THE JEW'S HOUSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 77

THE JEW'S HOUSE.

Br Fergus Bmmm*

CHAPTER H.— THE CEIME.

"Mi Benjamin Ezra ! " jaid the constable sternly. "What does all this mean? "

"Murder!" returned the Jew, frying to master his agitation, "and they'll say I did it. I swear lam innocent, 1 never "

""Whatever you say now will be used in evidence against you," interrupted Dawkins, warning the man officially. ••'Here, let's have a look at your victim.''

" He's not my victim," cried Ben-Ezra vehemently; "it's a plot to ruin me in some way. I heard the shot, and "

"Sir Giles Dove," interrupted tjie constable again as be turned the light of his lantern on to the dead face. "This is a serious business ! " He drew himself upright and laid a heavy hand on the Jew's shoulder. •' You are- my prisoner, MiBenjamin Ezra." "F am innocent. lam innocent." "Innocent or guilty, you must come "with me, sir." "Appearances are again6t me," chattered Ben-Ezra despairingly.

"I should think they were," retorted Dawkins.. "Me and this gentleman hear three shots, and come, to find you with a. revolver standing over a dead man." '-'Aflid if this is Sir Giles Dove," said Wain, speaking for • the first time, "1 heard him cay in the avenue that he was returning to force you, Mr Ben-Ezra, to sell this place to him or leave the town."

The Jew threw up his hands with a gesture of impotent despair. " Fatality ! Fatality!" he groaned. "Everything -s against me. I am in a net, and yet," he straightened his lean figure, "I am wholly innocent of this man's blood."

" He was your enemy," remarked Dawkins, lookmjr at him keenly. "My bitter enemy," admitted Ben-Ezra under hie' breath.

" And be knew enough about you to make you dread him/ said Wain significantly.

Ben-Ezra faced round, with every muscle tensely drawn. "How dc you know that? "

" I overheard him soliloquise in the avenue."

"Sir Giles did talk to himself when by himself," muttered Dawkins, who was unbuttoning the fur coat worn by the dead man; "it was a way he had." "How did you gain entrance to my grounds? " asked the Jew, addressing

"I found the small gate open, and " " Open ! open ! " Ben-Ezra dropped the revolver, which, was immediately Fecured by the journalist. "Who opened if: Only I have the key." "That will tell against you," said Dawkins, looking up. "Better' say no more, Mr Benjamin Ezra."

" Beine innocent I do not fear to tell the truth," was the' proud reply. "I .say it advisedly that I alone possess the key of ,the gate, and that I locked it again when I came here at 6 -o'clock this evening."

" Then who opened it? " asked the constable sceptically. "The assassin." "Man or woman?" sneered the policeman.

Ben-Ezra made a second gesture of despair. " I can't say. I have my enemies who wish, me ill. You can choose the person who has trapped me into being accused of murder from the wide world.' "Hersi " said Dawkins roughly, "'we're losing time, and I must report Mm crime to my inspector. Sir Giles has been shot through the head. See the mark on his right temple ! I daresay the other two shots were fired into the body to make cure. You have done the business thoroughly, Mr Benjamin Ezra." "I am innocent; I am innocent," muttered the Jew, and, retiring: into the Toom, dropped into a near cliair with the air of a m«n who surrenders to the inevitable. "The»God of Jacob be my shield." . .

" Will you leave the body here ? " asked Wain as Dawkins stepped across the corpse into the room.

" Until the" doctor and my inspector see it," was the reply. "I must remain here, sir, so you might go to the elation and' ask for " ' ' '

"Yon forget," interrupted Wain sharply. "I am a stranger in this town. When you found me in the avenue I was lost, so how can I find the inspector?" Dawkins nodded and looked vaguely round the room, evidently at his wit's end how to proceed. The Jew remained quietly in his chair, with his face white and his breathing heavy. He was a man of considerably "over 50. tall and lean and dignified, " with jet-black hair and a short beard scarcelj- touched with grey. His face was finely cut, and illuminated by two dark and luminous eye*, which just now, throu-gh apprehen>ion and nervous fear, were filmed over like those of a bird of prey. His skin was rennikably dark, and he would have looked moie comfortable in the burnoce of an Arab than he did in the close-fitting frock-coat of civilisation. He woie no jewellery, which was somewhat remarkable, considering hi? Oriental extraction The di'awing room — a* it apparently was — could not have been more gorgeous had it been that of a palace. It was a vast apartment, furnished ornately in the style of the Louis Quatorzs epoch. The prevailing decorations were dead white and duU." gold, but the furniture was upholstered m silk of a iich purple hue. and the mats scattered about the polished flooi were of the fame imperial hue. The three French windows opening on to the terrace were draped with velvet hanging 1 ' of Tyrian dye, and everywhere could be seen costly aa-ticlea of beauty and worth. In the gilt girandoles sprineins from mirrors fastened to the wall* and in the crystal chandelier depending; from the ceilinpr were many electric globes, so that the whole room blazed

