Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20
By AGATHA CHRISTIE.
COPYRIGHT by Dodd. Mead q Co.

mo. he always kept his cash in his
bedroom. In an old collar box, to be
accurate. Funny idea wasn't IT."
| II think" said the lawyer, I'VE
| ought to make sure the money Is
there before I leave"
Certainly" agreed the secretary.
I'm take you up now. On. |
forgot The doors locked"
Inquiry from Parker elected the
Information that Inspector Raglan
WAS III the ho1lSekeeper's room, ask
ing a few supplementary questions.
\ few minutes later the inspector
Joined the party in the hall, bringlf
'he KEY with him
He unlocked the door and We passed.
into the lobby and up the small stair
case At the top OF the stairs the door
into Ackroyd's bedroom stood open
Inside the room 1t was dark, the cur
tains were drawn, and the bed was
turned down just as II had been last
night. The inspector drew the cur
tains. letting In the sunlight. and
Godfrey Raymond went to the top
drawer of a rosewood bureau.
HE kept his money like that. in an
unlocked drawer. Just fancy" com
mented the Inspector.
The secretary flushed little.
MIR. Ackroyd had perfect faith in
the honesty Of all the servants" he
said hotly.
"Oh. quite So" said the inspector
hastily.
Raymond opened the drawer, took
out a round leather collarboX from
the back of ii. and Opening it, drew
out thick wallet.
Here is the money" he said, taking
out fat roll Of notes. You will find
the hundred intact, I know, for Mr..
Ackroyd put it in the collar-box in my
presence last night when he was
dressing for dinner. and of course
1t has not been touched since"
Mr.. Hammond took the roll from
him and counted 1t. He looked up
sharply.
"A hundred pounds. you said. But
there is only sixty here
Raymond stared at him.
impossible" he cried, springing
forward. Taking the notes from the
others hand, he counted them aloud.
Mr.. Hammond had been right. The
total amounted to sixty pounds.
Butt can't understand it," cried
the secretary, bewildered.
Poirot asked a question.
You saw Mr.. Ackroyd put this
money away last night when he wal
dressing for dinner? You are sure he
had not paid away any of it already"
I'm sure he hadn't. He even said.
don't want to take q hundred
pounds down to dinner with me.
Foo bulgy.'"
Then the affair is very simple
remarked Poirot. Either he paid out
that forty pounds some time last eve
ming, or else it has been stolen"
That's the matter in a nutshell"
agreed the inspector. He turned to
rk hinh of tho nfS
would come in here yesterday even
ing2"
Il suppose the housemaid would
turn down the bed"
"who is she? What do you know
about her?'
shes not been here very long" said
Mrs. Ackroyd. But she's a nice
ordinary country girl"
II think we ought to clear this mat
ter up" said the inspector. IF Mr..
Ackroyd paid that money away him.
self, 1t may have a bearing on the
mystery Of the crime. The other ser
wants all right, as far as you know"
"Oh, I think So"
mot missed anything before?"
NO"
None of them leaving. or anything
like that?"
1.-THE parlornaid is leaving"
w n0n!
"She gave notice yesterday, / be.
lieve.''
ITO your"
ooh. no. I have nothing to do with
the servants. Miss Russell attends to
the household matters"
The inspector remained lost in
thought for a minute or two. Then he
nodded his head and remarked. Il
think I'd better have a word with
Miss Russell. and I'll see the girl Dale
as WE'LL
Poirot and I accompanied him to
the housekeeper's room. Miss Russell
received us with her usual sang-froid.
Elsie Dale had been at Fernly five
months. A nice girl, quick at her
duties, and most respectable. Good
references. The last girl in the world
to take anything not belonging to her.
What about the parlormaid!
'She, too, was a most superior girl.
Very quiet and ladylike. An excellent
worker"
Then why is she leaving?" asked
the inspector.
Miss Russell pursed up her lips.
1T was none Of my doing / under
stand Mr.. Ackroyd found fault with
her yesterday afternoon. 1t was her
duty to do the study, and she disar-
ranged some Oh the PAPERS oH Lis
desk, believe. He was very annoyed
about It, and she gave notice. At
least, that Is what I understood from
her, but perhaps you'd like to see her
yourselves?"
The inspector assented. I had al
ready noticed the girl when she was
waiting on us at lunch. A tall girl,
with a lot of brown hair rolled tightly
away at the back of her neck; and
very steady gray eyes. She came in
answer TO the housekeeper' summons,
and stood very straight with those
same gray eyes fixed on us.
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr