Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

| Holly | Copyright, 1005, by G, "1 wns dismissed. He procured new nurse from England?a Scotch hussy, as r.gly as she wns silly. I saw her eften In Milan after my dismissal Oh. that time! Oh. those weary days I wept. I prayed. I moaned. I wac s wreck. With what money I hnd ] went to a convent near Milan and topped there for a month. But 1 could not Tctnaln nwny from him. 1 came out. He wns gone. I went to Inquire at the hotel. He bad gone te Rome. Afterward a message cam< that all letters were to" be sent to Ban Remo. I determined te go to San Remo and to be near L Jul *iw "" stiU in love with me, proved a ? Mnlllog: tool. I could jot get to Sas Remo-Without money. He offered ic \ 'ndvance iue the* railway fare, and b? (jfc Cot me a situation in the Hotel d'An'-v. gleterre as housemaid. He also was f going there for the Bcason as a waiter. I said that if be took me to San Heme I would marry him. He did so, and I? bnt that comes later. Sufficient It Is I to say that George believed In my A promise and that I found myself again n in the presence?the heavenly presence 1 ?of my adored Percy. "But I had only come to submit my. self to frcsli anguish. He saw ?ne, hut took no notice of me. I was afraid to follow him too closely lest he should esk the police to Interfere. George Rates was jealous, too, and 1 had to onalder him, as, failing Percy rewarding my love, I could fall back on George. He was always useful to supply the money for me to get back to England, where I was certain of a sltI nation. I handled the situation in a masterly manner and contrived to see Percy without his sceiug me and without exciting too openly the Jealonsy of George Rates. "But It was the horrid girl that sensed me pain. She was one of the daughters of General Howard, whom Perey had met at Corno. The two girls both laid themselves out to catch mv gW darling. Bat their arts did not succeed at Como. Jenny was the one who tried * hardest to get him, but Violet took her f ehgnce also. When they came to San Hk Remo they stopped at u>o Hotel a'Angleterre. I looked after their room.' and, knowing what they were, I made myself their friend. They knew me as the former nurse of Percy's little son abd wondered how I came to be a housemaid. I told some story which satisfied them. I forget what it was. They believed In me thoroughly, and they found out that I loved Percy. Than they were amused, and I hated them for It. They told Percy that I was watching him, and he came to the J hotel no hiore. But I still pretended ' to be their friend for my own ends. There was n masked ball coming off, and the Miss Howards wished to go tmbeknown to their father. I entered tnte the spirit of the joke. I procured them two blue domluos and each a sprig of yellow holly so that they mignt know one anotuer. iney went ' ^ to the ball thus disguised. "I went also In the same drees. L had got n third blue domino, and I also wore a sprig of holly. In my pocket I took n stiletto. Why did I do that? Because I was determined to kill any one who tried to make love to my Per9 cy. I knew that Jenny Howard, tho E kittle cat, would try to get him to R love her, and I would have killed her pR. with pleasure had she become Percy's B& bride. As I was masked, I had uo fear of being discovered should I stnb any BBk one. and, moreover, were there trouble, B^Bk the Misses Howard, being dressed as BjnByL, was, even to tho sprig of yellow hoiRate might be accused of any crime that :H^RR4flBht happen. Moreover, even If I |BnflBnied Jenny I knew that the two sisters BReRw Qh*rreled and that on the evidence of the holly and the domino Violet might B|^W t>? charged with the crime. R^B-. "About the stiletto. I received that from a low shopkeeper called Voles, jpwf Who was In love with Percy. She and jp' her husband kept an oil shop, and her |f husband was very Jealous of her. She |, was madly in love with Percy, as I V fopnd out when buying something at g bar shop, and I got to know her in95 Mmatalv I "I heard