with light. The genii of Aladdin could not have contrived a more splendid apartment. And amidst its magnificence the owner sat shivering in his chair ! While Dawkins was puzzling his none too clever brain as to what was best to be done, and Wain was examining tbe pistol dropped by the Jew, the sudden entrance of a woman olothed in a frivolous pink tea-gown solved the problem of the situation. Hastily bursting into the room she paused on the threshold on seeing the three men.

"Whatever is the matter?" -vsked the woman, who seemed to be somewhat hysterical. " I heard a shot, and "' " Three ehots/' said Wain, looking at her keenly. "Yes, I heard shots — whatever is the mattei*? Mr Ben-Ezra, are you " "Are you Mrs Jorvin?" asked Dawkins suddenly. "Yes, and » "Where are the oth.er servants?" " Asleep, I suppose ; though why you ask "

" Rouse them," said Dawkins, who seemed determined never to let her finish her sentence.

"But what is the matter?" shrieked Mrs Jorvin, glancing round, and more agitated than ever, which was natural," considering the circumstances. '-' Murder is the matter,"" said Ben^ Ezra, raising his heavy eyes sullenly. Mrs Jorvin shrieked and fled to the door. "Murder? Where? When': What "

" Sii Giles Dove has been shot," said the Jew quietly, " and these men accuse me of -having murdered him.." The housekeeper stared at her master with dilated eyes, and having fully grasped the situation forthwith became violently hysterical. Wain, being a man of resource, hastily snatched up a large vase of flowers and poured the water which kept them fresh over the screaming woman, who was kicking on the floor. Mrs Jorvin promptly sat up, dripping and angry, to sob and rape in a truly feminine* fashion. " Ouch, you brut'B!" she gasped viciously, "you've spoilt my tea-gown, and " Again she was interrupted, and again by Dawkins. " Rouse up tbe servants," he commanded impatiently. " Send a man here at once."

" There isn't a man-servant," said Mrs Jorvin, clambering into a chair, where she sa& dripping like a river goddees ; "only the gardener, and he doesn't live in the house."

"There! there! Don't talk so much!" said Ben-Ezra, impatiently, getting on his feet. " Send someone here to receive instructions. The constable wishes a messenger to go to the police station. " "What for — oh. great heaven*, what for? " lamented Mrs Jorvin. piteously

"To bring the inspector so that I may be arrested."

"Pardon me, you are arrested now,' 1 said Dawkins very distinctly, and went towards Mrs Jorvin. " Are you going, or must I go?" "Yes! yes!" she said, rising feebly and tottering towards the door. "I'll get jane — she's strong on her feet and doesn't mind the darkness. Oh, gracious me, that I should be housekeeper to a murderer."

" I am not a murderer," said Ben-Ezra sharply. "I didn't kill Sir Giles." " You always hated him," protested Mrs Jorvin, " and he came here to " She got no further, for Dawkins impatiently pushed her out of the door, seeing that there was no chance of hei going 01 her own accord. As Mrs Jorvin was a diminutive, fair woman, wiry and aggressive, she resented being touched, but her small size availed hor little against the strength of the burly constable. Still lamenting and scolding, 6he vanished, and Dawkins turned his attention to Wain. ".What about the revolver, sin?" Wain held it »ut. "Three chambers only are loaded." "Ard there were three short," said Dawkins, taking tl.a weapon, "so those account fov the unloaded ones. Do you deny " he turned to Ben-Ezra. "I deny nothing," taid the Jew quietly. "This is your revolver?"

"Yes!"

"The three shots were fired from this revolver':"

"Yes!"

"By you?" "No/

"Then why wets yor holding this very revolver when Mr W?in and I came .«<-> unexpectedly upon you?"

"I picked it up on th.3 terracs immediately outbids the window, when I found Sir Giles lying dead." "Oh. you found him. did you? That won't do for a jury." "It's the truth," said Ben-Ezra with a weary .-igh. "DawLii>, yon have known me for some year.-. Am I the man likely to commit a ciuT>e''"

"Ye if you thought you n oi'ldn't be found out." .-aid Da^kin- promptly.

