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[COPMGHT.] THE TURNPIKE HOUSE.

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[COPMGHT.] THE TURNPIKE HOUSE. By FERGUS HUME, Author of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," "The Crimson Cryptogram," "The Golden Idol," Aladdin in London," The Dwarf's Chamber," etc. CHAPTER XXIX. THE END OF THE TURNPIKE HOUSE. Perhaps had Heron attacked Jerry less suddenly, and had he not shewn by a few chosen remarks that he knew a good deal, the half-witted creature might not have confessed. But his weak nature gave way altogether. And during the next half- hour Geoffrey turned him inside out like a glove. The story which Heron extracted from the whim- pering creature was this Roper had always sus- pected, and rightly, that Jenner had hidden the forged bill before he went to prison. When the man came Qut, he got to know the date of his dis- charge, and set Jerry to follow him in order that he might see where he went to get the document. Jerry was on the track for many days, and saw that he procured it from an old friend, who, ignor- ant of its value, had taken charge of it. The docu- ment was in a sealed envelope, and Jerry had seen Jenner place it in a red pocket-book. All this he reported to Roper, and he was then or- dered to follow Jenner, and get it from him at all costs. Jerry got again on the track of the released prisoner, and followed him down to Westham. tn one way or another the spy kept himself out of sight, for Jenner, having been Roper's clerk, knew the lad-as he then was. The rest may be told in Jerry's own words, which were many and ramb- ling: "He got down here on a misty, rainy night, air," he said, fiddling with his clumsy fingers, "and I kept at his hecls. At a wayside pub he took victuals and drink; I watched the door from the other side of the road, and ate what I had with me. I daren't go inside lest he should see me." "Didn't you lose him in the mist?" asked Geoffrey, who was listening eagerly. "I never lose anything, sir," returned Jerry. "I can see anywhere, and feller like a dog. You don't slip me! I've had enough follering to do for the master. Well, Jenner he goes to a large pool of water." "The Waggoner's Pond. Go on." "Oh, that's it, is it? I never know'd. Well, there he meets with Mr. Marshall. Oh, I know'd his voice. I was hiding near them behind a hedge, I was; and a ghost came past me, sir—a ghost ) with a long black dress." ) Heron saw that the man was ignorant that Mrs. ) Marshall also had been listening; and this was all the better. It was as well that Jerry had taken her for a ghost. "I hate him so, you see, explained Jerry. "H(' killed Miss Elsa, and I was cruel fond of her, I was. Well, them two was ta'king about the bill, and Jenner he shewed it to Marshall, but he wouldn't give it up till he got money for it. Mar- shall said he'd give him money when he was mar- j ried and after that they parted. I tried tofoller Jenner. but I thought the other—Marshall—'ud spot me. I didn't mind, though, as I know'd Jenner was going to the Turnpike House to see his wife." "But you were a stranger 1 How did you know where that was;" "I had passed it in the afternoon, and from what Marshall said to Jenner, I know'd it was the Turnpike House. Well, sir, I scrambled a! lot, and got mixed- I don't know where I got. Then I heard a seuille and a cry, and saw in the mist two men fighting." "Marshall and Job," thought Heron; then aloud, "Go on "I thought as someone oJse might be after the I red book, so I was going to run forward when one cove he slipped away, and after groaning awfui the other he went too. He was shaken a lot by the fight. I stayed where I was for a time, then I creeps forward and lights a match." { "What did you do that for?" I "I wanted to see if in the right the red book had been dropped. How was I to know that one of them wasn't Jenner in spite of his going on to the Turnpike: When I casts a light," he resumed. "I saw something glittering on the ground. It was a broken link, and I examined it by another match. There was two links. One piece was a champagne bottle, just as you said, sir, and the other was my pin with the girl; I thought they were pretty and saw they were gold, so I puts them into my coat pocket" "How did you lose them, then?" Geoffrey asked, thinking this explanation perfectly feasible. "I only lostone--the champagne bottle," said Jerry quite gravely, 'cause there was a hole in my pocket I know'd nothing of. The other I took home and got made into a pin. I never know'd till you spoke where I lost the one! Was it under the Turnpike window?" he inquired. "It was found there," assented Heron. Jerry scratched his head. "I must have shook it out when I was looking in at the window," he muttered. "Oh, you did look in at the window, then?" "Of course I did, sir. Wasn't I follering Jenner? After I picked up the links I went straight to the Turnpike but didn't get there for a long time through having mistook the way. I see a light in the window, and I sneaks up to it through the bushes. The window was open and Jenner he was leaning against