Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-04
"Ah"' said Poirot, pityingIy. "WelI
no matter. have still my little idea. u
CHAPTER XIX.
Flora Ackroyd.

AS / was returning from my round
| the following morning ] was hailed
| by Inspector Raglan. / pulled up
and the inspector mounted on the
step.
Good morning. DIR. Sheppard HI
said. We'll, that alibi is all right
! enough t.gY-s's
Charles kent's?"
| Charles Kent's. The barmaid a.
the Dog and Whistle, Sally Jones, she
remembers him perfectly. Picked out
his photograph from among five
others. 1t was just a quarter to 10
when he came into the bar. and the
Dog and Whistle is well over a mile
from Fernly Park. The girl mentions
that he had a lot OF money on him
she saw him take a handful of notes
out of his pocket. Rather surprised
her, it did, seeing the class Of fellow
he was, with pair of boots clean
dropping off him. That's where that
$40 went right enough
THE man still refuses to give an ac-
count Of his visit to Fernly?"
obstinate as a mule he is. I had
a chat with fIayes at Liverpool over
the wire this morning"
'Hercule Poirot says he knows the
reason the man went there that
| night" observed.
Does he?" cried the inspector,
yes" said. maliciously. "He
says he went there because he was
| born in Kent"
felt a distinct pleasure in passing
on my own discontinue.
Raglan stared at me for a moment
or two uncomprehendingiy. Then a
grin overspread his weaselly counte-
L. 1T g.
nificantly.
"Bit gone here" he said. eve
thought so for some time Poor old
chap, so that's why he had to give UP
and come down here. In the family,
very likely. He's got a nephew who's
quite off his trumpet"
"Poirot has?',. / said very sur
pr'isedA
Yes. Hasn't he ever mentioned him
to you2 Quite docile. / believe, and
all that. but mad as a halter, poor
lad
"who told you that?"
Again a grin showed itself on In.
| spector Raglan's face.
Your sister Miss Sheppard, she
| told me all about it,
Really, Caroline is amazing She
| never rests until she knows the last
details Of everybodys family secrets.
| Unfortunately. | have never been able
| to instill into her the decency of keep
| ing them TO herself
Jump in, inspector" / said, open
| ing the door Of the car. Wen go up
| to the Iarches together and acuuaint
! our Belgian friend with the latest
| news"
Might as well. ] suppose. After
all, even II he is d. bit balmy, it was
q useful tip he gave me about those
| fingerpf1nts. He's got a bee in his
bonnet about the man Kent, but who
| knows-there may Gbe something use
| full behind it."
Poirot received US with his usua.
! smiling courtesy.
| He listened to the information we
| had brought him, nodding his head
| now and then.
| Seems quite o. X, doesn't it?'
! said the inspector. rather gloomily
"A chap can't be numbering some one
in one place when he's drinking ir
the bar in another place a mile away
Are you going to release him.
! Don't see what else we can do
We can't very well hold him for oh
tanning money on false pretenses
Can't prove rudy thing
The inspector tossed match int
the CRATE IN a disgruntled fashion
Poirot retrieved il and put it neatl,
in a little receptacle designed for tn,
purpose. His action was purely me
chanical. / could see that his thought
We're on something very different.
"If I We're you" he said, at last, :"
should not release the man Charles
Kent yet"
| wv hat do you mean?'
! Raglan stared at him.
What I say. ! should not releas
him yet"
You don't think he can have hal
anything to do with the murder, d
your"
II think probably not--but one car
not be certain yet"
But haven't just told you~-----"
Poirot raised hand protestingly.