhood* of Amelia squaro with a friend nnd would call on her the next day. I expect she told this to Bawdscy." "Exactly, nud Bawdsey told me. 1 was afraid lest you should make Mrs. Jersey confess. I wrote to her and asked her to see me. She refused to como to my house, so I made up my mind to seek her out in Amelia squure. I arranged by letter with her to call about 11 o'clock ut her place and see her secretly." "Why secretly, and why at night? Your visit could have been accounted for from the fact that she was your tenant." "Ah," said Derrington grimly, "I never thought of that. I received a note from Mrs. Jersey saying she would wait for me on Friday evening at 11 o'clock in her sitting room. It was a foggy night, if you remember." "Very foggy. I suppose you traced the house by means of the red light over the door." -*_ "I did not trace tho house at all," said Derrington quietly. "I did not go near the house." "But I saw you," Insisted George. "You saw my coat and a man with my tall figure, and, having ray association with yourself in your head, you Jumped to the conclusion that the figure was me." "Then if not you. who was the man ?" I "Bawdsey!" said Derrington curtly. George stared. "In your coat?" he said Incredulously. "It seems strange," said Derrington, "but the fact Is that Bawdsey is one I of the few who have got the better of | me In my life. It was In this way that lie prevented me from seeing Mrs. Jersey. On that night I visited him at his rooms, which then were in Bloomsbury. I desired to tell hlxa that I Intended to s?e Mrs. Jersey and to warn her against revealing anything. 1 don't suppose the warning was needed, as she knew when she nr^ll /vIP n..* At. _ A- - ? nan ncil vu. 13UI UJtt [RCl IS, MTS, Jeree;y was not In good health and was feeling compunction about keeping you out of your rights. I leurued from Bawdgey that Mrs. Jersey had written out a confession of the whols matter and thnt she intended to leave this to her niece, Margery Watson, so that 1 might be forced to continue the lease of the house." George uttered an ejaculation. "I thought from what Margery said that there was some such confession," he remarked, "but it Is missing. It was not found among her papers after ber death. Unless Miss Bull took It und forced you to"? "No," Interrupted Derrlngtou vigorously, "she came here quietly and put the case of the poor girl to me. Bhc also undertook that the rent would be paid regularly and that through Miss Watson she would manage the house. I was quite satisfied with tho existing arrangements, and. moreover, thought that If such a confession were found,, out of gratitude Miss Watsod ?...I .-II' .? ? I U IHWI^ ' rellow 1 By FERGUS HUME, | Aullior of "The Mystery of a .1 llauium Etc. VV. Cillinijliam Company might Liang it to mo." j "if Miss r.uil h;ul told her lo slio ! would have done so, hut not otherwise," said George. "Slio iu under | Miss Hull's thumb." ; "The host place she could be. ; George. The girl is n born id^'. from what I saw of her. I lev. c . you know why 1 renewed the year by year lease. Where the confession is 1 have no idea, but the person who holds it will certainly make use of it some day to extort money, and then we will learn who killed Mrs. Jersey." Derrington proceeded with his nc! count of his doings on that night. "As J I said. 1 went to see Hawdsey at his rooms. I took a eab, and as the fog was thick I had considerable dlillculty In finding the place. The rain and fog chilled me, for I am not so young as I was, and when 1 arrived I was shivering. But 1 was too anxious to tell Bawdscy about Mrs. Jersey to trouble. lie heated some water to give inc a glass of hot whisky. While the water was boiling I told him I was going to see Mrs. Jersey. lie osked mo how I could get into the ! house without being admitted by one I "of the servants and thus run a chance . yof my being known." "IMd it never strike him that Mrs. . Jersey expected you and would admit you when you rang?" "Yos, It did strike him, but bo knew that 1 didn't want any one to know that alio had a visitor so late at night." "I don't know why you took all these precautions, sir." Derringtou smiled dryly. "Perhaps they were rather unnecessary, but I thought it best tj bo on the safe side. As n matter of fact, I had a latchkey." "I thought that Mrs. Jersey never allowed latchkeys." "This one eamc to me when 1 bought the house and was given to mo by the agent. I told Mrs. Jersey 1 had it and that I would let myself In. She expected me at 11." "I know she did," said George, "for on that night she asked the boarders j to be in bed by 1 and broke tip her I party at 10. I wondered if she was having any one to meet her then." "She was expecting inc. It was after 10 when I told Bawdsey, and I oxplained to him that I had a latchkey. [ITe gave m0 the whisky, and, beingchilled, I drank it. Then I fell asleep." George looked up suddenly. "The whisky was drugged," he guessed. "It was." assented Derringtou, "and while I was Insensible Bawdsey took the latchkey out of my pocket and put on my coat. lie is rather my height, so with that and the fur coat I expect ho passed himself off as me to Mrs. Jersey until she saw his face." "When she did, she would have nothing to do with hiin. Although," added Ueorge, "lie was an old boarder iu tlie house." "Walt till I tell you the ro3t," said Dcrrington, "r.nd then yon can give au opinion. When I awoke it was after 12. I never suspected that the whisky had been drugged and thought that It was some sort of Illness, Bawdsey was in the room when I awoke. Ho did not tell me that he had been to Mrs. .lor.-e.v. and I now saw that It was too late to go. lie advised me to see her on the morrow, saying that It was doubtful if you would speak to her on that night." "I Intended to wait till the next day, but, as a matter of fact, 1 became anxious to see if any one was with her, and I went down the stairs." "By means of that secret door. Bawdsey told inc." "Well, I crept downstairs and saw ?as I thought?you. It was, of course, Bawdsey. lie was standing at tho door of the sitting room. I was afraid lest you?as I thought It was?should see me, so I went upstairs again." "And Bawdsey left tho house. However, I never suspected him. I went home and found Mrs. Ward waiting for me. She came to tell me that she had board fmm nnrntiiu timt ...... ? ^VIVWIJ vuui J UU IJkkJposed to stop with Train nt Mrs. Jersey's house, nml eamc to warn ine." "How good of Mrs. Ward!" "She is a dangerous woman, George. I threw my coat on yonder sofa, and she sat near it. Feeling something In the pocket, her curiosity led her to take out the something when I was absent from the room. It was a stiletto." George started from his seat. "A stiletto?" "Yes." Derrington opened the drawer In his desk and to^k out the weupon which Mrs. Ward had brought. "This was between the fur and the lining of the coat What with the weight of the coat and the position of the weapon lying along the bottom of the coat I never suspected It. I brought it home quite unconsciously. Mrs. Ward fonnd It took it away with her and came the other day to accuse me of having murdered Mrs. Jersey." "IIow dure she do such a thing?" "Uh, Mrs. Ward Is capable of all things! However, you enn sec from what 1 tell you what happened. Bawdsey put the stiletto in my coat and either forgot to take it out or left It there so that 1 might be incriminated." "Did he tell you this?" "He ^old me, when I rebuked him too sharply, that he could get me Into | trouble. He alsy rg/errcd to the stll?tm \3Smm -**?rDR. I. - >? D E f Crown and Bridge Work a Bnooia 11v to. 1 denied that I had seen it, and ! was only when Mrs. Ward brought the other day that 1 saw that this pal of Bawdsey's story was true." "What did you do':" "I accused him of having killed tli woman." "What did he say':" "lie denied that he had done so. II declared that he went to Mrs. Jersey sitting room <~/j>r close upon 1 having let himself in noiselessly b the front door. lie discovered Mr. Jersey lying dead, as she was four, in the morning. On the lloor was tli stiletto. Fearing lest l:e should I o a< cused of the crime, I'awdsey left tl: house quickly, but took the stilctt with him so that he might flml o; who had done the deed. He change his mind or left it by mistake in m fur coat." "Did ho ask money?" "No. He lias not done so yet, bi he tukl me very plainly that no on could prove that lie had been in tli house on that night, and that if he ha been seen the coat would make peopl t think It was J." "Exactly what I did think," sal George. "Well, I had to hold my tongue, fo you see I was in a most awkward p: i sition, and 1 could prove nothing, bluffed Mrs. Ward, but if the matte came into court things would look