The Jew Mniled b'tterly. "You have a gc^d opinion of me," be lemark'd drily - "Theie% no two on'nicns about you. Mr Benjamin Ezra."' the policeman assured him coolly; "evpMor.e know.- that you're a money-lender and a b'.cod-^m.kcr. You cold up a i'.u.-in of mine p.- boriowed thirty pounds and hud to pay fifty for intercut. \ou Hebrew ?nir.e."

"Don"t Dawkins.

kick a man when he".- down ." said Wain quietly.

"Thank you,'' Ben-E/ra. turning on the journalist : "yon lia\e fomc decent feeling in you. Mr Wain, and I shan't forget your championship." "You know my name?" a-l-ed the reporter, purvrir-ed. "Dawkn.^ mentioned it .1 .-hort time a<jo, and I remewbei&xl that I n*-ked the editor of the Midnight Sun to send you flown to Brantloa to renort on the po":-i-bilili-ss of tbe place. Well. Mr liaiiin^on Wain, as \oj aie in my employment you won't lece by your lat'- mna.k. I neve- foicsf a kindne.-?."'

"Thank \ou.'' said Wain in his* turn, "but it L= 01113 fair to you and to myself

for me to state that I believe you murdeTed this man."

Ben-Ezra nodded calmljr. • "Under the circumstances, you could come to no other conclusion. There "s no doubt but that the outlook is black. All the same, in the face of your doubts, permit me to assure you that I am innocent." "You can't get a judge and jury to believe that," growled Dawkins, "and you can't bribe them, with all your money." '"I wouldn't bribe them, even if I could, Dawkins. England is the one place in the world where a Jew can get justice."

"Then you'll be hanged." "If you were my judge, I certainly 6houldi be banged," retorted Ben-Ezra j "but permit me to remand you, Dawkins, that you have not yet heard my defence."

"I'll hear it now," said the constable, taking out his note-book.

"No," said Ben-Ezra decisively); "I shall reserve it until I see your inspector, who had no cousin sold up to prejudice him against me."

Somewhat disconcerted) by this quiet demeanour, Dawkins was relieved when, at the moment, the door opened, and a. stout wench was pushed into the room by Mrs Jorvin, who announced) the girl's name abruptly and commented on her feelings : "Ja.ne Davies, who doesn't want to go, more shame to her."

"I might meet Sii Giles's gnost in the avenue," whimpered Jane, apprehensive and nervous in spite of her red cheeks — white enough now — and aggressively healthy appearance.

"I thought you were not afraid of the dark," said Dawkins, who was writing in his note-book.

"I'm afraid of ghosts," whispered Jane, looking round. "Mother said "

"Never mind what your mother said," struck in Mrs Jorvin, tyrannically ;~ "she's a fool, as you are. Isn't there enough trouble with Mr Ben-Ezra murdering poor Sir Giles without your making more?"

The Jew looked! up sharply. "J have committed 1 no murder," he said deliberately, "and if you hold such an opinion of me, Mrs Jorvin, you had better leave my house." Mrs Jorvin tossed her head, which was unbecomingly adorned with curl papers, defiantly, and laughed in a shrill unpleasant manner. "Oh, I'll go, having no wist to serve a criminal. And what do I lose? — nothing. You've screwed me down and got me cheap, and " "Took you in when you were starving." "That's right," wailed Mrs Jorvin, inconisequentily, "tell me I'm a liar. Oh, Dawkins — for that's your name, I know, as j r ou're courting tbe housemaid — take him to gaol and hang him until he's ston« dead."

''Mrs Jorvin — Mrs Jorvin !" protested! the Jew, "why are you so vindictive? You' have received nothing bu" 1 kinidnefa at my hands."

The housekeeper tossed her tousled head again. "I know what I know," she said taTtly, "and what I know other people shall know when it is time they should know. . So you can "

"Don't kick a man when he's down," interrupted Dawkins as usual, and coolly borrowing the sentiment from the- repoTter. "Here!" he turned to Jane Davis, who was shivering in the warm room, "take this note to the police station and give it to the inspector. Inspectoi Quill, you understand. Go out by the window so as to lose no time."

"Yes, Mr Policeman." whimpered Jane, and diragged her heavy feet in the direction he pointed. "Oh — oh — gracious, a dead n>an — a d«ad "

"Hush, you fool." said Dawkins. and, taking her under the aum. he lifted her over the body ; "go at once to the station."

"How dare you !" shouted Jane from tba fog. "I'll tell Eliza what a brute you are to a feeble woman and then, you won't be able to marrj her. Touching me like a &ack of corn, indeed! If vou — dare^ — lo — touch " Further indignat'on was swallowed up in the fog, as th/? giiltlowly groped her way across the lawn.

