Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-01
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
By AGATHA CHRISTIE.


vas out for a walk this afternoon
on the Cranchester road. and he
passed me in a car coming from that
direction"
We all looked at each other.
Why, dear me-" said Miss Ganett
suddenly. I'm Nah Jong all the time
and ! never noticed 1t.
Caroline's attention was distracted
from her own inventive exercises.
She pointed out TO Miss Ganett that
q hand consisting OF mixed suits and
too many elbows was hardly worth
going Nah Jong on. Miss Ganett
listened imperturbably and collected
her counters.
Eyes. dear, 1 know what you mean. -
she said. But 1t rather depends on
what kind of a hand you have to
start with. doesn't it,"
you'll never get the big hands II
you don't go for them" urged
Caroline.
well, we must all play our own
way, mustn't we?" said Miss Ganett.
She looked down at her counters.
After all, I'm up, so far"
Caroline, who was considerably
down, said nothing.
East Wind passed, and we set to
once more. Annie brought In the
tea things. Caroline and Miss Ganett
were both slightly ruffied. as is often
the case during one of these festive
evenings.
IF you would only play a leetle
quicker, dear" said Caroline, as Miss
Ganett hesitated over her discard.
1.-THE Chinese put down the tiles so
quickly 1t sounds like little birds
pattering."
For some few minutes We played
like the Chinese.
You haven't contributed much TO
the sum of information, Sheppard. +"
said Colonel Carter genially. You're
a. sly dog. Hand In glove with the
great detective, and not a hint as to
the way things are going"
j mes Is an extraordinary
creature" said Caroline. He cannot
bring himself to part with inforrna-
ton"
She looked at me with some
disfavor.
II assure YOU" / said, that I don't
know anything. Poiret keeps his own
counsel"
wise man." said the colonel with
q chuckle. He doesn't give himself
away. But they're wonderful fellows
these foreign detectives. Up TO all
sorts of lodges, I believe"
"Pung," said Miss Ganett, In q tone
OF quiet triumph. And Nah Jong "
The situation became more strained
1t was annoyance at Miss Ganett s
going Nah Jong for the third time
running which prompted Caroline to
say to me as we built a fresh wall.
You are too tiresome, James. You
sit there like a dead head, and say
nothing at allr'
But. my dear" protested, 81 have
really nothing to say-that is, Of the
kind you mean"
Nonsense" said Caroline. as she
sorted her hand. "You must know
something interesting"
did not answer for a moment. J
was overwhelmed and intoxicated. !
had read Of there being such a thing
as the Perfect WinHing-going Nah
Jong on ones original hand. I had
never hoped to hold the hand myself
With suppressed triumph 1 laid my
hand face upwards on the table.
"As they say in the Shanghai Club, y
l remarked. "Tfnho-the Perfect Win
ming"
The eolonels eyes nearly bulged out
Of his head.
Upon my SOUL" ne said. What an
extraordinary thing, never saw that
happen before"
1t was then that I went on, goaded
by Caroline's gibes and rendered reck
less by my triumph.
"And as to anything interesting" ]
said. What about a gold wedding
side?"
pass over the scene that followed
was made to say exactly where this
treasure was found. I was made to
reveal the date.
March -" said Caroline. Just
six months ago. All"
Out OF the babel Of excited sugges-
tons and suppositions three theories
were evolved
I. That Of Col. Carter: That Ralpb
was secretly married to Flora. The
first or most simple solution.
2. That Of Miss Ganett; That Roger
Ackroyd had been secretly married to
Mrs. Ferrars.
8. That OF my sister: That Roger
Ackroyd had married his housekeeper.
Miss Russell.
A fourth or Supervisory was nre-
pounded by Caroline later as we went
up to bed.
denly, II shouldn't be at all surprised
II Godfrey Raymond and Flora weren't
married"
Surely 1t would be From c. not
From r. then" I suggested.
you never know. Some girls call
men by their surnames. And you heard
what Miss Gannett said this evening
about Flora's carvings on"
Strictly speaking. I had not heard
Miss Ganett say anything Of the kind,
but I respected Caroline's knowledge
Of innuendoes.
How about Hector Blunt" limited
eff it's anybody"
Nonsense" said Caroline. " dare
say he adrnires her-may even be in
love with her. But depend upon it, a
girl isn't going to fall in love with a
man old enough to be her father when
there's good looking young secretary
about. She may encourage Maj. Blunt
just as a blind. Girls are very artful.
But there's one thing 1 do tell you,
James Sheppard. Flora Ackroyd does
not care penny piece for Ralph Pa