it. On a table, under the window, I saw a knife, aad the red j pocket-book with the bill. Jenner was talking to himself and cursing some child——" "Poor Neil," muttered Heron. "I waited a bit to steal the book, when I heard Jenner give a yell, and saw a kid come into the room looking frightful; he ran at Jenner who gave a skip and dodged him. The child's eyes was like -diamonds, and fixed; I never seed anything like the looks of him in my born days. Jenner he screeched again and pitched himself at the child to fall on top of him—leastways it looked like it. But I didn't wait; I saw my chance, and grabbing the pocket-book I ran like a deer, I did. Just as I got a little way off a cove jumped out on me and oollared my throat singing out for the red book. I wouldn't give it up, and shoved it deeper into my pocket; but he held me.down with one hand and dug it out with the other. My heart!" sighed Jerry nibbing his hand, "didn't the master give me beans for not having that pocket-book!" "Didn't you know who robbed you?" "No; I wished I had known. I'd hL?": :t the book next week when the talk of the murder was I past. But the master got a scare from that, though I told him, as I tell you, that it wasn't me. He said 'Lie low,' so I did lie low, and after a time he gave up the idea of getting the bill, till you came the other day, and he thought you might have it. So I've oome to buy it if you will sell. "We'll talk about that later, Jerry. Are you sure Jenner was alive when you left the window?" "I swear it' He was just making for the kid." "Had he the knife in his hand?" "Not as I knows, sir. I think it was on the table. Jenner just ran at the kid with his mouth open; he was in a cruel fright. But I cut and didn't wa.it to see anything." "Then, do you think the child killed Jenner?" "Lor' no, sir!" cried Jerry, amazed. "A weak little thing like that! 'Sides, the kid hadn't the knife. 'Twas on the table, I'm sure." "Can you guess, then, who killed him?" "No, sir, I can't. All I know is that I didn't. But now you know, just say if I'm to have the bill "I'll tell you to-morrow morning." "I must know to-night; the matter wants me back to-night." "He can't have you, then," said Heron, drily. "You stay here to-night, I want you to repeat your story to someone else." "I won't then! I was a fool to tell; but I don't know nothing." "You must stay here." "1 never killed him!" wept Jerry; then he turned sullen and made a grab at his hat. "I'll j go," he said, and made for the door. "Stephen," called Geoffrey; and Jerry found himself face to face with a big footman who seized him with iron hands. "H re. here he shouted, struggling and roar- ing. "Let me go; I never did nothing to Jenner. Let me :¡o. "Lock -him up in some empty room, Stephen, cried Mr. Heron, "and give him iood and wine; he must be kept here all night. I will take the responsibility. Confound this foot! If I were only able to walk! Oh, I'll keep you. Mr. Hutt; we haven't done with each other vet." Jerry's cunning came suddenly to his aid, and he ceased struggling. "If you give me grub and wine I'll stop," he said. "r aint done nothing to Jenner; and I aim afraid." "Take him away, Stephen, and do what I tell you," said Geoffrey, sharply; and Jerry Hutt sooti found himself locked in an out-shed with a tray of food and a bottle of beer for his supper. At intervals Stephen, the footman, came in to see that he waa safe; the creature noticed this, and made his plans accordingly. Immediately a f ter Ste o nunediately after Stephen had departed after one of these peeps, he scrambled up the rough wood-work and managed to get to the window, which was closed merely by a hasp, no one having the least idea that the man would attempt to escape. Jerry broke open the catch, and soon forced his un- gainly body through the opening. Not paying sufficient attention to his footing, he fell, and alighted on a manure heap some distance below. "Spoiling my nice new suit," he grumbled, as he groped round to get out of the yard in which he now found himself. There was some little difficulty about this; but he at last discovered a gate, which ed into a by-lane, and was soon out of Mr. Heron s grounds, running across country for all he was worth, chuckling at the way in which he had outwitted his host. For quite two hours he-wandered on; for he had completely lost his bearings. The night was fine with a high wind; the moon was at the zenith, and across her silver face passed cloud after cloud. At intervals the whole landscape became light as day, and he could see plainly. But he was a com- parative stranger, though he had several times been down looking for the bill by his master's order. Suddenly he emerged on to a common over- grown with gorse. and found himself on a spot I where four roads met. Some distance away a .white house looked spectral in the moonlight. "The Turnpike, he said aloud. "My gum! And there's the window I looked through; the light's in it now, too—just as it was when Jenner was killed. I wonder who's in there!" His curiosity got the better of his fear of Mr. Heron, and with a surprisingly light step-for