"You're pure he" 1 * dead?" a^ked Mrs Jorvin curiously, and .surveying the corofe with ghoulish curio.-ity.

"He's had thivae o-arr«l.= of a revolver emptied into him," said Day/kins curtly.

"Ah !" Mrs Jorvin wetted her thin lips. "I knew I heard shots, and thinking burglars might be about, there being nothing in the houfie but women, which is to say me and Jane Davis and F.li/a James. I threw on my tea-sown and came to find Mr Hen-Ezra, 'ittle thinking he was murdering " "Stop! Stop!" Ben-Ezra sprang from hir-; chair in a while haat of fury. "You have no right to condemn me unheard." ifrs Jor\ in threw a venomous look in th€ direction of ncr master, and throned her-elf in a chair with a dignity s-onie-vhat di-fountenanced In the cu'-l p.''Per.-> and a decidedly c-oile'l tea gov. 11. "Defer.d vour^elf. I listen!"

The Jew turned hi< b,tck on her with contempt, and h-er tempts 1 got the better ot I -jr at the Mght of h>■ d'-'-'jiui. In her tin 11 .-lie *),raii2 ii;j and ragtJ vehemently. "Oh. you 10. k on me as a ],ieee of dirt, do you""' she demanded. < hoking wi f h an^r.r ; "but I'll b? even with you I'll t^ll how Sir (i'le- IVa c came heie at 7 o'clock aP'l how you qi'a v :e'lcd I li*tc.sd out-Irle tl ■* door • y:.-.. I did. You wanted to kill him "'

"'You never hea' I ma t-py th-'it,"' panted Bon-K/.ra, hi.* fingers* work in » tonvulfivelv ; '" you don't dare to 5- wear to such

"I*ll fay ™hat I I'ko and snvar to what I like, /o there!"' fi,n;d Mr-. Jorvin with trus feminine iiic-n-equenie.

Wain inflected tint Sir Giles vrWn raging in the menue. had .<•&.)(! ihr.t he bHie\ed tho Jew wouitl have killed },im wh-11 mention n a 1 - m.nle of i-ome shady p..-t. I'lit having s-o :ie pity for his ( iiij,' )yr-r facing the venomous anger ot the •woman he held his tongue. Ail the -=a)ne, lia could not help thinking that Ben-Ezra Avas in a tight place, and that

it would be difficult for him" to prove his innocence, setting aside the prejudice against him in Bruntlea with which he would have to contend ; in fact, Wain's sympathies were with the man, criminal as he believed him to be, and he wished him to ieceire fair play, which he was certainly not getting from the infuriated Mrs Jorvin. Thinking thus he would have spoken but that Dawkins inter-

vened. "Wait until Inspecta. Quill comes," said the constable with a gravely judicial air ; " then you can have your say, Mrs Jorvin, after the prisoner has mads his defence.'' " Prisoner ! Prisoner ! "' taunted Mrs Jorvin, pointing a finger at the Jew. Ben-Ezra looked at her steadily. " Did you set the trap? Did you spread the net? " he asked suddenly. " You are so 'bitter against me that I truly believe you know something of this matter." Mrs Jorvin (mailed. " I know nothing • of any matter," she replied sullenly; '• seeing I was in bed I could not." "You were listening at the door by your own confession," said Dawkins. " Sir Giles was alive then," flashed out the small housekeeper. "He came at 7 and went away just after 8. Thinking that 'my master might come out "" "Tc find you spying," interpolated Wain scathingly. ! "To find me spying," repeated Mrs JoTvin coolly, "I ran upstairs and went to bed. I couldn't sleep, and later beard the shots. But I never knew until master told me that Sir Giles was dead and .had returned to be shot." " He did not return to be shot by me," I said Ben-Ezra freezingly. " I " Prove it ; prove it : prove it," sneered the housekeeper. - • * ; "Go .away ! " commanded Dawkins, ' " and bring Eliza James here. I 'must have all you women in the house under my eye." - j " You want to make love to her. Oh, ' she told me as you wanted to marry her \ when you got promotion. Well, then, Jiang him "^-she pointed towards . BenEzrai — " and you'll be made * sergeant." "Hold your tongue!" muttered Dawkins, whose bronzed cheek had grown red when mention was made of has love affairs — " and fetch Eliza." ! Mrs Jorvin tossed her head and made for the door. Then she paused and looked , back on her master like a cat with a ' mouse in her paws. " You'll be hanged," 1 said Mrs- Jorvin gloatingly — "hanged till you're dead." Then she left the room, laughing with venomous merriment. j (To be continued.)