Evening star., 1932-07-10
MURDER snAElMuE
L AGATHA CHRISTIE

the Daily Wire-things you wouldn't
credit II a newspaper didn't print them"
Are they any more 10 be credited on
that account?" inquired Mr.. Rycroft,
acidly.
you have got down on young En-
derby. haven't you?" said Ronnie.
Il dislike ill-bred nosing into affairs
that do not concern you, said Mr.. Ry-
croft.
yes, but when they do concern him" !"
Ronnie persisted II mean nosing about
is the poor chaps job. He seems to
have tanned old Burnaby all right.
Funny, the old boy can hardly bear the
sight of me. I'm like red rag to
bull to him"
Mr.. Rycroft did not reply.
by jove," said Ronnie, again glanc-
ing at the sky. do you realize its
Friday2 Just a week ago today at
! about this time we were trudging up TO
the Willetts just as We are now. But
bit of change in the weather"
"A week ago." said Mr.. Rycroft. 1T
seems infinitely longer"
More like bally year, doesn't it?
Hullo, Abdul"
They were passing Capt. Wyatt's
gate, over which the melancholy Indian
was leaning.
Good afternoon, Abdul" said Mr.
Rycroft. "How's your master?'
The native shook his head.
Master bad today. Sahib. Not see
any one. Not see any one for long
| time"
You know" said Ronnie as they
passed on. that chap could murder
wyatt quite easily and no one would
! know. He could go on for weeks shak-
| ing his head and saying the master
| wouldn't see any one and no one Woulo
! think it the least odd"
| Mr.. Rycroft admitted the truth OF
| the statement.
But there would still be the prob
lem of the disposal OF the body ne
pointed out.
"Yes, that's always the snag, isn't 1t?
Inconvenient thing, a human body.
They passed Mai. Burnaby's cottage
! The major was in his garden looking
sternly at a weed which was growing
where no weed should be.
Good afternoon, major" said Mr..
Rycroft. "Are you also coming to Sltta-
ford HouSe?"
Burnaby rubbed his nose.
Don't think so. They sent note
asking me. But-well-I don't feel like
it. Expect you'll understand"
Mr.. Rycroft bowed his head in token
of understanding.
"All the same" he said, Il wisf
you'd come. I've got a reason"
"A reason. What sort of reason?'
Mr.. Rycroft hesitated. 1t was cleal
that the presence of Ronnie Garf1elc
constrained him. But Eonnie, COM
pletely oblivious of the fact, stood hi;
ground, listening with ingenious In
terest.
"Id like to try an experiment" hi
said at last, slowly.
What sort of experiment." demand
ed Burnaby.
Mr.. Rycroft hesitated.
I'D rather not tell you beforehand
But If you come I'll ask you to bacl
me up in anything I suggest"
Burnaby's curiosity was aroused.
"All right" he said. ''Ill come. Yol
can count on me. Where's my hat2'
He rejoined them in a minute, hat
on head and all three turned in a
the gates Of Sittaford House.
Hear you are expecting company
Rycroft," said Burnaby, converse
tionally.
A shade of vexation passed over the
older mans face.
"Who told you that2"
"That chattering m2gpie of wom'
an, Mrs. Curtis. She's clean and shes
honest, but her tongue never stops anc
she pays no attention to whether you
listen or whether you don't"
'It's quite true" admitted Mr.. Ry-
croft. II am expecting my niece, Mrs
Dering,. and her husband, tomorrow"
| They had arrived at the front door
by now and on pressing the bell II
was opened to them by Brian Pearson
AS they removed their overcoats n
the hall Mr.. Rycroft observed the tall
broad-shouldered young man with ar
interested eye.
"Flne specimen" he thought. Every
fine specimen. Strong temper. Curious
angle of the jaw. Might be nasty
customer to tackle in cert in circum-