the man was heavy—he crept through the jungle of I bushes and sneaked alonz the wall of the house. "Just like old times," he said, chuckling. "I hope there aint Etc m9f mt¡r{, though." I ".r. l! 0" ">oo¿ Someone was singing a wild song in a drunken voice; and when the clerk peered through the window—for there was no blind-he saw a man dancing in the middle of the room. A cheap oil iaup was on the table, and by its light the dancer executed his fandango, waving a bottle as he did :;0. Iiie apartment was bare, and a horrible smell of petroleum was wafted to Jerry's nostrils. In his curiosity he forgot to keep himself concealed, and Job—tor he was the dancer-saw him. He dung himself across the room, and before Jerry had realised his danger the gypsy had seized him; by the collar of his coat and was dragging him through the window. "Come in, come in, Satan veiled the drunken man. "We'll have another niurdt-r! Ho!" "Let me go—let me go!" screeched Jerry; but he was like a rabbit caught in a snare, and shortly found himself in a heap on a petroleum-soaked tloor, wiiiie Job closed the window, Hutt was terrified; but ho could see no means of escape. "Have a drink," shouted Job, thrusting the bottle under Mr. Hutt's nose. "You let me go," he whispered, clinging to a chair. "If you don't, my master will set the police on to you see if he don't." "The police!' cried Job. "What do I care for them: They can't do anything to me; she'll keep them ou-she will. I can shew up her husband it she don't. Drink, drink, or I'll kick you Partly to avert the carrying-out of this threat, and partly because he was extremely dry with his race across country, Jerry accepted the offer, and as the ardent spirits went down his throat, he felt his courage revive. I'm oerry Hutt," he exclaimed, "and I work for Mr. Roper. I want the bill—the bill!" He made a grab at the gypsy. "It will lay him by the heels," he hissed. "Lay who by the heels, hang you?" cried Job, pushing him back. "v\hy. Marshall—I won't call him 'Mister' Mar- shall—who killed my poor dear Miss Elsa." job, half stupid with drink, had yet the sense to gather the meaning of the words. "Blest if I won't know of the red pocket-book, too," he mut- tered. And even as he spoke, Jerry caught the words, and repeated them. "The red pocket-book," he shouted. "Do you know where it is? The bill is in it. and I'll buy it off you; oh, yes, I will. Fifty pounds." Job banged his fist so heavily on the table that tho iarnp tottered. "I wish I had it now!" he cried. ".Fifty pounds-by gum "Have you the bill there?" asked Jerry, taking another drink. No I haven't anything," said Job. "She got it out of me.' "Got what out of you?" Why, the red pocket-book—but the bill wasn't in it," he added. For a moment Jerry stared at the man, then dropped the bottle with a crash on the floor; it broke, and the liquor forming a pool, added its fumes to the smell of the petroleum. "Y ou had that red book!" stuttered Jerry, trying hard to clear his brain. "And it was taken from me! Yeu live here-you were-you, oh, oh!" He sprang from his seat with a roar. You took it f-o i; me!" Well," said Job, with a growl, "was you the cove as I fought on that night, and knocked about so?" You robber-you thief!" cried Jerry, crouch- ing for a spring. Give me back my property- the book, the bill!" and he flung himself on the gypsy, who gave a cry of rage. I'll crush you like a fly, as I did before!" Job -aid. and grappled with his visitor. But Job was not the man he had been twelve years before; he could not hold his own as he had once done. Shouting and cursing, the two men swayed round the apartment. Finally, they crashed against the table, and upset the lamp it fell and burst on the floor. Immediatelv the woodwork, soaked as it was in petroleum, broke into flame, and hi almost less time than it takes to tell. the whole room was in a blaze. With a yell of terror, Jerry tried to shake him- self re, and leap through the girdle of fire but Job held him fast. No, you don't!" he shouted. "You die with me. whoever you are! I've made arrangements for this; I never intended to live: but I thought I'd die alone. Now I've got you!" and he made a clutch at Jerry's throat. After that the struggle proceeded in silence, for Job held his peace, and Jerry could not cry out by reason of those two strong hands fa.st on his throat. By this time the room was blazing like a furnace, and the clothes of the two men wore in flames. A frightened wayfarer saw the fire streaming towards the sky—saw two men vaguely struggling in the flames. CHAPTER XXX. THE TRUTH AT LAST. j It is not impossible," said Geoffrey, thunder- struck. NIRR. Marshall shook her head. "So possible that I always thought so myself," she said. "Mv own idea was the same," remarked Mr. Cass, who was the third person of the party now assembled in Mr. Heron's library. I have told you several times, Geoffrey, that I believed Mrs. Jenner to be guilty." The young man drew a long breath. Even now h<" could scarcely credrt the news. "So she really did kill her husband?" There can be no doubt about it," said Mr. I pointing to an