THE YELLOW HUNCHBACK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13226, 11 July 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE YELLOW HUNCHBACK.

[PUBLISHED BT SPECIAL ARJUKGESIENT.]

MY FERGUS HUME. Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," "The (ioUlcn Jilc!."' "The Scarlet Bat," j "Island of. Fantasy," "Madame . ilictus,'' etc.

[COPYRIGHT.] SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Chapter I. introduce* Alice Marvel, who i* visited by her Hanere, Rupert TrefTry, *t her home in Cl>i>d«tdn, the lattci havm*; been alwi-ot for some time in Jamaica. A hoe live* with tier lather, who is managing clerk to Mason Clyde. .1 local lawyer, ami who accepts engagement.* as professional pianist, During the lovers' conversation Alien mention* the untie of Evan ; He now, ' a hunchback, who is very rich audi in love with her. 'J'rettry relate* having met - a- deformed crossinc-sweeper, dressed in yellow oilskins, when on. his way to the Marvel'* home, Alice does not. remember having seen hint and wonders at the tact of their being two audi ' dwarf* apparently alike. Evan Borrow live* with hi# stepmother, the latter having married tierrow's lather lor bis money. She inherited a small annuity at her husband'# death, while her stepson enjoys an income of £10,000 a year. Tieffry leaves to interview Clyde on business and encounter# Evan Ik-row on the doorstep. Chal'Tj.k ll.—Berrow overbears Tic (fry term him a hunchback' and unduly reproaches htm. When Treffry had gone the dwarf speaks to Alice of his stepmother and his conviction that »he wishes for Ilia (Evan's) death to inherit his money, .fie saya his father had made a will leaving all to her, but had died before (signing it. Still, he had instructed Evan to keep the money and leave it to his stepmother at. his death. At Mi*. Borrow s request Evan hail drawn up such a will, which she now holds. Unknown to her, however, Borrow has made another will, witnessed by Alice's father and another, leaving the money to Alice. lie. tiroes her to marry hint, and when she ret'usM leaves the house in u rage. Alice Roes out at ten o'clock to meet her father, who sometimes linger* at the public-houses near.- he having flint night accepted an engagement to play at an entertainment. She encounter* him in the: -street and he appears \ery agitated.remarking that his services were not required at the concert and thai he had been : working at his oflice. 'He wishes to return there lor his spectacles, and Alice reluctantly accompanies him. On their way her attention is caught by something lying on the enow, and «he '.tiscover* 1 the dead body of Evan BerroW, who has been stubbed. .'CuAI'TKK 111 Evan Berrow'* death causes a great sensation, and Chadston is visited by hosts of reporters for the London and local papers. One of them, Teddy Smith, who is engaged to Polly Tait, the secretary of.the. dead man, interviews Ilia Bant'ee on the subject while she Is visiting Alice. Marvel. - At-th© inquest next day Marvel gives his evidence clearly, and the verdict is returned that "Evan Berrow met hi* death at the hands of some person or persons unknown." Mr*. Berrow, much to the latter'* astonishment, invites Alice to the reading of the will, which takes place next day, remarking that she may hear of something to her advantage by being present. Chafthh IV.—Alice is surprised at Treflry's absence, and learns that, lie had departed for London by the first train on the morning following the murder. Beside herself and Mrs. Berrow, there are also present at the reading of the will Captain- Tail,: the former owner of the Manor House, and his daughter Polly, and a few family friends. Mason Clyde detaiU the will, which lie had drawn up three years previously, which direct* that the whole of the property is to go to Mrs. Berrow,' a codicil, added two months previous to the murder, bequeathing Alice Marvel £300 a year on condition of (lie departure of herself and her father to Australia within six months. Suddenly- the door open* and the figure of a hunchback. "dieted in yellow oilskins, appears, a loud voice behind him announcing that he is heir to the property.

CHAPTER v.—The voice proceeds from a woman, tall and aggressive, who deecribes herself as " Mius Tudor Stuart, of the principal . London theatres," and she is accompanied by a red-haired eirl whom she calls Ruth. Mi** Stewart 8 arrival creates consternation among the party, particularly when she demands justice for the hunchback Ben,- whom she describes *a the cousin of the late Evan Berrow.