e> treinely unpleasant for me." "I can see that," said Brendou, "bu Bawdsey"? "He lias made himself secure, as n [ one can prove that lie was in tli house on that night. Even you though ( it was I. I can't say for certain i Bawdscy committed the murder or i he really did tiud the woman dead, a he said, but he swears to his innc cenee. As yet he has not made an, use of his power, but I am quite sur that he will try to get money out o me, so I have asked you here to ad vise me about the matter." "Do you think Bawdsey lias the con fession?" "He may have. If so, he know where the marriage was celebrated 1" Brcndon mused for a time. "I tlilnl it best to do nothing at the presen moment," he said. Bawdsey Is friend ly to me, as I saved him from beinj run over. If he thought I knew this he might turn crusty and make trou hie. Better wait." "For what?" asked Derrlngton rest lessly. "To see what he will do. If he doe: blackmail you, call me in. He's i scoundrel, bu( I know how to conque f ^ PTT t Will MTSS HULL was alone in tlu sitting room of the Intt Mrs. Jersey. Margery hat gone oat shopping, and tlx old maid was left to her own re sour* ea. I lor thoughts wore sad. Ilero sl:t v..;::. an old spinster dragging out t miserable okl age in a London lodging 1. r. while lav sister lived and facet sua.uiy in aocnrdaiuo with hoi P >r.;.' ". "It e; n't last in noli longer,' - .id Mi i il. with a ::ig!t. "i am got ting <;i i, an ! i' e cud is coming. The - no nor the better." As sl.o g..vo vent to tills dreary sen tea o r -."re .vr.s a ring at the door Miss il: ! p-'d little aitoution to it, us she never ! ad any via!tors. But this day proved t > he an exception, foi Lieu-go was admitted into the room He advativod cordially toward Miss Bull. "1 l.ave come to ace you again, yon see," sal 1 Brendan. "1 am very glad to see you, Mr, Broa.Ion." alio salt1. "You have come to make further inquiries likely to forward y ur light for y >ur birthright V" Cor. go tangled. "Tliere's no need lur ni:u, liiiuu; uou." said he; "my grandfather haa agreed to nek now l edge me." "Then there was n marriage7" "I ctnn t be certain of that yet. How do yon know about that:"* Mis.n null answered quietly: "You told me last time you were here that you were Lord Derrington's grand son. and I heard that there was sonic doubt about the legitimacy." "I know it was common talk at one time." replied Brendon, satisfied with this explanation. "Did Mrs. Jersey ever speak about it?" "No. She never did. What did she know about it?" "I think you can best answer that question. Miss Hull." "I don't know to what you allude, Mr. Brendon." "Perhaps If I allude to your life in San Remo you"? Miss Bull started to her feei, and the cup she held fell on the carpet. "San Reiuo?" she muttered. "Yes. Miss Howard," said Brendon, nsinir her renl nnmo nnmn??i? ? ? The little old maid pnt one thin hand to her head. "Miss Howard!" "The daughter of the late General Howard!" said George. "My father wna a general?" "He was. General Howard. Tou are Miss Jenny Howard" Miss Bull started and then sat down. Iler face expressed pntu. "He 080(1 to call me Jenny. Jenny Howard. Yes, there was a happy girl of that name, but she?she died." "Not at all," said Hrendon briskly, to arouse her from this dreniny state. "She lived and chunged her name to Bull." The woman pushed back her white hair and made an eiTort to lie calm. But her lip quivered. "Why have you come here to awaken these painful * -o, SHLi JTIST.^ iwfc Office Bank Building Union, S. C it IUO . si i :-.id. it "Hoc. o J v. '.i t > t.-> >w l ow my i't fathoi' come by his death." "I i\d not know- indeed I do not know," moaned Miss Hull, putting out ie her hand as though to wa?'l oil' the thought. "Yon tuny not know fot certain, but e you have some Idea. Your sister, Mrs. 's Ward"? II, Miss Hull's face Unshod eriuison. 1 y anil she ilrew a deep breath, "(lit, it's Violet's work, is itV" she said, and her d eyes grew hard. "And pray. Mr. Hrone don, has she sent you to cross question L-- me?" ! e "No. I eoiito on my own behalf. . o You knew my father?" it "Percy Vane. Yes, I knew him. He d loved me -ah, indeed he did! That y night he asked me to be his wife, and had he not been murdered"? "Did lie ask you when he was takit ing you home?" asked George, won ie dcrlug how Miss Hull would have boo ha veil as his stepmother, il "Taking me home? He never did Ie that on the night of the ball." "Your sister, Mrs. Ward"? d "I have no sister. 