The Yellow Holly

The Philadelphia Item says: "This book is quite up to the level of the high standard which Mr. Hume has set for himself in 'The Mystery of a Hansom Cab' and 'The Rainbow Feather.' It is a brilliant, stirring adventure, showing the author's prodigious inventiveness, his well of imagination never running dry."

12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25

THE PAGAN'S CUP

The Nashville American says: "The plot is intricate with mystery and probability neatly dovetailed and the solution is a series of surprises skillfully retarded to whet the interest of the reader. It is excellently written and the denouement so skillfully concealed that one's interest and curiosity are kept on edge till the very last. It will certainly be a popular book with a very large class of readers."

12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 Paper covers, 50cts.

THE RAINBOW FEATHER

The Boston Ideas says "The plot is worked out very effectively and each character serves the author's purpose very forcibly. The narration is brisk and experienceful, and renders the tale thoroughly enjoyable. It is strongly written, and excellently colored in all its features."

12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 Paper covers, 50cts.

CLAUDE DUVAL OF NINETY-FIVE

The Philadelphia Item says: "It is a very clever story, which runs on smoothly from start to finish, holding the reader's interest--as do every solitary one of the Hume stories, to the very last sentence. Everybody who likes good detective fiction or who has read Mr. Hume before should not miss this excellent story."

Paper cover, 50cts.

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G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

[Illustration: Lola pulled a white packet from her breast and ran with it to the fire. George shot past her, snatched them out before they could catch alight, and thrust them into his pocket.--(Page 296.)]

THE YELLOW HOLLY

BY FERGUS HUME AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "THE RAINBOW FEATHER," "A COIN OF EDWARD VII.," "THE PAGAN'S CUP," "CLAUDE DUVAL OF NINETY-FIVE," ETC.

G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

Copyright, 1903, by G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY

Issued October 1, 1908

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. "MRS. JERSEY RECEIVES" II. BRENDON'S STORY III. THE NEXT MORNING IV. A NINE-DAYS' WONDER V. A LOVERS' MEETING VI. WHAT MR. IRELAND KNEW VII. THE RED MAN VIII. A BACCHANTE IX. CLEVER MRS. WARD X. DIPLOMACY XI. MR. BAWDSEY AT HOME XII. A FIRESIDE TYRANT XIII. A WOMAN SCORNED XIV. MRS. WARD'S TRUMP CARD XV. A RECOGNITION XVI. THE PIPE OF PEACE XVII. LORD DERRINGTON EXPLAINS XVIII. MISS BULL'S STORY XIX. THE INQUIRY AGENT XX. THE TROUBLE OF LOLA XXI. THE CONFESSION OF A JEALOUS WOMAN XXII. WHO BAWDSEY WAS XXIII. THE TURNING OF THE LANE XXIV. A STARTLING SURPRISE XXV. THE TRUTH

THE YELLOW HOLLY

CHAPTER I

"MRS. JERSEY RECEIVES"

She did not put the sacramental phrase on her cards, as no invitations were sent out. These were delivered verbally by boarders desirous of seeing their friends present on Friday evening. Mrs. Jersey dignified her gatherings with the name of "At Homes," but in truth the term was too majestic for the very mild entertainment she provided weekly.

It was really a scratch party of nobodies, and they assembled as usual in the drawing-room on this especial evening, to play and not to work. Mrs. Taine laid aside her eternal knitting; Miss Bull dispensed with her game of "Patience;" Mr. Granger sang his one song of the early Victorian Epoch--sometimes twice when singers were scarce; and Mr. Harmer wore his antiquated dress-suit. On these festive occasions it was tacitly understood that all were to be more or less "dressy," as Mrs. Jersey put it, and her appearance in "the diamonds" signalized the need of unusual adornment. These jewels were the smallest and most inferior of stones; but diamonds they undeniably were, and the boarders alluded to them as they would have done to the Kohinoor.