CHAPTER V — (Continued.) "Tub police should be called in," said Captain 'fait, indignantly, and examining the trio through his eyeglass. Miss Tudor-Stuart flung a disdainful glance at him over the shoulder of her military coat. "To arrest you?" she queried. " Don't be alarmed; you'll be arrested soon enough." ' ' "What does the woman mean?" asked the angry captain, fiercely. * "What, indeed was the enigmatic reply. "Ben, state your case, and make no mistake, or I'll take the skin off you/' The dwarf shot a glance at the maker of this polite speech and winced under the direct gaze of Alice Marvel. AH the same he obeyed the Amazon's instructions and rose to speak. \ M"re. Berrow, who had been talking rapidly to the lawyer, turned towards the group of amazed and amused servants at the door, and waved her hand. "Turn that woman out," she commanded. Miss Tudor-Stuart sent one tiery glance at the first person who moved, and he immediately retreated, with the look of a man who has been asked to shift a bulldog. Then she turned her head and stated Mrs. Berrow up and down. / " Here J, am and here I stay, my good lady," site said,, coolly, " until I know what money lias been left to me and Ben." "What claim have you?" began Mason Clyde, when the large'lady cut him -short by nodding towards the hunchback. "State your case, lien," she said, vigorously. ■ "When you fail mamma will cowe in." -•■ Again the dwarf essayed to speak, and again Mrs. Berrow interrupted sharply. "Worthing." she cried to the butler, " you had no right to allow these creatures! in." " Keep that false hair of yours on, ma'am,'' said Miss Tudor-Stuart, aggravating!}', " and don't blame the flunkey for what, he didn't do. All the .servant*- were in this room and we lound the hall door open. So we walked in, and we sat down, and we don't move till mamma, which is me, my dear, gives the word. And that won't be, in spite of your glares and airs, until we learn all about the money." Mis. Berrow would have spoken but that Clyde, seeing it was best to deal quietly with this domineering female, bent forward. "Pardon me, my dear lady," he said, in his unctuous voice, and addressing his hostess, " but it will be better to let these people speak." ■" Much better," snorted the Amazon, grimly. " 1 confess," went on Mason Clyde, waving his eyeglass, " that I am amazed at the resemblance borne by thisthis—" " Crossing-sweeper," put in Alice, quietly, whereupon Miss Tudor-Stuart turned on her sharply. ' V " How do you know that, miss?" " A friend of mine. Mr. Treffry, saw this sweeper, near the railway station, on the evening when Mr. Berrow was murdered, and gave, him some money. Am 1 not right?" she added, looking "at the hunchback. , ";/; " He nodded, with a curious smile, and Alice started, so close was the likeness betweeu the living and the dead. "You are

right, ■■»«?■?-." -mid tins hunchback, in »■'■•.'•; harsh, croaking voice. "A gentleman. did give inc.- money on that evening, I re* member. became. he gave sic Itali-a-efowit, As I mostly get- peniiins yon i«n't --onctef that ? ivtar ruber * gentleman so !»«;;%!, A tall, tirr gentleman, mis*, with blue eye% . ««4;-»" "" ■' '". ■.'/..:': ...--/^ *"'i'hi)>,' interraptcd Mivs T«4or*Ste*rt, / •/.£;s impatiently. "-is not crick**." " What does the creature Hi-rant" asked ■ ! Captain Tart. ■■..■■.-■ ■'■..■■•''.'■.?■ " Creature}'" {.boated the ;wntv*j, start* fctjg up, tall and angry, "if yon rati ui" names I'll shaks ail the f*l«*- teeth lint of your lean j«w, y,m shoddy Methu-eUb '." ■' i/-/fis' The captain 'spluttered with rage, at.A Polly looked as* tuongh she wan inclined to de.Ved her lather. Bui Clyde, .imhw to end tlw scene, interfered. " .Seed the , ->etvanfcj away. Mr*. Benow," he eatroaled, "and. then we may arrive* at mm*> understanding as to what these people want." "People is better," grunted the gunte**, "hut. still rude. Suburban manner*. 1 sap- '.' pose. I belong to the West Hud myself." Miss Tudor-Stuart laughed insolently. " lieu, give them a shock " '^^ Obediently the dwarf slipped off bis chair. He seemed lo be completely under the dominion «>f the lady who culled herself "Mamma.'" and frequently looked to- - C wards her. as though for guidance. "I. am the cousin of the late Mr. Evan Berrow," he declared, in his harsh voice. "My father is dead, awl .this is my mother, I am Benjamin Borrow, and the heir to the propertv." "' Which you will get, mv love, if mamma can manage it.' said the ogress, •' and von may mention that this," she tugged at*th« girl'* arm, "is your fetter-sister, K«la. sus mamma adopted out of sheer compassicH." "This is ridiculous," said Mrs. Brrrow". The dwarf turned on her with a dft*>tmined air, which «ontr.tslrd sUonglv with his previous timidity. " 1 f ,pe»k the truth. he declared, . "Evan w«* my cousin. When 1 was sweeping a crossing in Whiteehapel lie came to see mc, about three weeks a=ro, and—" y ';■[•', ."Hail he ever seen you before?"* asked the lawyer, quickly, "No. We never .met.. nor had i ever heart! of him before. 1 never knew that 1 had .i cousin. But Evan came— he told me to call him Evan—as we were eousin»~-gad «;S| wanted me to come to Chadaton. where he , promised to look after me. But mamma , / would not let me go." "Certainly not." said Mis* TudorStuaat. with a snort, "because Kvan Bet row* refused to let mo have a pension if I dispensed with the earnings of Ben here. 1 go round with iluth wnd an organ," rli« explained graciously to her heaters, "and what with ' my earnings and Ben's ctwsing»*weeplng money we. get oh fairly welt, though not. sufficiently wealthy to live in the -style to which I was accustomed in my gforioti* youth. ,t am a lady, and — "Here, come to the point," interrupted Clyde, losing his huhittN politeness. "What da you know of Evan Itenow?" "Nothing. I never heard of him until three weeks ago," retorted the woman alert - l.v. "Ho came to our humble borne /in ": Whiteehapel, and wanted Hen to leave. isw>, and live at Chadston—as his poor relation, 1 suppose Iking Ben's mother, I »a».»r- ; . ally wanted a, pension to enable me to liv© '~ as I was used to live when cupping with dukes and earls. But Evan Berrow refused, and went away. Tin 4 day before lie was killed— l know the dato from the -.papers, which I read to improve, my mind—a letter came from him, a«kiag Ben to meet, him V near the Chadston Railway Station. No money was sent, but I thought thftt some* thing might come of the matter,'to I -let ; Ben go. He had to walk all the way. '.' which was not agreeable, /.seeing th»? poor beast is a hunchback." | Ben winced at this cruel speech, antl j turned pa!e. But at a pitying glance-from, Alice the colour returned to his face,- and lie took up the story' in a defiant manner. "I carried my. broom," he said, "just to earn money on the way by sweeping people's doorsteps. I got to dhadston early in the evening on Mo»day~about five— waited near the railway station, ms directed* There I swept the crossing free of-snowy and Mr. Treffry," he glanced towards Alice, . "gave me half-a-crown, I waited for Mr. Berrow, but he did not come, so I wont ' to sleep at Ruth's grandmother's, who lives in Chadston. Early next morning I went back to Whitechapel—about »e»en. I took the train back, as I had made money in Chadston." "Then you did not see Mr. Berrow?" asked Clyde, anxiously. "./.^ "No, he never kept his promise. I don't know why he asked me to com* here." "I do," snorted Miss Tudor-Stuart, fold- -<"■" ing her arms tightly. "Evan knew he' would die, and intended to make you his heir." - * ■ "■■;. ;:'y;| " How do you know that Mr. Berrow knew he would die?" asked Mrs, Rerrow. "Because he told me when at Whiteehapel that he had enemies," and the Ama- . ■' zon eyed Mrs. Bctrow', so significantly thai the lady coloured, a.nd did not ask lurtker questions. Mason Clyde thought for a few moments before replying. "I do not know what Mr. Berrow's intentions may have been," he said, after a deliberate pause, "but it was out • y £ {,| of his power to make this person," he indicated the dwarf with •'« disdainful wave of the hand, "his heir. By the wish of the. late.Mr. Berrow's father the money was i. left to Mrs. Berrow," he bowed-' to that lady, "and the will was made some three years ago, before Mr. Evan Berrow—as 1 understansd:was aware of the existence of a cousin." " He is a cousin," said Miss Tudor-Stuart, sharply. "I married a. relative of Evan's father, and Ben is my son." "How can we. be sore of that?" asked - ;" ; Clyde. " Look at him," Mis Tudor-Stuart pointed , /., to the shrinking dwarf. "Is not he the ' . image of the little man who came to \i* me in WhiCechapel?"