1 disown Violet. She is a wicked woman! She is selfish, r t 1s ' "Sun llano ?*' vain, cruel and dccoitl'ul. ITow do you . know that 1 urn her sister? And how did you come to learn my name?" ^ "Lord Lerrington told me, and it x was told to him by Mr. Ireland." r "Your guardian." Miss Hull tapped her baud on the woodwork of her chair, ,'^le recognized me wliyjn 1 called to see him on thaOllay about , the lease. Hut he promised to hold his * tongue." j "die would have done so had he uot , been startled by meeting Mrs. Ward and recognizing in her the woman who had left the ball with my father." j "And Violet admitted this?" "No. She said that you had left the ball with my father. It was you who j wore the blue domino and the holly . sprig." I "Liar! Liar!" muttered Miss Hull. "Hut she is always the same. My sister lias enjoyed the good things of this life. She has had money, position, praise, and all that a woman desires. As for myself"? i "Thou it really was Mrs. Ward wlio , | left the ball." "It was. Slie lays the blaine on my shoulders"? Miss Dull paused, and her mouth worked nervously. "Does 1 she accuse me of the crime?" "No. She says that you left Mr. 1 Vane at the gale of the hotel." | "Oh," muttered Miss Bull, "Percy \ came as far as that with her, did he? ' And she said ho left her at the door of the room whore the ball was being held. Liar! I.iar! Violet has told her j ' story, now I will tell you mine. I want I to know, ho-.vever, exactly what she said, in Ike exact words if you can re. member them." "1 did not bear her speak." confessed (leorge. "it was my grandfa- ? ILer and Mr. Ireland to whom she told J 1 the story." < "Story! Pablo! I.ie! Romance!" * said Miss Bull vehemently. "Well, ! tell me what you can remember!" This t.'eorge did an. concisely as pos' sible. for l:e feared lest Margery 1 should interrupt the interview. Miss Bull listened with a downcast face I mid pursed up lips. Not a word did 1 she s.ty. but when (ieor.^e ended she looked up, with a bitter smile. "She ! simply put herself in my place," she said. "Wait!" For a moment or so she tried to compose Ti en she raised her head r.nd !o..-;ed her visitor squarely in the eyes. "I am roIii# to tell the 1 truth." said Miss Hull bravely. "Therefore 1 have no need to shun your K.nze. Mr. Hrendon, I loved your father." "So Mrs. Ward said." "And Violet loved 1dm also." "He must have been a siiifiularly attractive man," remarked Hrendon, wondering at this revelation. "My mother eloped with him, her maid was in love with him, and now you and Mrs. Ward"? "Oh, Violet really did not love him. It was simply n desire to take him ^ from me that made her behave as she J did. Violet never loved any one in \ her life save the person she sees In J the mirror every day." "I don't quite understand, but if you i will relutc the story"? "I shall do so at once. You may as well know nil, and know also what a bad woman I have for a sister. If she (Oontlnued on Otfh page.) (T~ Wood's Seeds" jj Crimson Clover Sown at the last working 3 of the Corn or Cotton Crop, n can bo plowed under the following H April or May in time to plant corn m or other crops the same season. 9 Crimson Clover prevents winter 3 leaching of the sod, is equal in fer? tili/:ing value to a good application p of stable manure ami will wondery fully increase the yield and qual$j ity of corn or other crops which h follow it. It also makes splendid H winter and spring grazing, fine K early green feed, or a good hay crop. JOven if the crop is cut oil', ttic action of the roots and stubble *1 improve the land to a marked dejj Write for price and special clrculur telling about seeding etc. | T.W.Wood & Sons, Seedsmen, | RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. I Wood's Descriptive Fall Catalog, ready g about August 1st. tells all about Farm B mui Vegetable . ds for Fall planting. Mailed free on request. WlHI ilMUl BPil VP V-'^xs 'i f v": A ; _ A \ ? ><>.. toonift'^./^' ' \ J- -.- r.ial ( .Mirli.uK ' v, !an In. rifMH l< tin* woi"t klii'l id a com- f; b'-.-.ttlon. ,'\ Ewreka Harness rotoi.ly in \k^th"!i:ii :;t,1i r.:> i' V? # , }i,kry;i f'K .v If'tt'T, ^'t?t Hiu;<? * ;'i> ?, Iv&tisi-r ci-rc sun! 1 ' ' \ ?"ii 't i'? c ! j if tVilh-n t ? ?:t ?i -twicu ; , * WJtfffiHWf "s ' nliiiiu ?ly milt!. , V* 1^?