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PAGE TWELVE EE ------ The Murder of + | ale i @ nts (By Agatha Christie) Roger Ackroyd . . CHAPTER III The Man Who Grew Vegetable I told Caroline at lunch time that I should be dining at Fernly. She ex- pressed no objection--on the contrary. "Excellent," she said, "You'll hear all about it. By the way, what is the trouble with Ralph?" "With Ralph?" 1 said, surprised; "thére isn't any." "Then why is he staying at the Thies Boars ' instead of at Fernly ark 1 did not for a minute question Caro- line's statement that Ralph Paton was staying at the local inn. ha Caroline said so was enough "Ackroyd told me a as in Lon- don," I said. In the suprise of the moment I departed from my valuable rule of never parting with information. "Oh!" said Caroline. I could see her nose, twitching as she worked on this. "He arrived at the Three Boars yes- terday morning," she said. "And he's still here. Last night he was out with a rl did not surprise me in the least. Ralph, I should say, is out with a girl most nights of his life. But I did ra- ther wonder that he chose to indulge in the pastime in King's Abbot instead of in the gay metropolis. "One of the bar maids?" I asked. "No. That's just it. He went out to meet her, I don't know who she is. (Bitter for Caroline to have to admit such a thing.) "But I can guess," defatigable sister, I waited patiently, "His cousin." "Flora Ackroyd?" I surprise, Flora Ackroyd is, of coruse, no rela- tion whatever really to Ralph Paton, but Ralph has been looked upon for so long as practically Ackroyd"s own son, that cousinship is taken for grant- continuer my in- exclaimed in \ ed. "Flora Ackroyd," said my sister, "But why not go to Fernly if he wanted to see her?" "Secretly engaged," said Caroline, with immense enjoyment. "Old Ack- royd won't hear of it, and they have to meet this way." I saw a good many flaws in Caro- line's theory, but I forebore to point them out to her. An innocent remark ! about our new neighbour created a di- version, The house next door, The Larches, has recently been taken by a stranger, To Caroline's extreme annoyance, she has not been able to find out anything about him, except that he is a foreign- er. The Intelligence Corps has proved a broken reed, Presumably the man has milk and vegetables and joints of meat and occasional whitings just like everybody else, but none of the peo- ple who make it their business to sup- ply these things seem to have acquired any information. His name, apparent- ly, is Mr, Porrott--a name which con- veys an odd feeling of unreality, The one thing we do know about him is that he is interested in the growing of vegetable marrows, But that 1s certainly not the sort of information that Caroline is after. She wants to know where he comes from, what he does, whether he is married, what his wife was, or is, like, whether he has children, what his mother's maiden name was--and so on. Some- body wery like Caroline must have in- vented the questions on passports, I think. ; b "My dear Caroline," I said. "There's no doubt at all about what the man's profession has been. He's a retired hairdresser, Look at that mustache of his." Caroline dissented. She said that if the man was a hairdresser, he would have wavy hair--not straight. All haidressers did. y I cited several hairdressers person- ally known to me who had straight! hair, but Caroline refused to be con- vinced, "I can't make him out at all," she said in an aggrieved voice. "I borrow- ed some garden tools the other day, and he was most polite, but I couldn't get anything out of him, I asked him point blank whether he was a French- man, and he said he wasn't--and, some- how, I didn't like to ask him any more." I began to be more interested in our mysterious neighbour, A man who is capable of shutting up Caroline and sending her, like the Queen of Sheba, empty away, must be something of a personality. "I believe," said Caroline, "that he's got one of those new vacuum clean- ers--" | I saw a meditated loan and the op- portunity of further questioning gleam- ing from her eye. I saw the chance to escape into the garden, I am ra- ther fond of gardening. I was busily exterminating dandelion roots when a shout of warning sounded from close by and a heavy body whizzed by my ear and fell at my feet with a repel- lant squelch, It was a vegetable mar- row! I looked up angrily. Over the wall, to my left, there appeared a face. egg-shaped head, partially covered with suspiciously black hair, two im- mense moustaches, and a pair of i than foolish--greedy. == gies, "I demand of Jou a thousand par- dons, monsieur. I am without defence. For some months now I cultivate the marrows, This morning suddenly I enrage myself with these marrows. 1 send them to promenade themselves-- alas! not only mentally but physically. 