Percy propose to marry Jenny, and I was minded then to kill her. I drew the stiletto from my breast and would have rushed forward , hoping to escape In the confusion when I killed her. But my heart failed me; even when she ww left alone my heart failed me. Jenny j took off her mask, and 1 left her sitting waiting for Percy's return. Then K followed Percy and saw Violet Join L htm. I knew it was Violet, owing tu the unmasking of Jenny, and, moreiflk aver, 1 tod seen Violet listening, as 1 She loved him also?the cat! ?11 1 However, 1 saw that she wanted to roi 'JCftt Percy out of the place by soaking iflk MPwBatPt think she was Jenny. She did. 1 WmHWd. He took her home to the iSt gates of the hotel and left her there. iSfx When he was coming back to the bull Sea I stopped him at the bottom of the ! parade. There was no one in sight, It was late, and a clear moon was shining. >v.r "Percy thought 1 was Violet, whom be mistook for her sister. He addressed me in such endearing tones as ,, Jenny, and remonstrated so gently - 9 * "aboOf What he called -the rashness of |f eutwiM to frog if bow i Hrfii tSslIr" v By FERGUS IiUME, Author of "The Myitery of a H Hansons Cab." Etc. ^ >* I . W. Dllllnfham Company m tsrsazrt W9ii3umxr*iiz.r .< -hiAaeanmsg-a^ 1 losi. my temper. I snatched off tlv ' mask aiul poured out my wrath. Fere: ' burst out laughing when he recognize* me. lie said?never mind what hi ' 8ftid?hut it was an insult, and raj J Italian hlocd boiled in ray veins. drew the stiletto and rushed on him I At thnt moment ray hand was caugli ' from behind, and I fell. It was tha ' man Irelnnd. who was then at Sai Iteino, and a great friend of Percy's ' lie hnd wrenched the stiletto out ol ' ray linnd. For a moment no one sale 1 anything, and I arose to my feet. Ire I land addressed me as Miss Howard^ U' Miss Violet Howard.- -PMjffifisSfSwM and corrected his mistake, say II ing that I was h lovesick nursemoK 1 whom he liad discharged. Theft I lost ug iwnper. 1 , "Stop! I must say exactly how It happened. Percy wn3 leaning ngainst 1 the parapet of the parade In a careless attitude. lie did not even move when 1 I rushed on him with the stiletto, and had Irefnnd not caught my arm I should have killed hin:. Ireland said that he had followed me, thinking I was Violet Howard, to ask me to return to the hotel. lie talked some rubbish about a gentle born English girl being out at night, but wt?n he found that I was only a servant there was no more of that talk. Poor Eliza Stokes could have been out till dawn for all these gentlemen cared. They laughed at me, Percy leaning ngainst the parapet, Ireland beside me, holding the stiletto carelessly In his hand. As I snld, I lost my temper, and I told Tercy what I thought of that fool Roslna Lockwood. lie lost his temper also, but that only made me more angry. At last he dashed forward, and I believe he would have struck me but that Mr. Ireland intervened. "I don't know exactly bow it happened, but In moving Mr. Ireland evidently forgot how bo held the stiletto nnd put out his hand with the weapon pointing outward.. In rushing on me Percy came against it, nnd it ran right into his heart. With a choking cry he fell dead. I was terriilod and began to wring ray bands. Ireland knelt down n*?d found that Percy was dead., He?Pl7<wl p>? ivrict? ??II"- -wnwia' my tongue lest I should bo nccusod of the death. I said It was his fault. IIo replied It was an accident. Bat I had got the stiletto, I had tried to kill Percy, and Ireland declared that if I said anything lie would denounce me as the criminal. I was terrified as I saw the danger In which I was placed. Ireland suggested that we should throw the hoilv over ilio purapet oa to the bench, and It would bo thought robbers had killed Percy. I ngreodk and we threw the hotly of my darling over. Oh, how my heart ached whea I heard It fall on' the cruel, cruel tones'. "With Ireland 1 arranged to hold my tongue, nnd on his part he promised no would s:iy notlilii^. llie next tiny the news of the discovery of the body