Evening Star Newspaper, March 2, 1927, Page 26

e Murder o ger coyd By AGATHA' CHRISTIE. Copyright by Dodd. Mead & Co. T S “Yes, sir. I have already over a thousand pounds saved—the result of my connection with—er—my late master, Maj. Ellerby. And I have had quite a little flutter on some horses this year—very successful. If you remember, sir, a rank outsider Won the Jubiiee. 1 was fortunate enough to back it—£20." Poirot handed him back the book. “I will wish you good-morning. I believe that you have told me the truth. If you have not—so much the worse for you, my friend.” en Parker had departed, Poirot picked up his overcoat once more. “Going out again?” I asked. “Yes, we will pay a little visit to the good M. Hammond. “You believe Parker's story?" “It is credible enough on the face of it. It seems clear that—unless he is a very good actor genuinely believes it was Ackroyd himself who was the victim of - mail. If so, he knows nothing about the Mrs. Ferrars businy “Then in that case—who— 1 “Precisement! Who? But o to M. Hammond will accomplisk purpose. It will either clear Parker completely or else—" Well 7" “T fall into the bad habit of leaving niy sentences unfinished this " sald Polrot, apologetically. with me.” “By ghe way,” I said, rather sheep- ishly, “I've got a confession to make. I'm afraid I have inadvertently let out something about that ring.” “What ring?” “The ring you found in the goldfish pond.” “Ah! broadly. “I hope you're not annoyed? It was very careless of me." - “But not at all, my good friend, not at all. 1 laid no commands upon you. yes,” said Poirot, smiling You were at liberty to speak of it if | /& %ou so wished. She was interested, your sister?” “She was indeed. It created a sen- sation. All.sorts of theories are fly- ing about.” “Ah! And vet it is so simple. The true explanation leaped in the eye, did ft not?” “Did it,” T said, dryly. Polrot laughed. “The wise man does not commit him- self,” he observed, “Is not that so? But here we are at Mr. Hammond's.” The lawyer was in his office, and we were ushered in without any de- lay. He rose and greeted us in his dry, precise manner. . Poirot came at once to the point. “Monsieur, I desire from you cer- tain information—that is, it you will be so good as to give it to me. You acted, I understand, for the late Mrs. Ferrars of King's Paddock?” 1 noticed the swift gleam of surprise which showed in the lawyer's eyes, before his professional reserve came down once more like a mask over his face. 3 “Certainly. All her affairs passed through our hands.” “Very good. Now, before I ask you 2=1i ‘me anything, I should like you »s listen to the story Dr. Sheppard will relate to you. You have no objec- tion, have you, my friend, to repeating the conversation you had with Mr. Ackroyd last Friday night?” “Not in the least” I said, and straightway began the recital of that strange evening.’ Hammond listened with close atten- tion. “That is all,” I said, when I had finished. “Blackmail,” said the thoughtfully. < “You are surprised?” asked Poirot. The lawyer took off his pince-nez and polished them with his handkerchief. “No,” he replied, “I can hardly say lawyer, indesd—he | “The word derange,” 1 remarked, when we were outside again, “is ap- | plicable to mental disorder oni: “Ah?" cried Poirot, “pever will my nglish be quite perfect. A curious I should then have said ged, n'est ce pas?” sturbed is the word you had in mind.” | “T thank you, my friend. The word | exact, you are zealous for it. Fh bien, | what"about our friend Parker now? With £20,000 in hand, would he have continued being a butler? Je | ne pense pas. It Is, of course, possible that he banked the money under an- other name, but I am disposed to be lieve he spoke the truth to us. is & scoundrel, he is a scoundrel on a | mean scale. He has not the big ideas. That leave us, as a possibility, Ray- mond, or—well—Maj. Blunt.” “Surely not Raymond,” 1 objected. ince we know that he was desper- |‘ately hard up tor a matter of £500." “That is what he says, ve “And as to Hector Blunt— " “I will tell you something as to the good Maj. Blunt,” interrupted Poirot. “It is my business to make inquiries. I make them. Eh bien—that legacy of which he speaks, 1 have discovered that the amount of It lose upon £20,000. What do you think of that?" I was