Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-04

'Mais OUT. mails oui. I heard
am not deaf--nor stupid, thank the
good God, But, see you, you ap
| proach the matter from the wrong
the wrong premises. is not that the
word?'
The inspector stared at him heavily
Il don't see how you make tha
out. Look here, we know Mr.. Ack
royd was alive at a quarter to 10
| You admit that, don't your"
Poirot looked at him for a moment
| then shook his head with a quicl
smile.
| II admit nothing that is not
proved"
"Well, we've got proof enough o.
that. We've got Miss Flora Ackroyd':
evidence
THAT she said goodnight to hel
uncle? But me- do not always be
,, lieve what young lady tells me
| no, not even when she is charming
and beautiful
| f'But hang it all. man, Parker saw
her coming out of. the, door,
No" Poirot's voice rang out will
sudden sharpness. That is JUS
what he did not see. ] satisfied my
self of that by a little experiment
the other day--you remember doctor.
Parker saw her outside the door. with
her hand on the handle. He did not
see her come out Of the ROOM
'But-where else could she have
been?"
Perhaps on the stairs"
1.-THE stairs?"
THAT is my little idea-yes."
But those stairs only lead to Mr.
Ackroyd's bedroom.
"PreciSelV"
And still the inspector. stared
You think she'd been up to her
| uncles bedroom? Well, why not.
Why should she lie about it?"
"Ah. that Is just the question. II
depends on what she was doing there
does it not?"
You mean--tl1e money? Hang Il
all. you don't suggest that it was
Miss Ackroyd who took that f40?"
II suggest nothing" said Poirot
But / will remind you Of this. Life
was not very easy for that mother
and daughter. There were bills--there
was constant trouble over small sums
of money. Roger Ackroyd was a De
culiar man over money matters. The
girl might be at her wits end for a
yourself then what happens. She has
taken the money, she descends the
little staircase. When she is halfway
down she hears the. chink OF glass
from the hall. She has not a doubt
of what 1t is--farker coming to the
study. AT all costs she must not be
found on the stairs--Parker will not
forget it. he will think 1t odd. II
the money Is missed Parker is sure
to remember, having seen her come
down those stairs. She has just time
to rush down to the study door-with
her hand on the handle to show that
she has just come out, when Parker
appears in the doorway. She saws
the first thing that comes into her
head, repetition Of Roger Ackroyd's
orders earlier In the evening, and then
goes upstairs to her own ROOM
Yes. but later persisted the in
spector. 'she must have realized the
vital Importance of speaking the
truth? Why, the whole case hinges
OH it,
afterwards" said Poirot. dryly. ii
was a little difficult for Nine. Flora
She is told simply that the police
are here and that there has beer
q robbery. Naturally she jumps tc
the conclusion that the theft OF the
| money has been discovered. Her one
idea Is to stick to her story. Wher
f, she learns that her uncle is dead she
| is panic. stricken. Young women do
not faint nowadays, monsieur, with
/ out considerable provocation. Eth bien
! There 1t is. She is bound to stick
! to her story or else confess every
thing. And a young and pretty cir
/ does not like to admit that she i,
a thief-especially before those who's,
esteem she Is anxious to retain"
Raglan brought hts fist down Will
a thump on the table.
TN not believe it," he said. It's
it's not credible. And you--you'v
known this all aiong?"
! 1.-THE possibility has been in m,
mind from the first" admitted Poirot
Il was always convinced that Mile
Flora was hiding something from
us. To satisfy myself, L made tn
little experiment I told you of. DR.
Sheppard accompanied me-"
"a test for Parker, you said 1
was" / remarked bitterly
mon ami" said Poirot apolc
ceticaily. "as I told you at the time
one must say something"
The inspector rose.
There's only one thing for it." h
declared. I'VE must tackle the youn,
lady right away. You'll come up +
Fernly with me. NJ. Poirot?"
Certainly. DIR. Sheppard will driv
us up In his car"
acquiesced willingly.
| CONTINUED in Tomorrow's Star.)