came. Scnora Vole/., from whom 1 hnd borrowed the stiletto, knowing of my love for Percy anil being in love with hiin herself, aceused me of the crime. I denied it and said that If she did not hold her tongue 1 would tell her husband how she hnd loved Percy. She was afraid of her husband, who was a jealous brute, so she remained quiet. I gave her back the stiletto, whioh 1 had obtained from Ireland. We were both safe, but I was so ill that 1 left the hotel and returned to England. George Rates, who never suspected my share In the death, followed." It was at this point that George censed reading. He now knew the worst. His father had (lied by accident, and Ireland had been the unwitting cause of his death. Rrendon wondered how the old man could have carried the knowledge all these years without speaking, lie determined to havo an Interview with him. But at last he knew the truth about tbo death In San Homo. It Inculpated no one, and bo could not see how?according to Bnwdsey?It could be connected with the murder of Mrs. Jer ?y. CHAPTER XXII. GEORGE read the remainder of Mrs. Jersey's confession and then put It away. Even when he got to the end he could , not connect the San Remo crime with that of Amelia square. It was In hit uuuu w s**u uiH grmiuiawier unu i?u the story to him, backed by the pro ductlon of tbo confession. But on sec| ond thought he decided to see Bawdscy first. He wired for nn appointment and received n reply stating that Bnwdsey was going out of town at t o'clock that day, but would b? in hli rooms till then. Within an hour George was on his way to Bloomsbury. On arriving he found that the detec tlve expected him and went to hli room. Bawdsey was still In a disturb ed state, as he was most anxious U get down the country to help Ldflj out of her difficulty. He received ijiK don Irritably ond In silence. OmK saw that the man was all nerves oa did not resent his sharp greeting. HI sat down and opened the conversation "You are going down to see Lola?' , be asked. 11 '"Of epfase. 1 am-much worried oyer / -3^? rr^DR. I. ^ ^ .?uwr ? > fltown md Bridge >? Work a 8peciaJtv. ? ' 1 ** rlier. <he may got Into serious trouble over th.' > freak." "Well. vrliy uot tell the judge she is Insane at times? Then she will get off lightly." "Would that be true?" asked the detective, struck by the Idea. "As true as most things. She really 0 is not accountable for her actions when she gets into these frenzies, and in 1 such a one she must have been to ate tempt the burglar}'." r | "Poor soul! 1 wonder how she Is I now." "Oh. she is not troubled much. Her spirits are as good ns usual. She hardt ly seems to realize the enormity of her 1 offense." "How do you know?" nskod Bawdr sey. with a stare. 1 "Because 1 saw her last night. After I left you I took the train to Woegrove and had an Interview wicn her." ' "Ydu might have told me. Mr. Brandon." said Bnwdsoy in n wounded tone, f "What would have been the use of > that? I can manage my own business, I hope." "Considering bow 1 love lier, it Is my ; business also." 1 Ceorge shrugged bis shoulders. "WeH, 1 you see. Bnwdsey, it was your lnten tion to see I.ola first I guessed as much, so I stole a march on you." Bawdsey fenced. "I don't see how you can say that." "I can. You know that Lola was ft* tfcls bouse on the night the woman filed." "I presume so. sine* she eet th? fcssion, and she must have secured it to know where your parents were married." "Well, then, knowing tbut, you wished to get that confession." "Yes, I did," anld the detective, why not? I desired to know if Mrs. Jersey said anything about the San Ucmo crime in it" "I can teli you that She did. I hare the confession." Bawdsey bounded from his chair. Where ia it?" he asked. "In my rooms, locked away." "1 do call that a shame," grumbled Bawdsey. "You might have trusted me, Mr. Brendon." "Might I? Would you have trusted me7" "I do. You know I do." "To such an extent ns suits yourself. But would you have shown me that confession had como into your ruv?"You are not showing it to me," said Bawdsey evasively. "That is not an answer. But I'll abow you the confession whenever you like. Come, now, would you have shown it to me?" "Since you have read it, why ask me that question?" snapped the detective "You know"? "Yes, I know that you would have burned the confession. I know that to n nnnnx In nrlotnniv. forth that Mr. Bawdsey'a true nam* la . George Rates Is not to your llklnfi|a You are George Rates?" Bawdsey shrugged his shoul^gjflU "There Is no use denying It," he trafl "You have my wife's handwriting." "Was Mrs. Jersey really your wife?" "She was. We married soon after we ! left San Remo. She was hard up or she would not have married me." "And you went to the States?" "We did. There I took the name of Jersey and tried a variety of things, j none of which came to any good. Then ' I left Eliza." "Why did you do that?" "Because she was a devil," said Bawdsey, his face lighting up. "I tried all tho means in my power to make her happy, but she was always quarreling and nagging and lamenting that she had not married that Vane?your father, Mr. Brendon." "Did she tell you obout the murder?" "It wasn't a murder," protested Bawdsey. "No, she did not tejl me, but from a hint or two she dropped about getting money from Mr. Ireland 1 guessed that he had something to do with it. I came across to England, and I saw him. He told me the whole story." "Did you get money from him?" "I did not. I am an honest man, although you do not seem to think so. 1 ' left ull that blackmailing to my wife. She came over to get money out of Ireland, tie simply saiu mat ue woura tell the whole truth and call the woman Velez as a witness about the dagger." "But that woiuun is dead?" "Oh, no, she Isn't," said Bawdsey i coolly. "Lola told me that she was > alive and still in San Itemo. She I could have made things very hot for i my wife. But, failing Ireland, my wife?Mrs. Jersey, we will call her? I had another string to her bow.' She heard how Lord Derrlngton denied the marriage, and bow you were living with your grandfather Lockwood. She went to Derrlngton and"? "1 know the rest And yon came to I live in thla house." "Not at the time. the States, but as l4nHp8&wthlng there I returned Then 1 itectlve business and wdsey. I came to see vould not let me call ind, and, as I bad no her, I agreed. I was >r a few weeks, and in diggings. 1 saw gi sey as waejMMiM*^' t?" lied lltfttdeey frankly, ' "I didn't hold withp the annuity aha was getting." r "In a wprd, you disapproved or the ? 1. i?lAIRv^H~- j iTIST.'-VMtfft 41 ^pfflce Bank Building Union. S. C ? blackmail?" "That's n. good, useful word, sir," i said Bawdsey easily. "Yes, I did. 1 ' never would take a penny from her, and wlien I lived bore during the few weeks I pnld my board. Yes, sir, I'm an honest man." "I nin convinced you are, Bawdsey, and I apologize for my suspicions. But in some ways?eli?" "I didn't net Tcry straight, you mean. Well, sir. I fancied, seeing j what you know, that you mlgbt suspect me of killing her." "No. Bawdsey. As yon hare acted so fairly nil through, I am convinced that you are Innocent on that scoro. | But why did you say that -the Ban Itemo crime was connected with the death of Mrs; Jersey?" Bawdsdt opened his eyes. "Oan*t jqii ??, tnr^ The stllcttO;" "Oh. you mean thnt the weapon used by Lola was the same one as my fa' ther was killed with?" "Certnlnly. Mr. Brendon. It belonged to Senora Velez, the mother. 8he gave It to Lola, for I saw It in her rooms before the death of Mrs. Jersey, and I recognized It from the description given by my wife," "But there nro dozens of stilettos like that one. Lord Derrlngton showed It to me." "Yes. that's true enough, but, you see. from what m* wife toM * knew that she had got the dagger from the woman Velez. It wasn't hard to adfeben 1 dropped across a similar wenjwn In the room of a woman also called Vsltz. that It was the iobm. Now Lo'a knew ted thnt tlio stiletto was the one with which Mr. Vane had been killed." , George thought for it few minutes. | "Tell me, Bawdscy," he said at length, ] "did you suspect Lola of committing ; the crime?" I "Yes, I did," admitted Bawdsey j frankly.# "You see, she has a devil of ] a temper. I never knew that she had \ J f ? v (ucoavu 11 IW* | cause of the way she tried to learn the | whereabouts of the house." "You mean the crimson light? Her , excuse was foolish I thought the other day when you stated it," said George. , "But when did you flrat suspect her?" j "When 1 picked up the stiletto I rec- j ogulzcd it at once. It was my intcutlon , to take It round to Iter, so that she . should not be incrimiMted, but I was , SO U?jj| 1 ^ a ^?that stole it, as I "Oh, I see how it Is now. But I real- , iy did suspect Lola. I asked her if she < was In the boUBe. She said that she had been, although she denied it at first." | "How did you bring her to confess?" I | "I threatened to identify the stiletto. Then she told the truth?if it was the truth," said Bawdsey. ! "Oh. I think so. I don't believe she killed the woman. Since she had got what she wanted?the confession? there was no sense In her committing a murder. No, I quite believe tbnt sb? threw the dagger at Mrs. Jersey's feet, ad she said." ' Bawdsey scratched his head. "I won- I |.l 1.111 PIU? ? I ut?r v> uii uiu tv in iic in unci cu, "if I?o!a is innocent and I nm Innocent." Ho looked lit Ilreridon. "I can't hclp-^'ou," replied George, rising. "Tlie thing <lttJte beyond uie. It must hirve bWn some one In tbe house." "No," replied Bawdsey positively. "Remember Mr. Train heard n door close?the front door?some time about linlf past 11." "That was you. was it not?" "No, sir. I did not arrive till close on 12, and Mrs. Jersey was already dead. The door must have been opened and closed by the murderer, and" ho left Just before I arrived." "But how could be have entered? You alone had the latchkey. As to Lola, she slipped in vhile Mrs. Jersey was dismissing her guests." Bawdsey shook his head. "I can't understand It, sir. Of coyrse there was another gentlemar, who/Wtd the house for a short time." fie poked meanlng1 *ty at Brendon.** :>J George looked Vizzjed. "What do you mean?" he a?kLl. tfffffetentton names. aWl I auiWbc^lHft^ I any will k<> no father, but thereTF i Mr. Ireland"? Brcndon started toils feet, with an agitated face. "Irela&dt Oh, no. that is Impossible," he dflared, "quite Impossible! Why shAild he have a latchkey?" T "After your granffather's death he was In possession oj the house for fl I the keyi would be with fl^MHIfeaadlng t4m to Lord Derrlngtou he might h&io?or^tften one." "I donYthlnkeo. Ht wasTWhance. JMhlnk. at first, bit when he knew thai Mrs. Jersey occupied the house % m I be dflBPrMri? round cm mtettcy iim LIBLIJ? BO<? ,irr n lu>n ,ie fc,t iodine^ l^S Hn Bny slic trlrd to get money on ! '*But be refused her." "He did?once," said Bawdsey mean Ingly. "but Mr. Ireland was not M young an be hnd been and dreaded lea his?accident should be known. I'm sure Mro. Jersey would let him knov that she was Just rouud the corner She always kept in touch with nsefu friends." "But why should he kill her so sud denly V "Well, be might have beard that shs had written out a confession, or even nhout Lord Derrlngton's visit. And then he would come round to ask hei If she had Incriminated him In her confession. He would ask her for a sight of It Not having It for she found the blue envelopo empty after Lola left, she would deny that she had It. The stiletto left by Lola would be on the table. What was more natural than for Ireland to .pick It tfp and kill her In a sudden feeling of dreadT* "It strikes me that If he struck the blow he had a great deal of nerve," said George dryly. "But you go on a lot of suppositions. I do not believe Mr. Ireland hnd anything to do with the matter." "Tbeu who had?" asked the detective. "What would you say to Margery?" "What, the niece?that half wit ted girir "Exactly. Half wltted. She is more like an animal than anything hnman. 