so taken aback that I could hardly speak. “It's impossible.” T said at last. * well known man like Hector Blunt Polrot shrugged his shoulders. “Who knows? At least he is a man with big ideas. I confess that I hard- Iy see him as a blackmailer, but there is another possibility that you have not even considered.” “What 1s that?" “The fire, my friend. Ackroyd him- self may have destroyed that letter, Eliue envelope and all, after you left hardly think that lkely,” I s: “And yet—of course, it may He might have changed his We had just arrived at my house, and on the spur of the moment I in: vited Poirot to come in and take pot luck. I thought Caroline would be pleased that I am surprised. I have suspected something of the kind for some tim “That brings us,” said Poirot, “to the information for which I am ask- ing. If any one can give us an idea of the actual sums paid, you are the man, monsejur.” “I see no object in withholding the information,” said Hammond, after a moment or two. “During the past year, Mrs. Ferrars has sold out cer- tain securities, and the money for them was paid into her account and not reinvested. As her income was.a large one, and she lived very quietly after her husband’s death, it seems certain that these sums of money were paid away for some special purpose. I once sounded her on the subject, and she said that she was obliged to sup- port several of her husband’'s poor relations. I let the matter drop, of course. Until now, I have always im- agined that the moneys was paid to some woman who had had a claim on Ashley Ferrars. I never dreamed that Mrs. Ferrars herself was involved.” “And the amount?” asked Poirot. “In all, I should say the Various sums totaled at least £20,000.” “Twenty thousand pounds!” I ex- claimed. “In one year!” & “Mrs. Ferrars was a vel woman,” said Polrot, dry wealthy nd the there anything else T can tell you?"” inquired Mr. Hammond. “I thank you, no,” said Poirot, ris- ing. “All my excuses for having de- ranged you.” “Not at all, not at all!” It Costs Less Than the Price of a Daily Newspaper! What does? 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New Styles—Wash Silk Dresses, $7.50 The new Spring models shown in chamois prints and light as well as darker shades. High necks or Vee style, and long sleeves. Sizes 36 to 44. New—Imported Linen Handmade Dresses, $5.95 This dress features the fine quality of workmanship, the high-grade material and its fullness of cut. Surely a dress of exceptional value, at only $595. Pure linen, embroidered in Porto Rico. Sizes 36 to 44. White and colors. 1f he | THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2. 1927. with me, but it is hard to satisty one’s womenfolk. 1t appears that we were eating chops for lunch—the’ kitchen staff being regaled on tripe and onions. And two chops set before three people are productive of embarrassment. But Caroline Is seldom daunted for long. With magn.ficent mendacity. she explained to Poirot that, although James laughed at her far doing so, she adhered strictly to a vegetarfan diet She descanted ecstatically on the de- lights of nut cutlets (which T am quite sure she has never tasted) and ate a Welsh ravbit with gusto and | frequent cutting remarks as to the dangers of “flesi” foods. Afterward, when we were sitting in front of the fire and smoking, Caro line attacked Poirot directly. “Not found Ralph Paton yet?” she asked. “Where should I find him, made- moiselle?"” “I thought, perhaps, you'd found him in Cranchester,” said Caroline, with intense meaning in her tone. Poirot looked merely bewildered. “In Cranchester? But why in Cran- chester 1 enlightened him with a touch_of malice. . “One of our ample staff of private detectives happened to see you in a car on the Cranchester road yester- day,” T explained. Poirot's bewilderment vanished. He laughed heartily. “Ah, that! A simple visit to the dentist, c’est tout. My tooth, it ache’s. I go there. My tooth, it is at once better. T think to return quickly. The dentist, he says no. Better to have it Iargue. He insiste. He has his way. That particular tooth it will never ache again." Caroline collapsed pricked balloon. We fell to discussing Ralph Paton. “A weak nature,” I insisted, “but not a viclous one.” “Ah!" said Poirot. where does it end?" “Exactly,” sald Caroline. “Take