Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr

And then and there 7 narrated the
Hvbo1a events of the evening as l have
set them down here. The inspector
listened keenIy, occasionally interJect
ing a question.
Most extraordinary story l ever
heard" he said, when | had finished
"And YOU say that letter has com
oletelv disappeared? 1t looks bad
If looks very bad indeed. It gives
US what we've been looking fora
motive for the murder.
nodded.
II realize that"
You say that Mr.. Ackroyd nlnteo
Mt a suspicion he had that some mem
Der of his household was involved !!
Households rather an elastic term. y
You don't think that Parker him
self might be the man were after!'
] suggested.
1T looks very like 1t. He was
obviously listening at the door when
YOU came out Then Miss Ackroyd
came across him later bent on enter
ing the study. Say he tried again
when she was safely out of the way.
He stabbed Ackroyd. locked the door
on the inside, opened the window, and
got out that way, and went round
to a side door which he had previously
left open. How's that?"
There's only one thing against 1t,
I said slowly IF Ackroyd went on
reading that letter as soon as | left,
as he intended to do. / don't see him
continuing to sit on here ana turn
things over in his mind for another
ho,1r. He'd have had Parker in at
once, accused him then and there, and
there would have been a fine old up
roar Remember, Ackroyd was man
of choleric temper"
"Mightn't have had time to go on
with the letter just then" suggested
the inspector. I'VE know some one
was with him at half-past nine. III
that visitor turned up as soon as you
left. and after he went, Miss Ackroyd
came in to say good night-sweli, he
wouldn't be able to go on with the
letter until close upon ten O'CLOCK
"And the telephone call?"
Parker sent that all right-per-
haps before he thought of the locked
door and open window. Then ne
changed his mind-or got in a panic
and decided to deny adj knowledge
Of 1t. That was it, depend upon It.
"Ye.es." I said rather doubtfully.
"Anvway. we can find out the truth
about the telephone call from the ex-
change. If it was put through from
here. I don't see how any one else
but Parker could have sent it. De-
pend upon 1t, he's our man. But keep
ii dark we don't want to alarm him
Just yet, till we've got all the EVIL
dence, I'll see to it he doesn't give
us the slip. To all appearances Wen
be concentrating on your mysterious
stranger"
He rose from where he had been
sitting astride the chair belonging TO
the desk, and crossed over TO the SUN
form in the armchair.
"The weapon ought to give US
clew." he remarked. looking up. IT'S
something quite unique-a curio. l
should think, by the look of it,"
He bent down, surveying the handle
httentively, and l heard him give
grunt of satisfaction. Then. very
gingerly, he pressed his hands down
below the hilt and drew the blade
out from the wound. Still carrying 1t
30 as not to touch the handle, ne
placed it in a wide china mug which
adorned the mantelpiece.
"Yes," he said, nodding at II.
s'ouite q work of art. There can't De
many of them about.
It was indeed a beautiful object.
"A narrow, tapering blade, and hilt
of deliberately intertwined metals of
curious and careful workmanship. He
touched the blade gingerly with his
finger, testing it's sharpness, and made
an appreciative grimace.
"Iord. what an edge" he exclaimed.
"a child could drive that into a man
hs easy as cutting butter. A danger
Gus sort Of toy to have about.
MAY examine the body properly
now?" ! asked.
He nodded.
s'Go ahead"
I made a thorough examination.
: "Well?" said the inspector. when l
had finished.
ssI'll spare you the technical Ian.
kuage," said. Wen keep that for
the inquest. The blow was delivered
by a right-handed man standing be-
hind him, and death must have been
instantaneous. BY the expression on
the dead mans face, / should say
that the blow was quite unexpected.
He probably died without knowing
who his assailant was"
Buffers can creep about as soft
footed as cats" said Inspector Davis.
There's not going to be much mys-
terry about this crime. Take look at
the hilt of that dagger"
took the look.
II dare say they're not apparent to
YOU. but l can see them clearly
enough He lowered his voice.
"Fingerprints!''
He stood off a few steps to Judge
of his effect.
Eyes" I said mildly. II guessed
that"
I do not see why / should be sup.
posed to be totally devoid of inteli-
gence. After all, / read detective
Cfaxinc and the nawSnan0rS. ana