The Purple Fern

by Fergus Hume

"In your room--hidden away."

"And who put it--who hid it--who--oh--" he caught his breath--"this is a conspiracy to ruin me."

"Zara will ruin you--"

"Zara!"

"Jerce will ruin you--"

"Jerce!"

"Osip will ruin you."

"Osip! Osip! Osip!"

"Only Anthony and I can save you. Tell the truth--the whole truth."

"Clarry!"--Ferdy collapsed into a chair--"I--I never killed him."