Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-10-13
WHO KILLED. ZEBEDEE ?|
By WILKIE COLLINS.

was Miss Mybus and the other was the cook, Priscilla Varley.
 Miss Mybus was indignant at the resigned manner in which the police accepted their defeat She was little, bright eyed, wiry old woman, and she spoke her mind to me freely.
 This comes home to me" she said "Just look back, here in London, for year or two only. There was an old woman,s skeleton found in the cellar of a house in Euston square, and the wretch who hid her body there is still at large. Another murdered old woman was found in another cellar in Harley street; and there again, the guilty person has never been traced. l am an old woman, too, and ask myself if my turn is not coming next You're a nice looking fellow, and I like your pluck and perseverance. Come here as often as you think right; and say you are my visitor, if they make any difficulty about letting you in. One thing morei have nothing particular to do, and I am no fool. Here, in the parlors, see everybody who comes into the house or goes out of the house Leave me your address; may get some information for you yet"
 Priscilla Varley was just as willing, and far better able, to help me, on her side. As it happened, she was mistress of her own movements
 Her fellow servant, the house maid, was a London girl. After leaving Mrs. Crosscapel she got another place in the district of Bloomsbury. Priscilla was not so successful. She had natural aversion to lodging houses, and she did not possess experience enough to take a cooks place in the service of gentle folks. Having rather a quick temper, she doubted her own endurance if she accepted the only alternative, and served as kitchen maid under the orders of a stranger It
 S.. A1,,. hay. hiYfTor a room in a respectable house and supporting herself by her needle.
 In this case good employment was easily obtained Though she disliked the occupa- tion, Priscilla was a good workwoman, and she had written recommendation from the clergymen of the parish, which copy here. It tells her simple story before she came to London i'll the plainest and fewest words:
 II gladly recommend Priscilla Varley for any respectable employment which she may be competent to undertake. Her father and mother are intirm old people, who have lately suffered a Giminution of their income, and they have younger daughter to maintain. Rather than be a burden on her parents, Priscilla goes to London to find domestic em- ployment, and to devote her earnings to the assistance of her father and mother This circumstance speaks for itself. have known the family many years, and I only regret that have no vacant place in my own house. hold which can offer to this good girl.
 "(Signed) HENRY DERRINGToN,
 Rector of Roth
 This copy I made at Priscilla's own re- quest It arose out of my telling her that l was resolved to devote every hour of my spare time to tracing the murderer. "lt is my notion" said, ''that the proceedings of the persons in Mrs. Crosscapels house have not been closely enough inquired into yet l believe Mir Deluc committed the murder, and want to find out if any of the lodGers were in his confidence or had any relations with him in past times"
 She said: "I think your plan is 6 good one If you begin by satisfying yourself about the servants let me offer you the means Of look ing into my past life" With that she placed the clergvmans certificate in my hand. thought she was joking. She was per fectly in earnest, and she made me copy the certificate.
 This naturally set me on speaking of the other servant. asked her if she could tell me anything which associated the housemaid with Mir. Deluc. She was unwilling to an swer II may be casting suspicion on an in- nocent person." she said. Besides, was for so short a time the housemaid's fellow serv- ant
 1 same room with her." remarked; and you had opportunities of observing her conduct towards the lodgers. If they had asked you 1 at the examination what 1 now ask you 1 would have answered as an honest woman. To this argument she yielded. heard from her certain particulars which threw a new light on Mir Deluc, and on the case generally. On that information l acted. It was slow work, owing to the claims on me of my regu- lar duties; but steadily advanced towards the end had in view. You will nov perhaps understand why I devote some space in my narrative to person who had only been . servant in a lodging house But for Priscilla 1 should nsver haye discovered who killed Zebedee.
 Besides this, owed another obligation te Mrs Crosscapels nice looking cook. The confession must be made sooner or later, and Imay as well make it now. first knew what love was, thanks to Priscilla. I had delicious kisses thanks to Priscilla. And when asked if she would marry ne she didn't say no. She looked, I must own, a little sadly and she said, How can two such poor peo pie as we are ever hope to marryf' To this answered-"It won't be long before lay my hand on the clew which my inspector ha. failed to find. I shall be ln position tt marry you, my dear, when that time comes. This encouraged her to LOOK to the 1ucur' almost as hopefully as looked
 At our next meeting we spoke of her pa rents. was now her promised husband Judging by what heard of the proceeding of other people in my position, it seemed k | be only right that should be introduced t. her father and mother. She entirely agreed l with rpe; and she wrote home that day, t. tell them to expect us at the end of the week took my turn of night duty, and so gaine' my liberty for the greater part of the mex day It was time stolen from my inquiries but, as thought, the occasion justified it. P dressed myself in plain clothes, and we tool our tickets on the Kent railway for Higham
 being the nearest station to the village il 1 which Priscilla's parents lived.
 ) VI.
 The train stopped as usual at Gravesend Priscilla had been at work late in the nightze she was tired and thirsty. Ileft the earring p to ret her some soda water. The stupid gil l in the refreshment room failed to pull th
 cork out of the bottle, and refused to let m help her. Shetook corkscrew, and used Ii crookedly. I lost all patience and snatche
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