Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-14
CHAPTER VII.
Learn My Neighbours Profession.

| VII TIC AoiioWiHS morning l. hurried
unforgtvably over my round. My
excuse can be that ! had no very
serious cases to attend. On my return
| Caroline came into the hall to greet
me.
| Flora Ackroyd is here" she an
rounced in an excited whisper.
| "What?"
L concealed my surprise as best
could.
She's very anxious to see you
She's been here half an hour"
Caroline led the way into our small
sitting room, and I followed.
Flora was sitting on the sofa by
the window. She was in black and
she sat nervously twisting her hands
together. 1 was shocked by the sight
of her face. All the color had faded
away from it. But when she spoke
her manner was as composed and
resolute as possible.
DIR. Sheppard, l have come to ask
you to help me?"
OF course he'll help you, my dear
claimed Caroline.
l don't think Flora really wished
Caroline to be present at the inter
view. She would, | am sure, have
infinitely preferred to speak to me
privately. But she also wanted to
waste no time. SO she made the best
of it.
IT want you to come to the Larche.
with me-
The Larches?" 1 queried. sur
prised.
ITO see that funny little mann" ex.
claimed Caroline
Yes. You know who he IS, don't
you?"
I'VE fancied,' 7 said, that he
might be retired hairdresser."
Flora's blue eyes opened very wide.
why. he's Hercule Poirot! You
know who 1 mean--the private de.
tective. They say he's done the most
wonderful things-just like detectives
do In books. A year ago he retired
and came to live down here. Uncle
knew who he was, but he promised
not to tell any one, because M. Poirot
wanted to live quietly without being
bothered by people,"
so that's who he is,' I said slowly.
you've heard Of him. Of course?"
I'm rather an old fogey. as Caro-.
line tells me-" said, "but have
just heard Of him."
"Extraordinary!' commented Caro-.
line.
I don't know what she was re
ferring to-possibly her own failure
to discover the truth.
You want to go and see him?" ]
asked slowly. Now why?"
ITO get him to investigate this muir.
der. OF course" said Caroline sharply.
Don't be stupid. James"
l was not really being stupid. Caro-
line does not always understand what
I am driving at.
You haven't got confidence in In
spector Davis?" / went on.
"Of course she hasn't" said Caro-
line. II haven't either"
Any one would have thought IT
was Caroline's uncle who had been
murdered.
And how do you know he would
take up the case?" I asked. RE.
member. he has retired from active
work"
That's just it," said Flora, simply.
1--WE got to persuade him.
you are sure you are doing wise.
~ ?" 1 asked gravely.
"Of course she is" said Caroline.
'I'll go with her myself il she likes"
I'D rather the doctor came with
me. II you don't mind, Miss Shep.
pard," said Flora.
She knows the value of being direct
on certain occasions. ANY hints would
certainly have been wasted on Caro-.
line
"You see." she explained. follow.
ing directness with tact, "Dr. Shep-
found the body, he would be able to
give all the details to NJ. Poirot"
YES" said Caroline. grudgingly;
II see that"
I took a turn or two up and down
the room.
Flora" 1 said, gravely. "be guided
by me. ] advise you not to drag
this detective into the case"
Flora sprang to her feet. The color
rushed into her cheeks.
II know why you say that" she
cried. But it's exactly for that rea-
son I'm SO axious to go. You're
afraid. But I'm not. I know Ralph
better than you do"
Ralph" said Caroline. what has
Ralph got to do with it?''
Neither Of us needed her.
Ralph may be weak" continued
Flora HE may have done foolish
things in the past-wicked things
even--but he wouldn't murder any
one"
mo. no." exclaimed. "I never
thought it Of him.
"Then why did you go to the Three
Bears last night" demanded Flora.
ION your way home-after uncle's
body was found?"
/ was momentarily sslenced. I had
hoped that that visit Of mine would
remain unnoticed.
"How did you know about THAR"
countered.
g az went there this morning" said
Flora. II heard from the servants
that Ralph was staying there"
I interrupted her.
"You had no idea that he was in
Kings Abbott"
mo. I was astounded. I couldn't
understand it. went there and
asked for him. They told me, what
/ suppose they told you last night.
that he went out at about 9 o'clock
yesterday evening--and-and never
came back"
Her eyes met mine defiantly. and
as though answering something in
my look, she burst out:
"Well. why shouldn't he? He might
have gone-anywhere. He may even
have gone back to London"
Leaving his luggage behind?"
asked gently.
Flora stamped her foot.
"T don't care. There must be a
simple explanation"
And that's why you want to go
TO Hercule Poiret? Isn't It better to
leave things IA they are? The police
don't suspect Ralph In the least, re-
member. They're working on quite
another tack"
but that's just It," cried the girl.
"They do suspect him. A man from
Cranchester turned up this morning
Inspector Raglan, n hoirid. weaselly
little man. l found he had been to the
Three Bears this morning before me.
They told me all about his having been
there. and the questions no had asked.
He must think Ralph did It,"
That's a change Of mind from last
night, If So" ! said slowly. HE