j "Yes, yes,*' answered Mrs. Berri&w, quick-. ! ly, " but my husband never said to me that he had any relative. And. granting that he had a relative," she added, emphatically, ''are you the wife of that relative?" "I tan produce my marriage certificate, said the Amazon, wratfifully. " Don't yo* dare to say that lam what I am Hot, 1 have always been honest:, in spite of dukes, and earls, and the rent of them. I an Mrs. BerrowMrs. Arthur Berrow," " Ridiculous," cried the other owner of. the title. ' '. "It's yon who are ridiculous!" .-b"ijt</ the Amazon : "you painted, dyed Jeaebei!" "If you talk like thai I'll call in th* police." "Call them in. I'm used to them. T know the police, and the police know me," She threw herself back with a defiamb, l : ?1j laugh, and Clyde rose to his feet. "Whatever you are," he said, sharply, "yoa are quite* mistaken in thinking that you, or your son, will get any money. The property has been left by will to Mrs. Berrow here." ■■■■■■■ "And I get nothing?" said Miss TudorStuart, in dismay. „• -. "Nothing. So I think you had better go." "Isn't there a reward?" "What reward?" asked Mrs. Berrow, anticipating Clyde. -- "For the discovery of the murderer." " T shall offer five hundred pounds, and"' The Amazon jumped up with a shout <*' glee " It's mine!" she said, slapping her pocket. "When I saw in the tapers about the murder i came here, with Ben and Ruth, to see Ruth's grandmother. The old woman found something near the scene of the crime in High-street, Ruth, produce what von have. Then we'll get five hun- ;. died pounds, and I'll take it. You shall , < have ten pounds to yourself, to share with your grand mother." > • The red-haired airl brought out of he?.* pocket a long knife, with a barbarica-ll*-carved handle, and threw it on a near table; v '•This!" said Mis* Tudor-Stuart, dramatically, "is' the knife which killed Evan Bor- * /-' row." x (To.be continued on Saturday next,) • ,r ■■' - ' - , "d