Evening star., 1932-07-11
|GFMuRDfR> >HAGM0R 81
IT, bAeA7HA CHRISTIE 4x;1S

James Pearson is the guilty party.
What propose is this, that We repeat
the experiment of last Friday. though
approaching it this time in a rather
different spirit"
NO." cried Violet.
"Oh! ! say" said Ronnie. That's q
bit too thick. I'm not going to join
in anyway"
Mr.. Rycroft took no notice Of him.
Mrs. Willett, what do you say?"
She hesitated
Frankly, Mr.. Rycroft. I do not like
the idea. I don't like it at all. That
miserable business last week made a
1t will take me long time to forget It,"
What are you getting at exactly?"
asked Enderby, interestedly. do you
propose that the spirits should tell US
the name Of Capt. Trevelyan's mur-
derer? That seems pretty tall order"
1T was a pretty tall order. as you
call it. when last week message came
through saying that Capt. Trevelyan
was dead"
That's true" agreed Enderby. But
well-you know this idea Of yours
might have consequences you haven't
considered"
Such asp"
"Supposing name was mentioned'
Could you be sure that some one
present did not deliberately"
He paused and Ronnie Garfield
rendered the word.
Shove. That's what he means.
Supposing somebody goes and shoves."
This is a serious experiment. sir"
said MIR. Rycroft, warmly. Nobody
would do such thing"
II don't know" said Ronnie, du-
biously. Il wouldn't put it past them.
l don't mean myself. I swear
wouldn't, but suppose every one turns
on me and says have. Jolly awkward,
you know"
Mrs. Willett, I am in earnest" the
little old gentleman disregarded Ron
ME. II beg of you, let US make the
experiment
Il don't like It. really don't. I"
She looked around her uneasily. as
though for way Of escape. Maj.
Burnaby. you we're Capt. Trevelyans
friend What do you say?"
The ma ajor's eyes met those OF Mr..
Rycroft. This, he understood, was the
contingency which the latter had fore
shadowed.
It had all the decision OF a casting
vote
Ronnie went into the adjoining room
and brought the small table which
had been used before. He set it in the
middle of the floor and chairs were
| drawn up round 1t. No one spoke.
The experiment was clearly not popular.
THAT is correct, think" said Mr..
Rycroft I'VE are about to repeat the
experiment of last Friday under pre-
cisely similar conditions.
Not precisely similar, ooJecteo MIS-.
Willett. MIR. Duke is missing
True" said Mr.. Rycroft. "A pity he
is not here. A great pity. Well-er-
we must consider him as replaced by
Mr.. Pearson"
Don't take part in 1t, Briant. !
beg of you. Please don't" cried Violet
what does it matter. It's all non
sense anyway.
THAT is quite the wrong spirit" said
Mr. Rycroft severely.
Brian Pearson did not reply, but took
his place beside Violet.
"Mr. Enderby," began Mr.. Rycroft.
but Charles interrupted him.
Il was not in on this. I'm journal
ist and you must trust me. I'll take
notes in shorthand of any phenomena.
that's the word, isn't it?-that occurs"
Matters were settled like that. The
other six took their places round the
table Charles turned of the lights and
sat down on the fender.
"One minute" he said. What's the
time?" He peered at his wrist watch
in the fire light.
That's odd" he said.
whats odd "
"It's Just rs minutes past FIVE ="
Violet uttered little cry.
Mr.. Rycroft said severely:
Silence"
The minutes passed. A very different
atmosphere this to the one week ago.
There was no muffled laughter, no
whispered comments-only silence,
broken at last by slight crack from
the table.
Mr.. Rycroft's voice rose.
"Is there any one there?"
Another faint crack-somehow an
eerie sound in that darkened room.
rs there any one there?"
Not a crack this time, but q deafen-
ing. tremendous rap.
Violet screamed and Mrs. Willett gave
a cry.
Brian Pearson's voice rose reassur-
ingly;
front door. IN 60 and open it."
He strode from the room.
Still nobody spoke.
Suddenly the door fiew open, the
lights we're switched on.
In the doorway stood Inspector Mar
racott. Behind him were Emily TIE
fusis and Mr.. Duke.
Narracott took a step into the room
and spoke.
John Burnaby I charge you with
the murder of Joseph Trevelyan on
Friday, the 14th instant, and hereby
warn you that anything you may say
viii be taken down and may be used In
evidence"
lTo be continued3 y