1 Seize he biggest. hurl him over the wall. Mc , I am ash I prostrate myself." Before such profuse apologies, my anger was forced to melt. After all, the wretched vegetable hadn't hit me. But I sincerely hoped that throwing large vegetables over walls was not our new friend's hobby. Such a habit could hardly endear fim to us as a neighbour, The strange little man seemed to read my thoughts. "Ah, no," he exclaimed. "Do not dis- quiet yourself, It is not with me a habit, But can you figure to yourself, monsieur, that a man may work to- wards a certain object, may labour and toil to attain a certain kind of leisure and occupation, and then find that, af- ter all, he yearns for the old busy days, and the old occupations that he thought himself so glad to leave?" "Yes," I said slowly. "I fancy that that is a common enough occurrence. I myself am perhaps an instance, A year ago I came into a legacy--enough to enable me to realise a dream. I have always wanted to travel, to see the world, Well, that was a year ago, as I said, and--I am still here." My little neighbour nodded. "The chains of habit. We work to attain .an object, and the object we gained, we find that what we miss is the daily toil. And mark you, mon- sieur, my work was interesting work. The most interesting work there is in the world." "Yes?" I said encouragingly. For the moment the spirit of Caroline was strong within me. "The study of human nature, mon- sieur!" "Just so," I said kindly. Clearly a retired hairdresser, knows the secrets of human better than a hairdresser? "Also, I had a friend--a friend who for many years never left my side. Occasionally of an imbecility to make me afraid, nevertheless he was very dear to me, Figure to yourself that 1 miss even his stupidity, His naiveté, his honest outlook, the pleasure of de- lighting and surprising him by my su- perior gifts--all these I miss more than I can tell you. "He died?" I asked sympathetically, "Not so, He lives and flourishes-- but on the other side of the world. He is now in the Argentine." "In the Argentine," I said enviously, I have always wanted to go to South America. I sighed, and then looked up to find Mr. Porrott eyeing me sym- pathetically. He seemed an under- standing little: man, "You will go there, ves?" he asked. I shook my head with a sigh. "I could have gone," I said. "A year ago. But was foolish--and worse I risked the sub- stance for the shadow." "I comprehend," said Mr, "You speculated?" I nodded mournfully, but in spite of myself I felt secretly entertained. This ridiculous little man was so porten- tously solemn, "Not the Porcupine Oilfields?" asked suddenly, I stared, "I thought of them as a matter of fact, but in the end I plumped for a gold mine in Western Australia." My neighbour was regarding me with a strange expression which I could not fathom. "It is Fate," he said at last, "What is Fate?" I asked irritably, "That I should live next to a man who seriously considers Porcupine Oil- fields, and also West Australian Gold Mines. Tell me, have you also a pen- chant for auburn hair?" I stared at him open-mouthed, and he burst out laughing. "No, no, it is not the insanity that I suffer from. Make your mind easy, It was a foolish question that I put to you there, for, see you, my friend of whom I spoke was a young man, a man who thought all women good and most of them beautiful. But you are a man of middle age, a doctor, a man who knows the folly and the vanity of most things in this life of ours. Well, well, we are neighbours. I beg of you to accept and present to your excellent sister my best marrow." He stooped, and with a flourish pro- n NewYork ABERDEEN HOTEL 17 West 320d S¢., near Sth Ava, Shs Bd Who nature Porrott. he watchful eyes. It was our mysterious neighbour, Mr, Porrott. He broke at once into fluent apolo- 2m, 33 S0urs I ---- BAKING POWDER MAG] BAKING POWDER NEI 0 Ag 1S ALWAYS RELIABLE EW.GILLETY CO. LTD duced an immense specimen of the tribe, which I duly accepted in the spirit in which it was offered. "Indeed," said the little man cheer- fully, "this has not been a wasted mor- ning. I have made the acquaintance of a man who in some ways resembles my far-off friend, By the way, I should like to ask you a question, You doybt- less know every one in this tiny vil- lage. Who is the young man with the very dark hair and eyes, and the hand- some face. He walks with his head flung back, and an easy smile on his lips?" The description left me in no doubt, "That must be Captain Ralph Pa- ton," I said slowly, "I have not seen before?" "No, he has not heen here for some time, But he is the son--adopted son, rather--of Mr. Ackroyd of Fernly Park." him about here (To he continued) ARE YOU GETTING VALUE To some homes a newspaper is a newspaper, and no thought is given to the quality. That rule does not apply when buying house supplies. The best is then want- ed, even if it costs more. Why should these homes not be as par- ticular about the reading' maser that comes jnto the family, par- ticularly when the very best can be had at the same price or less than the finferior article, The Family Herald and Weekly Star of Montreal Is the acknowledged best value in all Canada, It is wonderful combination of news- paper and family magazine and a farm journal without an equal on the Continent, and it costs no more than an ordinary qountry weekly --ane dollar a year. Seventy-two pages every week of the choicest reading for every member of the family at a cost of less than two conts a week should interest every tome in Canada. No wonder The Family Herald and Weekly Star is read hy a million Canadians each week. Tt is well worth a trial, 17 SHIPS POSTED AS CASUALTIES (Continued from page 9) al absolution" for those who would pever return to their sorrowing fa- milies. Airplanes were engaged in the mournful task of searching the costs of Galway and Mayo for