Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-01-26
rear the house,
"But saw YOU" insisted Ccorce

ton with yourself In your head. Won
jumped to the conclusion that the fic.
ure was mo-"
"Thcn II not you, who was the
man.
"Rawdscyw said Darlington curtlv
George stared. 'In your coat?" he
said incredulously.
at seems strange" said Derriprton.
"but the fact is that Bawdsey il one
Of the few who have got tho better Of
me in my life. It was in this wav
that he prevented me from seeing
Mrs. Jersey. ON that night I visited
him mt his rooms, which then were in
bloomsbury. desired to tell him
that / intended to see Mrs. Jersey and
to warn her against revealing any.
thing. ! don't suppose the warning
was needed. as she knew when she
was well off. But the fact is. Mrs.
Jersey was not in good health and
was feeling conjunction about keep.
ing you out of your rights. | learned
from Bawdsey that Mrs. Jersey had
written out Il confession of the whole
matter aud II 1t she intended to leave
this to her niece, Margcry Watson, so
that | might be fo~ed to continue
the lease of the house
George uttered an ejaculation IL
thought from what Margery said that
there was some such confessions" he
remarked. "but it is missing. 1t was
not found among her papers after her
death Unless Miss Bull took it and
forced you to-
NO. interrupted Derrngton vigor-
ously. "shc cane here quietly and put
the case Of the poor girl TO me- She
also undcrtoot that the rent would be
paid regularly and that through Miss
Watson she would manage the house.
I was quite satisfied with the exist
ing arrangements. and. moreover,
thought that if such a confession were
found, out Of gratitude Miss Watson
might bring it to me
"If Miss Bull had told lhcr to she
would have done so, but not other
wise" said George. she is under
Miss Bulls thumb
lie HPSL ltiuNf SHf tOulQ DP,
George. The girl Is n born IDIOT from
what | saw Of her. However,, you
know why renewed the year by year
lease. Where the confession is / 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"
Darlington proceeded with his ac-
count of his dongs Oh that night. "As
| said, | went 10 see Bawdsey at his
rooms | took cab, and rs the fog
was thick I had considerable difficulty
IN finding the place. The rain and fog
chilled me, for | am not so young as
! was, and when arrived was
shivcring. But I was too anxious to
tell Bawdsey about Mrs. Jersey to
trouble He heated some water to
give me glass Of hot whisky. While
the water was boiling | told him l
was going to see Mrs. Jersey. He
asked me how could get into the
house without being admitted by one
OF the servants and thus run n chance
Of my being known
Did it never STRIFE him that Mrs.
Jersey expected you and would admit
you when you raiIg:
Eyes, it did strike him. but he knew
that didn't wan any one to know
that she had visitor so late ut night"
II don't know why you took all
these precautions sir"
Darlington smiled dryly. "Pcrhaps
they We're rathcr unnecessary. but l
thXght it best 10 be on the safe side.
Asa matter Of TACT, | had n latch
key"
II thought that Mrs. Jersey never al
lowed latchkeys'
This one cane to me when I bought
the house and WAS given to me by the
agent. | told Mrs. Jersey had it and
that | would let myself in. She ex-
pectcd me at /
Il know she l.t," said George "for
on that night she asked the boardcrs
to he in bed by II and broke up her
party at 10. wondered if she was
having any one 10 meet her then"
she was expecting me- 1t was aft
or 10 when told Bawdsey, and I OK.
planned to him tat | had latchkey.
lie gave ME the whisky, and. being
chilled, drank it, Then fell asleep"
George looked up suddenly. The
whisky was drucged," he guessed
'It was asScnted Darlington, land
willie | was inSensihle Bawdscy took
the latchkey out Of my pocket and
put on my coat. He is rather my
height, so with that and the fur coat
expect he passed himself off as NE
to Mrs Jersey until she saw his face"
"When she did, she would have moth
ing to do with him. Although" added
George, "he was an old boarder in the
house"
"Wait till tell you the rest" said
Darlington. "and then you can give an
opinion When | awOke it was after
IL. never suspected that the whis-
Ky had been drugged and thought that
it was some sort Of illness. Bawdsey
was in the room when awoke He
did not tell me that he had been to
Mrs. Jersey. and now saw that 1t was
too late to go. lie advised me to see
her on the morrow, saying that 1t was
doubtful II you would speak to her on
that night"
II intended to wait till the next day,
but, as a matter Of fact, became
anxious to see if any one was with
her, and went down the stairs"