Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-04
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr
"Wellg" demanded Kent.
By AGATHA CHRISTIE.
Copyright by Dodd. Mead & Co.

"Well?" demanded Kent.
Inquiries will be made. said the
Inspector. "If you've spoken the
truth you won't have anything tc
complain about. What were you doing
ut Fernly Park anyway
''Went there. to meet some one"
"Whe?'
ssrhat's none 81 sourE BUSINESS
YOU'D better keep ageiyil tongue III
your head, MY man." the snperintend
ent warned him. e,
ITO hell with a civil tongue. went
there on my own business, and that's
all there Is to it. IL was clear away
before the murder was done that's al
that concerns the cops"
Your name, 1t is Charles Kent,
said Poirot. Where were you born?'
The man stared at him, then he
grinned.
"I'm a fuil-blown Britisher all
Yes said Poirot meditativeiy, 81
think you are. l fancy you were born
In Kent
The man stared.
Why's that? Because of my name?
What's that to do with it? Is a man
whose name is Kent bound to be born
In that particular county,
Under certain circumstances, can
imagine he might be-" said Poirot very
deliberately. "Under certain circum
stances. you comprehend"
There was SO much meaning in his
voice as to surprise the two police
officers. As for. Charles Kent, he
flushed a brick red, and for a momen,
] thought he was going TO spring al
Poirot. He thought better of 1t, how
ever. and turned away with a kind OF
laugh.
Poirot nodded as though satisfied
and made his way out through the
door. He was joined presently by
the two officers.
Wen verify that statement re
marked Raglan. II don't think he's
living, though. But he's got to come
clear with a statement as to what he
was doing at Fernly. 1t looks to me
as though we'd got our blackmailel
all right On the other hand granted
his story's correct, he couldn't have
had anything to do with the actual
murder. He'd got 10 pounds on him
when he was arrested-rather a large
sum. fancy that 40 pounds went To
him-the numbers of the notes didn't
correspond. but, of course, he'd have
changed them first thing. Mr.. Ack
royd must have given him the money
and he made off with it as fast as pos
sible. What was that about Kent
being his birthplace? What's that got
to do with it?"
Nothing whatever" said Poiro'
mildly. "A little idea OF mine, thai
was all. Me. / am famous for my lit
tie ideas"
Are you really?" said Raglan
studying him with a puzzled expires
sion.
The superintendent went into a roal
Of laughter.
"Many's the time I've heard In
spector Japp say that. NJ. Poirot ant
his little ideas. Too fanciful for me
he'd say. but always something II
them
You mock yourself at me-" sait
Poirot, smiling; but never mind. Thu
old ones they laugh last sometimes
when the young, clever ones do no
laugh at ALL
And nodding his head at them in 4
sage manner he walked out into tn,
street.
He and I lunched together at :
hotel. / know now that the who'll
thing lay clearly unraveled before him
lie had got the last thread he needle,
to lead him to the truth.
But at the time l had no suspicion
of the fact. / overestimated his ger
eral self-confidence, and / took 1t TO
granted that the things which puzzle
me must be equally puzziing to him
My chief puzzle was what the ma
Charles Kent could have been doin
at Fernly. Again and again / put til
question to myself and could get n
satisfactory reply.
aSf r 8af i've
to Poirot. His reply was immediate.
Mon ami, do not think: know.
Really" ! said, incredulously.
Yes, indeed. ] suppose now tina
to You it..Swould not make sense if
said that he went to F'ernly that nigh
because he was born in kent?"
! stared at him.
TT certainly doesn't seem to max
sense to me-" ! said. dryiy.