The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-01-06

crc:turc &s Miss Bull should be sub
jcctcI to this disgrace He did not
condonc her crime. She had acted
wrongly and must take the conse-
qucnccs. But he could not forget that
she was Dorothy's aunt, and he wished
lie could sec some way of rescuing her
from this dreadful position.
Miss Bull was, as Bawdscy had stat
ell, playing patience. Seated Mt the
very table where her victim had sat,
she dealt the cards and seemed quite
interested IN the game. MarserS was
seated in chair near at hand, looking
with fearful eyes into the face Of her
friend. Beyond the fact that Miss Bull
was whittier than usual she showed no
signs Of emotion.
"You have come, George" she said,
addressing him by his name. Il am
glad TO see you. Mr.. Bawdsey, you
may 60"
Bawdsey shrugged his shoulders and,
with glance at George, went out.
After all, he had heard the story be-
fore and did not particularly care to
hear 1T again. BESIDES, Bnwdscy was a
kindly man, and he felt sorry that he
had proceeded to such cxtremities.
Miss Bull Shuflicd her pack Of cards
and laid them away in q box. IL shall
play that game no more. have been
playing patience all my life, but the
end has come, and l am glad 1t has
'ome. l suppose you were astonishcd
When Mr. Il wdsey told your" said
he. looking with piercing eyes at
'rendon.
II was. never thought that you
.ou''-
THAT l would kill Mrs. Jersey" fin
shed the woman quietly. "Why not?
She was bad, wicked creature, and
nused the death Of your father. She
)oasted Of it,"
where? When?" asked the aston
shed young man.
I'm this very room, in my presence.
But to make you understand had
better tell you ALL"
"One moment, Miss Bull. when you
told the fortunes on that night did you
intend to kill Mrs. JerSey:'
mo. The death card did turn up.
That was strange coincidence,
George. When l came down the stairs
l had no more idea than you Of killing
the wretched woman"
What made you do itT'
II am telling you," replied Miss Bull.
folding her hands Oh her lap. wait
and hear. Mrs. Jersey was very rude
to me OH that night. l intended to
demonstrate with her. She added in
suit to injury by locking Margery in
her bedroom, so rs to keep her from
me. heard her scolding Margery in
the passage, and when all was quiet
and Mrs. Jersey had gone down the
stairs l went UP to Margery's room
and unlocked the door. Mrs. JerScs
had struck the poor child, and she was
sobbing Oh her bed. l then determined
to go down for the second time and
see Mrs. Jersey"
"For the second time: Were you
down bcforc!'
Il was" replied Miss Bull calmly.
II wondered who Mrs. Jersey had
coming TO soc her particularly after
she had lost her courage when she saw
a yellow holly in your coat"
You noticed that!"
"Ics, and noticed the holly also. l
wondered why you wore it. The sight
of it put into my mind that fatal night
when he"-Aiiss Bull brushed aside
her thOuShtS-"Dut no matter.
thought | would see If Mrs. Jersey was
seeing any one, and also 1 wished to
talk about the yellow holly"
'But why should you trouble about
seeing any onc:'
Miss Bull looked down and then
looked up abruptly. Mrs. Jersey
would have sent me back to the asy-
lum If she could, and was always
afraid lest she should see some one
secretly about the matter. crept
down the stairs, leaving Margery I'm my
room playing ut patience. Mrs. Jer-
sey's door was closed. heard the
murmur Of voices, and put my ear to
the keyh0le. heard that dancer-aft-
erward learned that it was the dan.
cer-I heard her accuse Mrs. Jersey of
having killed Percy vane."
"On what grounds did Lola base that
accusationY
"She said her mother told her."
"And what did Mrs. Jersey sayT
asked George.
"She denied 1t and made Some sort
"nse. l remained to hear no
Iknew then that Mrs. Jersey
, -nied my Percy"
"But she did not. 1t was an acci-
dent"
IL know. She explained. But she
was the cause. 1 was right to kill her.
But for her Percy would have been
alive, would have been his wife, and
you. George. would have been my step
son."
what did you do next2"
II went up to my room and resumed
my game Of patience. I intended to