envelope lying on the table. | There is a copy of her confession! She signed it in the presence of the chaplain and the governor of the gaol." It was the morning after the burning down of the Turnpike House that this conversation took i place. Information that two charred badies had been found among the ruins had led Geoffrey to believe that Jerry had perished along with Job. Stephen had informed him on the previous nicrht that the creature had made his escape, and no pursuit had been attempted. There was no doubt in Geoffrey's mind that Jerr' v had gone to see Job at the Turnpike House; but why he should have done so, and why it had come about that he and the gypsy should have met their deaths together, he could not think. Nor was the mystery ever cleared up. But if the death of Jerry remained a mystery that of Jenner did not. Towards noon Mr. Cass made his appearance together with his sister to see Mr. Heron. After some little talk about the 6r?. Geoffrey detailed what had been confessed to "im on the previous night. How did it all come about?" he asked now. That's what I want to know," said Inez. Sebastian has told me nothing beyond the bare fact as yet." Because I want to tell the story once and for all. and then put it out of my mind," said her brother, solemnly. "You see, Heron, my sister and you both know all about this case. What you have told us about Jerry Hutt's visit supplies the last link which brings the crime home to Mrs. Jenner. I am not going to tell anyone else how th, murder took place. I have asked the governor and the chaplain not to tell Neil the truth when he goes up for the funeral. He has had enough trouble, poor boy; I. for one, do not want him to have any more. He believes now that his mother is innocpnt- "Oh. indeed!" interrupted Mrs. Marshall, with a haughty curl of her lip. And who does he believe guilty?" "Job. the gypsy. He thinks that the man set fire to the Turnpike House and destroyed him- self. so as to escape the penalty of his crime. I think it only merciful that he should be allowed to rpmain under that impression." 11 r quite agree with you," said Heron, heartily. "And you, Mrs. Marshall?" She bowed her head. "I have no ill-will towards the yoiinz man, although I hated his mother. But she has gone to her account, so I will say no more about her. As to Neil Webster, I as he calls himself-" "And will continue to call himself," interposed Mr. Cass, sternlv. "I will say nothing to him," continued Mrs. Marshall, taking no notice of this interruption. I do not wish to visit the sins of the parents upon the children; but with one parent mur- dered and the other parent a murderess, I don't see how the young man can turn out well. And I sincerely hope that he will not marry that un- fortunate Jenny Brawn." "If he asks her to marry him, she will not accept him blindly," said Mr. Cass, "for I in- tended to tell her the whole story—suppressing the fact that Mrs. Jenner was guilty." "That is well," put in Geoffrey. "But I should like to hear the story of Mrs. Jenner's crime. "I can tell it to you in a few words," said Mr. Cass. "The clerk's tale has brought the story up to the time when Jenner flung himself on the child. Well, Mrs. Jenner heard his cry, and rushed down mto the room. Jenner was mad with rage at the uncanny hatred shewn to him by his own son. and had him by the hair of the head, shaking him as a terrier does a rat. Mrs. Jenner rushed at him-she thought he would kill the child-they struggled, and he struck her. While this was going on she found herself near the table, and seeing the knife, brindly snatched it up, throwing her husband to one side. Then, clutching the child to her breast and holding out the knife to keep off the infuriated man, she tried to make her escape from the hoase. But Jenner was blind with fury, both against the child and against his wife who had instilled such hatred into the mind of the boy. He rushed at her; she cried out that she I was holding the knife, but he took no notice of her, and ran up against the blade, which buried itself in his heart. He fell, and his wife fainted with the insensible child in her arms. It was when she came to herself some time afterwards that she recalled what she had done. But it was by accident that she had killed him-and this she swore most solemnly; she denied that she had ever intended murder. Then she fled from the house into the darkness until she fell in- sensible under a hedge. The rest you know." Mrs. Marshall laughed again at this account. "I believe she killed him on purpose," she said. "She had every reason to do it," Mr. Cass 9<1Ï, coldly, but all the same, I believe she has spoken the truifc. Jenner died by accident." If this is so," said Geoffrey, slowly, and I see no reason to disbelieve it. why did Mrs. Jenner tell Neil that he had killed his father?" "I asked her that. and her answer was that she was afraid, if Neil re-opened the case, some evidence might be brought forward to prove that she had really committed the murder. She had told her son that she was innocent, and she did not wish him to learn the truth. It was only on my