The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-15

leu I1C WdIIllGll VI ueI Lips OIL LID,
felt her love e%nveloping him,
and happiness lowered in that
cold desert where he had lived
alone so long.
Suddenly Nudge said, with a
shaky laugh
"Look, Edward, a black beetle
has come out to look at us. Isn't
he a nice black beetle? I never
thought I could like a black BEETLE
so much"
She added dreamily:
"How odd life is. here we r
sitting on the floor in a kitchen
that still smells of gas, all among
the black beetles and feeling that
it's heaven"
He murmured dreamy:
WED better 60 and get some
sleep. It's four o'clock. How on
earth are we to explain that brok-
en- window to Lucy"
Fortunately, Midge reflected,
Lucy was an extraordinarily easy
person to explain things to.
Taking a leaf out Of Lucy's own
book, Nudge went into her room
at six o'clock.
She made a bald statement of
fact:
Edward went down and put his
head in the gas oven in the
night" she said. FORTUNATELY 1
heard him and went down after
him. I broke the window because
I couldn't get it open quickly"
Lucy, Nudge had to admit, was
wonderful.
She smiled sweetly with no sign
Of surprise.
Dear Midge," she said, "you
are always so practical. I'm sure
you will always be the greatest
comfort to Edward"
After Nudge had gone Lady
Angkatell lay thinking. Then she
got up and went into her hus-
bands room, which for once was
unlocked.
Henry"
my dear Lucy! It's not cock
crow yet"
mo, but listen, Henry, this is
really important. We must have
electricity installed to cook by and
get rid of that gas stove"
why it's quite satisfactory
isn't it?"
"Oh, yes, dear. But it's the sort
of thing that gives people ideas,
and everybody mighn't be as
practical as dear Midge."
She fitted elusively away. Sir
Henry turned over with a grunt.
Presently he awoke with a start
just as he was doing off.
did I dream it," he murmur.
ed, cor did Lucy come in and
start talking about gas stoves?''
Outside in the passage, Lady
Angkatell went into the bathroom
and put a kettle on the gas ring
Sometimes, she knew, people liked
an early cup OF tea. -. Fired
with self-approval, she returned
to bed and lay back on her pill
lows, pleased with life and with
herself.
Edward and Nudge at Ainswick
the inquest over. She would 60
and talk to M. Poirot again. A
nice little man.
Suddenly another idea flashed
into her head. She sat upright in
bed.
II wonder now" she speculat-
ed, "if she has thought of that?"
She got out Of bed and drifted
along the passage to Henrietta's
room, beginning her remarks as
usual long before she was within
earshot.
and it suddenly came to me,
dear, that you might have over
looked that"
Henrietta murmured sleepily:
For heavens sake, Lucy, the
birds aren't up yeti"
"Oh, I know, dear, it is rather
early, but it Seems to have been a
very disturbed night-Edward and
the gas stove, and Nudge and the
kitchen window - and thinking of
what to say to M. Poirot and
everything"
I'm sorry, Lucy, but every
thing you say sounds like COM
plete gibberish. . . Can't it
waltz"
1T was only the holster, dear.
I thought, you know, that you
might not have thought about the
holster"
"Holster?' Henrietta sat up in
bed. She was suddenly wide
awake. 'SWhat's this about a hol-
ster?'
THAT revolver of Henry's was
in a holster, you know. And the