8he gets these sudden fits of rage. When Miss Bull fainted Margery rush* ed In and threatened me with her Qsts. Seeing what nn uncontrollable temper he had, it occurred to me that she mighv have killed her aunt." "But Miss Bull says that the aunt locked the girl in her room." "Of course, but Miss Bull may know the truth and may be shielding Margery. What if Mrs. Jersey found Margery down the stairs after Lola was gone and Instead of rebuking her as EBull said in the passage"? t 11 o'clock, mind." atcr. I think."- snirf fionwo n?inw-_ p "You did oot arrive till nearly 12, and the woman waa Just dead." "I don't think a few minutes would make much difference," said Bawdsey Quietly. "But go on, air. Let ma hear four theory." "Well, I fancy that Mrs. Jersey eaught Margery down the stairs and look her Into her own room to rebuke her quietly, so that the rest of the louse might not hear; also she would t>e anxious to learn If the girl had overbeard her conversation with Lela. If Margery had she would assuredly havo iSormeif" at"'Margery to make her ipeak." "But there could have been no row, dr. No one heard a disturbance." "I am bound to say I did not hear I disturbance myself," said George reflectively. "Mrs. Jersey may have argued quietly. Then, as you say, the itlletto was on the table. Margery, goaded into action, might with the sudden rage of a dumb animal have"-' "Well, It's uot impossible. But about the door closingT" "When Margery saw what she bad Aone," pursued George, still trying to guess what had taken place, "bar tint Impulse would be to run away. She srould steal out and open the door. 1 am pretty sure Miss Bull was on the watch and saw her. She would draw the girl back and close the door?at half past 11, as Train heard. Then she would pacify Margery and lock her In her bedroom, after previously instructing her what to suy next morning. That Is what I believe, Bawdsey." "It's a very pretty case," murmured the detective, "and things might have happened as you say. But If it Is the case there Is not much chance of learn ids cue triuu. xioiu Margery ana Miss Bull will be silent. And, after all, my theory regarding Ireland Is just as good, Mr. Brendon." George rose to go. "Stick to your theory and I'll stick to mine," be said, smiling. "But what about Lola?" "Well, sir, I'll go down with Kowlaskl and see her. We will do whatever we can to get her out of her trouble. And you, sir"? "Oh, I shall have nothing more to do with Lola. Take her away to the States as your wife, Bawdsey, and I will get my grandfather to give you the thousand pounds to start life on." "It's very good of you, sir," said Bawdsey gratefully. "And you will try to persuade her to marry me?" "Yes. She knows, as I told her, that, register or no register, my grandfather Intends to recognize me as his heir. Therefore she is certain, as she may well be, that I shall marry Miss Ward. She will gradually get over her fancy for me and will be quite content to take you." "What do you intend to do now, sir?" "Leave matters alone, Bawdsey. I don't want to learn who killed Mrs. Jersey. Now I know about my father's marriage I shall change my name, take my rightful one and have done with all this crime and mystery. The yellow holly an go bang for mo." Iw^^g^PTER XXIII. J& HBMnfc* interview with Bawdcalled at St Giles ? Ml Square aafl- related to his grand fa tlMfetfte^ghad learned. The old iimn^N^KM^Btejj^^^d. tongue. After nil, the Irelan<fT*^^^M^ "Then tell hiin from me that I don't consider he was re?pofMH|jK and that I quite believe from what T know of Mrs. Jersey that he has told the entire _ , * fflCSBfa} i tiilrh i 'imliffc *?. T I '?11'. H tnrtB." I *7 will. sir," answered George. "I t snppscs yon mean that ft be rosily committed the crime with malice aforethought Mrs. Jersey would hare blackmailed him." ? "That is what I mean. Mrs. Jersey | must hare been afraid for herself or i ; she would never have kept her claws r i off Ireland's money." . ' "I quite agree with you, air. Poor | Bawdsey was honest, however." | "Well"?Lord Derrlngton did not as. sent immediately to this?"if Bnwdsey had been really honest he would bavs i asked