^;'.,'!}, fc? -c?. Ha*ic by ' *V' 5TAVOARD /?/ \ \ Give \ Your ^Wmji Horse a \ Chance ! ||||/ SCAIFE & HAMBLIN, ^ATTORNEYS AT LAW,^ 'ostor^Building, Union, S. C. .). CLOUGH WALLACE. ATOK^fcY AT LAW. 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Wiaict Velsii, Sown with V inter Outs, makes the laijet> i J t.-v.wlo yi( l<i of the l>. t. aiul i- ; niilfUlft"" - 1. ?<*} I Write for ; nee . wood's OcSC?:rfiVc ful catalog Tells iill ?i:t re of la for fall Kovitvr. Ilia I in inont valua!,!< :it:I ' lnfal , -uhlication of the k!(: i in America. MnilC'l free, on request. t T: W. WOOD & SONS, J Sm&rsb, - Richmond, Va. "OSS'* Eas% E*Ss?ar 3 Tho famous little Dills- | V. v J : i f. I It ; " Humor and Philosophy By DUNCAN\M. SMITH 4 Copyright, 1904, by Duncan M. Smith. PERT PARAGRAPHS. The average boy does not care who 1* elected so he can get in tin? parade and work his squawker and his lungs. If a man just sets willingly about it he can tind many things that drive him to drink. ! I?[1 If J'ou want to 1 1 a 1,1,1,1 nm* I *1 n,n^e *llin t'lat \_ 1 jp- ''/ he is a sly dog, tell ifll 7 //~// Id>n that an old II I sweetheart of his / nI Inquired after It adds much to the pleasures of a dinner if the fresh country butter has had a shave before it is placed on the tuble. The person who is always giving good advice is kept too busy to take any of It himself. If you happen to be out when the collector calls, it isn't necessary to call him up and apologize. The homelier a girl is the more she requires beautiful clothes, and the prettier she is the more she desires beautiful clothes. In Manchuria war appears to be living up to General Sherman's description with high water added. When a man has tried for half an hour to call up some one on the telephone on important business he thinks if there is no future punishment there should be for the man who invented the busy signal. I It is much easier to predict weather than it is to have the weather live up to the predictions. Busted. Tho dollars from my jeans have fled, The gladness from my heart Is gone, And everything looks pale and wan That erstwhile blossomed rosy red. I search my pockets through and MHVUfill Tobacco, Jack knife, two key rings, A corkscrew and some other things? Hut I can't And a single sou. I take my sad plight much to heart, And, oh, for me there is 110 peace! From sorrow can I hope release When I and my last dollar part? Oh, woe Is me, and me Is woe! My landlord now atHrms that he, Though hating much to trouble me. Must Ree the color of my dough. And so to chase his gloom away. Alas, to work I have to go * -And dub around till I can show A bunch of coin therewith to pay. | ^ The Popular^ One. "lie took n postgraduate course iu / the school of experience." / "Worked in n barber shop, did he?" Almost a Hint. "Yes," said the sweet young girl, "I / flatter myself that I am something of a / mind reader. Although I am not the / seventh daughter of a seventh daugh- / ter, it comes natural for me to tell / what a person Is thinking by looklngf at him." N v. "Now, that is interesting," said ^ young Mr. I.atestnyer, who was making n friendly call. "Suppose you vi prove it by telling me whnt I am thinking about." ! "We must use tact in practicing f these m3'Stic arts," she replied, "and f really 1 would hate to hurt your feel- / lngs." "Oh, go ahead. I don't care who knows my thoughts." j "Well, if you insist," she said sweet- / ly, "you are thinking that you really / mtitjf nl.'A x'/Min ?? i-?- ' AJ Ui>v itinu .J VIII lilt L 1IIIU UU1IIP. / # Tlie young man laughed uproarious- f ly at the guess, but be did not linger / around many hours longer. \ ~ Lower Still. "IIow are you coming with your trust Investment?" "Not coining at all." "1 thought they let you In on the ground ttoor." "They did, but they afterward dropped me into the basement." Just Her Way. When a fc-tlow's spent his monty And he hasn't any more, Then this sign hangs out his honey, "Nothing doing," on the door. falling Oil. "I lost 5 cents in weight this morning." "You menn five pounds." "No. 1 dropped a nickel in the alot of a weighing machine that was not working." Of Course a Mistake. "They elected an honest alderman from the Steenth ward this spring." "Strange what accidents will happen!" Often Happens. It really seems a pity That after many moons A youth so full of promise Should turn out full of prunes.