James here—weak as water, if I weren't about to look after him." “My dear Caroline,” T ald irritably, “can’t you talk without dragging in personalities?” “You are weak, James," said Caro- line, quite unmoved.. “I'm eight years older than you are—oh, 1 don't mind M. Poirot knowing that—-" “I should never have guessed it mademoiselle,” said Poirot, with a gal- lant little bow. “Eight years older. But I've always considered it my duty to look after With a bad bringing up, H rather like a “But weakness, Moodward & Lothvop DOWN STAIRS STORE Larger Women’s New Silk Dresses Sizes 40 to 52 $10 The newer Spring styles with long roll vee necks are displayed in beautiful new shades and materials of georgette and flat crepe. The newest note — Com- pose—is seen in this fash- ion-right collection. ‘Most styles are the straightline effect. Many slenderiz- ing models all at the one low price of $10. DOWN STAIRS STORE DOWN STAIRS STORE Exclusive W. & L. Rayon Underwear Particular stress has been put on the superiority of quality in these Rayon Underthings. A soft, very fine, satisfactorily laundering and long wearing rayon is the result. The i}ems and prices follow : Gowns, $295; Bloomers, $1.95; Vests, $1; Chemise, $1.95; Step- ins, $1.50; Extra.size Bloomers and Step-ins, $1.95. 10 Street and Evening Shades Offered in Silk Costume Slips $3.95. Silks used are Crepe de Chines, Loominite, Siquax Satin and Radiums. Street shades; navy, black, tan, gray and cppen; sizes 36 to 44. Evening shades: flesh, peach, white, gold and turquoise. Sizes 36 to 44. Wash Cloths Of a High Quality 12 lfor $1 : All-white, soft-quality Wash Cloths, with colored crocheted edges and solid color, in pink, blue, gold and lavender. DOWN STAIRS STORE DOWN STAIRS STORE knows what mischief you might have got into by now."” | “I might have married a beautiful | adventuress,” T murmured, gazing at | the ceiling and blowing smoke rings “Adventuress!” said Caroline with anort. “If we're talking of adven turesses———"" She left the sentence unfinished. “Well?" I said, with some curiosity. But I can think of some “Nothing. | one not a hundred miles Then she turned to P’ “James sticks to it that you believe | some one in the house committed the | murder. Al I can say Is, you're | wrong.™ {. I should not like to be Wrong. 1 Poirot. It is not—how do you say? my metier.” o “I've got the facts pretty clearly. | continued Caroline, taking no notice of Polrot's remark ames ‘and others. As far as 1 of the | people in the h could | have had | Raiph 1T D don't interrupt me. T know what I'm talking about. Parker met her outside the door, didn’t he? He didn’t hear her uncle saying good. night to her. She could have killed him then and there.” S “Carvoline!” 1054 " (Continued In Tomorrow's Star.) 777 sate \\\ / for every\ COUGH Quickly soothesirrita- tion in the throat, and helps Nature to clear the air passages. Pleasant to take | for adults and children. \ Sold in every drug store. . New Hats Are Close-fitting $3.95 Interpretations of the smart- est millinery modes for Spring, 1927, are significant in this new showing—models just received. Hats in new straws, hair braids, silks, felts and new combinations. Up- turned brims at front or side, low or creased crowns, cither dented or folded and many other new notes you must see. All new shades. DOWN STAIRS STORE All-Silk Printed Crepe de Chine, $175-%1585 yd. Shown in the new season’s smartest and most fashionable designings and colorings. Printed crepes in small floral, geometric and all-over prints in two and three color combinations. AllL-Silk Washable Flat Crepes, Twenty Shades, $1.65 yd. The most popular fabric of the season, and our most popular price. Excellent quality, softness, heavy weight, high lustre crepe in a choice of twenty of the smartest Spring shades. Special Items of Interest—to You Children’s Crisp, New Cinderella Wash Dresses, $1.50 Sizes 6 to 10 years. Attractive, crisp new styles with bloom- ers for_children. Of chambray and gingham, trimmed with white collar and cuffs. Plain and printed. M new styles. Queen Make Long Sleeve House Dresses $1.95 Lovely dresses of innumerable uses. Of high-§uality gingham in a long-sleeve style shown in pink, green, blue, orchid and black-and-white. Empire Sheets and Pillowcases Seconds of Mohawk 81x90 Sheets 45x36 