giving a promise not to tell him that she oonsented to make the confession. She wants l him to think of her only as a mother who loved him-not as a murderess." Humph!" remarked Geoffrey, doubtfully. A queer way of shewing her love, to put it into the head of an imaginative neurotic creature like Neil that he himself was guilty!" It will not do him any harm," said Mr. Cass. "I don't pretend to say that I approve af her clearing her own name at the expense of Neil's peace of mind: but it is not for us to judge, and before she died she repented of having made that statement." Did she know how the red pocket-book was stolen?" asked Geoffrey, abruptly. No; she had been so busy struggling with Jenner for possession of the child, she said, that she took no notice of anyone at the window. Th&t was why Jerry, as you say, was able to put his hand in and take the book. It was lucky for the clearing-up of the case that Jenner had sewn the bill inside the toy horse. If Roper had got hold of it, he would have made it hot for Marshall. He hates him like poison on account of I have heard enough of that story," inter- rupted Mrs. Marshall, "and you seem to forget, Sebastian, that if the bill had really been in the pocket-book I should have got it through Job. I am tired of it all. I hope it is all ended for ever." Yes, Inez. You will hear no more about it. In a few days Mrs. Jenner and her story will be buried, and we will all try and forget the past. Neil must never know." "I shall not tell him. Nor I," said Mrs. Marshall, with, for her, remarkable generosity. No one knows the truth but ourselves, and we will keep silence. What about those poor wretches who have been burnt ?" "Well, Geoffrey must tell how Jerry Hutt came to see him, and in some way we must prove the remains to be his. After all, the corpse— what is left of it-mav not be Jerry!" I think it is," said Heren. Indeed, I am certain of it. I expect he and Job got quarrelling about the bill, and Job set fire to the house in order to burn them both. Jerry did not burn willingly, I am sure of that. Job no doubt detained him in the burning house until it was too late." Mrs. Marshall shuddered. Job. indeed, was wicked, as well she knew. But now she was relieved from his blackmailing, and had only her husband to deal with. And she resolved—now that she was in possession of the bill-to make short work of him. Her thoughts still seemed inclined to separation and the Romish Church. "Well, good-bye, Geoffrey," Mr. Cass said, shaking hands. I hope your ankle will soon be right. Ruth is coming over to see you. But, remember, not a word to her." Not a word," said the young man. "But I say, Cass, if i were you I should burn that copy of the confession. The original, in the possession of the authorities, will be sufficient to prove Mrs. Jenner's guilt should anyone else be accused, which is not likely after all. Burn it." I intend to do so." And Mr. Cass dropped the document into the fire. "I only brought it back so that you might be sure she was guilty. Ah, it is in ashes already! I wish we could get rid of all our painful memories so easily! But to the end of my life I shall never forget this case. And these were the last words they spoke on the subject, for both Mr. Cass and Geoffrey ever afterwards carefully avoided all mention of it. Nor was there even the Turnpike House to remind them of the tragedy, for it had been burnt to the ground. And Mr. Heron had the site ploughed and enclosed in the field adjoin- ing; so that the next year corn waved where the blood-stained habitation had stood. Mrs. Marshall carried out her intention of separating from her husband; she gave him a portion of her money, and made him a present of the forged bill, and he betook himself and his money to Paris. Neil buried his mother and mourned her for many months. Then he made his reappearance in public, and was more successful than ever. Now that time was healing his wounds, he be,-an to think about his future, and the first thing he did was to ask Jennie Brawn to share it with him. She, poor girl, accepted him with joy; and at once sent the good news to Ruth. Mr. Cass thereupon went up to London, and called upon the girl at his daughter s house, for she was still teaching Mrs. Chisel's children. He told her the whole story. not thinking it fair that she should marry Neil in ignorance of the truth. And at first she was horrified; but declared that nothing could alter her determination to marry him. I love him," she said, and that was all. The strange story of the burning of the two men, and that of the murder which had taken place in the same house twelve years before is even now often told by winter firesides. But few know the truth, that the mother of Neil Webster, the famous violinist, was the guilty person in the tragedy of the Turnpike House. The truth was disclosed to Mr. Cass, to Geoffrey Heron. to Mrs. Marshall, and to the Governor of Gaol, and the chaplain. But as for this story it is told w'th other names; and the scene is "laid fifty miles from the real locality. [THE END.]

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