me to be silent on the matter, i and need not have used threats. No, I George, Bawdsey Is straight so long > as be is kept in check. I suppose he > will marry the girl?" "I think so. lie is madly In love with i her. I promised that you would give him a thousand pounds if he went to America." "The deuce yon did!" said Derrlngton wrathfully. "Why not, sir?" rejoined Brendon calmly. "We want him out of our lives, fie knows too much. Better send him abroad, so that ho may not make any r*iu?rV about tUin uuvlouauut fatnllv hl#tnr* " j Lord Derrlngton winced. However i the old man silently acknowledged the Justice of tbe speech. "You are right," be said. "But Baivdsey ought to do something for his money." j "You mean that he ought to discover ! the assassin?" i "Yes, I do. Whoever killed that woman should he brought to Justice, : George." j Breudon looked down. "I think It will be best to let sleeping dogs lie, sir," he said significantly. " re yon alluding to the possibility ef Mrs. Ward having killed her?" t this supposition George laughed tight out. "No, sir. I don't think Mrs. Ward would go so far as that." "8h? would were there uo law to restrain her." "I dare say. She has the Instincts of a female despot. But as there is a . law she would not jeopardize her neck. : No, 1 mean Ireland." Derrlngton sat up. "Nonscusel Do you mean to say he is guilty?" "I don't think so, hot Bawdsey has an Idea," and George related the theory of the detective. Derrlngton gruntad In a disgusted manner, j "The man's a born Idiot," he said. "Why should Ireland run the risk of getting bis neck Into a noose for u second crime?" "But falling Ireland," replied Brendon quietly, "there remains Margery." "That.idlot^of a girl! Yes?" George detailed his reasons for believing Margery's guilt Again Derstlletto were on the table, if Mrs. Jersey scolded her Into a fury. Pah I I don't believe It" | "And yon really wish to find the assassin?" "I should like to know, out of mere curiosity. But if it Is your opinion that things should be left as they are, why, Bawdsey can take his thousand pounds and sail for America whenever he chooses." After this conversation George took bis leave. Dorothy was out of town, so he could not visit her. After the Interview with Ireland In Derrlngton's library Mrs. Ward had found it convenient to go down the country. She felt that she was In an unpleasant po uuon. in01 mat luero was any danger of her being accused of murdering Vane, but If the police got hold of the story they might make Inquiries? In fact, they certainly would make inquiries?and then the dlsugreeablo fact would come out that Miss Bull was her lster. Mrs. Ward knew that she had not behaved well to Jenny and that if the truth were known ber friends would blame her. As Mrs. Ward did not like blame and disliked to have her actions criticised, she went down the country, saying to Dorothy she desired a change of air. Lord Derrington wrote a note to Mrs. Ward after George had departed. "I'll ask her to come up," said Derrington grimly, as he sealed the letter. "George will return In three days with the copy of the marriage certificate and with news of how that case has been disposed of. Mrs. Ward shall apologise to him and formally consent to the marriage." Meantime George went with Kowlaskl and Bawdsey to Chelmsford to see after Lola. Kowlaskl was in despair, for if Lola received a term of imprisonment his ballet would be brought to an untimely end. Now that Lola was out of the bill the hall wus not so full as usual, and Kowluski foresaw that if Lola did not coino back he would lose money. He therefore went down prepared to spend a large sum to set her free, (TO BZ COHT1BUKP.J ' The world's fair would be more popalar with the world, perhaps, if it were aot so hard to raise the fare. ji When a woman learns that her boy II baa been smoking cigarettes for sev ral years she begins to think that after all It Is not an unpardonable offense. Some things go without saying, but a i talkative woman never does. 4# * "^Tt" 78^ ? :?* *?.