Cases $1.10 each 3 for $1 Made of excellent quality linen- finished cotton, free from all dressing. An Enlarged Drapery Department —where we offer the wanted draperies, drapery fabrics | and cretonnes at the Lowest Possible PRICES. We are beginning with these few specials. Come in and see the ; new display of Spring curtains in keeping with the newer trends in home furnishings. Cretonnes, 28¢c, 380, 48c Plain, dotted and colored Curtains, pair, 75¢c, $1, $1.25 Rayon Drayery, for overdrapes, high quality, yard, 55¢ Scrims, 28, 30c Wopodward & Lnthrop 10th, 11th, F and G Streets I | Smart Women Choose The Tailored Compose Suit The 3-Piece Suit-Costume For Wear Now Under a Winter Coat —For Street Wear in Spring Nothing is smarter than a three-piece suit-costume of rose-beige crepella with a blouse of rough jersey— sketched, right—or a man-tailored compose suit of black tuxedo cloth with a gray and black striped skirt —sketched, left. A Varied Collection—Including Tweed Suits $25 to $95 WoMEN'Ss Surr SECTION, THIRD FLOOR. 'Y outhful Devotees of Fashion Will Welcome This New Kashedda Tailored Suit With Matching Sports Coat Fashion sends us this new Spring costume—a tan Kashedda tailored suit, with hip-length jacket— sketched, left—and a matching tan Kashedda belted coat—sketched, right—that may be worn together or separately. The Suit, $59.50 The Coat, $62.50 Tailored Suits, $25 to $59.50 Sports and Travel Coats, $25 to $79.50 Misses’' SurT AND CoAT SECTION, THIRD FLOOR. Gitls’ Imported Scotch Sweaters and Scotch Plaid Skirts Emphasize the All-im- portant Spring Compose Theme Just received from Scotland, these smart cardigan and slip- over sweaters of rabbit’s hair and wool in basket weave, bal- briggan, jacquard and heather mixtures. In all desirable colors and white. Sizes 8 to 16. $6.50 to $25 Scotch plaid skirts that may be had to match or harmonize with these sweaters are pleat- ed on detachable bodies. $3.50 to $7.50 Gmus’ Fyanisuings, Fourta Froor Women’s Colored-Bordered Initialed All-Linen Handkerchiefs, 6 for $1.50 Handkerchlef Section, First floor. The New Roseblush Shoes Demand Jane Wandl “Waterlily” Silk Hose Now in Three Weights “Waterlily”—a new, nude-like tint that gives a subtle blending shade for the new roseblush'shoes. In chif- fon sheer, semi-sheer, and service weights. $1.75 and $2 Hosrery Section, Fmst Froor. Soft Wool Sweaters Will Keep Babies and Tiny Tots Warm in Spite of March Winds. When smart little Washingtonians go to the parks with Nurse—these woolly little sweaters will keep them warm. Wee babies and little tots—2 to 6—will like these new styles in slip-over and coat sweaters— and the bright Spring colors. Infants” Sizes, $1.50 up Sizes 2 to 6, $2.50 to $5 x‘\'ns-rs‘ SecrioN, Fourtr FLOOR. Children’s Spring Socks The socks favored by young fashionables are here in great variety. Of cotton and lisle, they are in colors and combinations that blend best with children’s clothes. Sketched in Top Row 1. Lisle half sock, Jac- quard woven diamond pattern. Sizes 6 to 874, $1.25. 2. Tan lisle half sock, in Jacquard) plaid design. Sizes 6 to 84, $1.25. 3. Plain Champagne French lisle sock, with Sketched, Bottom Row 4. Tan lisle half socks with vari-colored tops. Sizes 57 to 8%, 50c 5. Fine lisle plaid socks with plain turn-over cuff. Sizes 775 to 10, $1.50. 6. Horizontally - striped ribbed top. Sizes 6 to half-length lisle socks. 814, 75¢. Sizes 6 to 874, 50c. Many Other Designs, Colors and Combinations 50c to $1.50 CHILDREN’S HOSIERY SECTION, FIrsT FLOOR. Spring Shagmoor ch‘))gaioats With and Without Fur s Exclusively Here in Washington If you are a Shagmoor wearer, we need only tell you that our complete Spring line of Shagmoor Topcoats is here. .1f you have never worn a Shagmoor coat, we want you to know as well that—through excellent tailoring and exceptional fabrics, the smartest styles are interpreted at unusually moderate prices in Shag- moor coats. Sketched—Tan and blue mixture Shagmoor Top- coat, cut on slenderizing Sk&ched—w omen’s - rose-beige mixture Shag- moor Topcoat, fully S lined, with large shawl lines and beautifully collar of dycdglqu.irr‘:l, tailored, $49.50. $11o0. $35 to $110 Sizes for Larger Women Sizes for Little Women $49.50 to $110 $35 to $75 ‘WOMEN’S AND SPECIAL S1z8 SECTIONS, THIRD FLoor. Begular sizes