Evening star., 1932-06-26
MURDER HAElAUR 81
IMm bAcArHA CHRISTIE 80
y AGATHA CHRISTIE

| breath came from the room behind her
| and then the sound of a fall. The IN
| spector was over the threshold and
/ into the. room in flash.
Violet Willett had tainted.
Poor child" cried Mrs. Willett. All
/ this strain and shock She isn't strong.
/ Thank you so much, inspector. Yes, on
/ the sofa please. II you would ring the
/ bell. No, don't think there is any,
thing more you can do. Thank you so
much"
/ The inspector went down the drive
/ with his lips set in a grim line.
/ Jim Pearson was engaged he knew,
1 to that extremely charming looking girl
| he had seen in London. Why then
should Violet Willett faint at the men,
| ton of his name? What was the con-
nection between Jim Pearson and the
Willetts?
He paused indecisively as he emerged
from the front gate. Then he took
from his pocket small notebook. In
it was entered a list of the inhabitants
of the six bungalows built by Capt.
Trevelyan with a few brief remarks
against each name. Inspector Nara
colts stubby foref1nger paused at the
entry against No. the Cottages.
He strode briskly down the lane and
! beat a firm rat-tat on the knocker OF
! No. 6-the bungalow inhabited by Mr..
Duke
Leading the way up the path to the
majors front door, Mr. Enderby raped
| upon 1t in CHEEKY fashion. The door
was flung open almost Immediately and
| Mai Burnaby, red in the face, appeared
/ on the threshold.
ITS you, isn't it?" he observed with
/ no great fervor in his voice. Then he
caught sight Of Emily.
This is Miss Trefusis," said Charles
/ with the air Of one producing the ace of
trumpS. She is very anxious to see
! you"
May come IMP" said Emily with
her sweetest smile.
oh! yes Certainly. Of course-Oh,
| yes, Of course"
Stumbling in his speech. the major
backed into the living room and began
| pulling forward chairs and pushing aside
/ tables.
Emily, as was her fashion, came
! straight to the point. You see, Mai
Pearson, you know. And naturally I
am terribly anxious about him.
Maj. Burnsby, tell me honestly. Do
| you yourself believe he is guilty? oh.
! you needn't mind saying II you do. I
would a hundred times rather people
didn't lie to me-"
mo, I do not think him guilty" said
! the major in a loud. assertive voice He
hit a cushion once or twice vigorously,
and then sat down facing Emily. 1.-THE
chap is nice young chap. Mind you,
he might be bit weak. Don't be Of
Tended If I say he's the kind that might
easily go wrong If temptation came in
his way But murder-no. And mind
you, know what I am talking about
a lot of subalternS have passed through
my hands in my time. It's the fashion
to poke fun at retired army officers
nowadays, but we know a thing or two
all the same, Miss Trefusis."
I'm sure you do said Emily. "I'm
awfully grateful to you for saying what
you have. Maj Burnaby, who do you
think did it-have you any idea at alp.
mo. I am da-er-bother
I have" said the major. Took it for
granted it was some chap that broke in,
but now the police say that can't be so.
Well, it's their job. and suppose they
know best. But all the same it beats
me, Miss Trefusis. Trevelyan hadn't
an enemy in the world as far as
know"
And you would know If anybody
did" said Emily
yes, suppose knew more Of Trev-
elyan than many of his relations did"
And you can't think of anything
anything that would help, in any way?"
asked Emily.
The major pulled at his short NOUS
tache. I'm sorry, but there isn't any,
thing. Trevelyan just led an ordinary
normal life. Got very few letters and
wrote less. There were no female COM
plications in his life, am sure Of that.
No, it beats me, Miss Trefusis."
All three were silent.
What about that servant of his?"
asked Charles
Been with him for years. Absolute
ly faithful