the bodies of those who fell victims to the angry seas. About 45 of those ill: fated fisher- men who started out on a fine night, [ and were having good catches, were suddenly overwhelmed by the gale, driven on the rocks and dashed to death in sight of their homes and their waiting: wives and children watching from the shore, Three separate fleets of boats were thus overtaken and more than 100 women and children lost hus. bands or fathers. Many of the goats were only of tarred canvas, propelled by oars. and they were helpless against the storm. The fishermen of Connemara are too poor to. have better boats, superstitious Talk Superstitious persons In the peighborhod are talking of a wraith ship which one night last week followed a fishing boat from Imisugofin, Galway, which refused to answer to any hail , But is rer mained by the boat all night. This the crew interpreted as a warning of a coming disaster and declined to go out again. Other stories are current, of sim- ilar ghostly warnings. happening was that Father Quinn, parish priest of Lackan, one of the stricken villages, got warning of tne coming storm on his radio set, and rushed to the shore to warn the fishermen. But it was too late. Many of the poor fishermen sacri- ficed their lives in attempts to save their mets, and heart-rending tales are told of incidents in the fisher men's 90-minute fight for life with the pitiless winds and seas. Another place that suffered heav- ily in the gale was Fleetwood, but here the loss of life was far less serious. This Lancashire town was marooned by the gale and floods. Twelve hundred of its houses were damaged; all business was at a standstill. It was deprived of light An actual | = ---- | -- tricts were rendered homeless and were obliged to take refuge in puh- lic institutions. Six persons lost their lives here. No trains have been able to reach within four miles of the town. No tram or omnibus can navigate the streets, boats are the only means of transport, and the flood waters are not expected to subside for many days, Argentine Ship : London, Oct. 31--Five of the crew of the Argentine ship Fortuna were drowned when the vessel sank near the Arklow Bank Lightship, Friday, says a message to Lloyd's Insurance Agency from its corres: pondent at Carnarvon, Wales. The message says the master and 20 of the crew were landed in the ship's boat at Clynnog, Wales. The Fortuna left Liverpool Octo- ber 23, for the South Georgia whalk ing station. It met heavy weather Friday, the poop deck blew up and the whole after part of the vessel burst into flames, After attempts to extinguish the blaze proved une successful, the rush of waters into the hold caused a heavy list and the vessel sank. ALLEGE CONSTABLES 'TRAFFIC OFFICERY (Continued from page 9) blind pig, came from Hiram Dicey, employee of a barber shop near where the alleged 'pig' was located, DiDecyq sald the 'steering' took place during one of the race meet- ings at Devonshire Park. The wit- ness declared he saw two constables directing men into Fleury's place, which, he further stated, had "a reputation." Handbook Operator Talks Albert Selak, confessed handbook operator, with offices in the King Building, next door to the Prince Edward Hotel, volunteered some in- teresting information about the "kindness," as he described it, of handbook men ceasing operations while race meetings were on at Devonshire and Kenilworth tracks. "I closed my book voluntarily," Selak said, "I want to Mr, Wool- latt at Devonshire and offered to do this because I believed the tracks ought to have all the play they could get." Selak was asked by Mr. Roach if there was any 'consideration' in the bargain, The witness replied that he gladly did this for Wollatt out of friendship. The witness also denied there had been any special pressure brought to bear by the police to clamp the lid on the "books" during the races, In an attempt to show that police had permitted the city to run wide open, the prosecution opened fire on George ("5t, Louise Dutch') Wein- For-- Solva We are DIX Telephone~-- 262 Four direct lines to Central ay Coke Jeddo Premium Coal The Best Produced in America General Motors Wood -- All Fuel Orders weighed on City Scales if desired. ON'S brenner's American Club at 35 Sand- wich Street East. Fire Chief Clar- ence Defields testified that he visit- ed the American Club and found the fire-escapes barred and an iron door blocking the way, The Chief also gave the Commission the names of 10 places which the believed were "pigs." These he had visited, the Commission was told, Card in Elexator He said he once picked up a card in the elevator, which read: '"Ameri- can Club, 35 Sandwich Street East, Windsor, Former operators of 21 West Elizabeth Street, Detroit." Two members of the audience snickered when the Detroit address was read out. Both were at once impressed as witnesses, They gave their names as Frank McKean, 510 Dougall Avenue, and Leslie Annett, 549 Church street, Both said they knew nothing of the Detroit place. McKean said, however, that he had seen beer delivered to the Point Pelee Beach Club, 3 Oullette Avenue, several times, Annett said he had seen heer delivered at 349 Ouellette Avenue. He said he believed the Veterans' Cafe on Sandwich Street West was a blind pig, Russell Armstrong, office in the Davis whn has an Buildinfi, said he had seen empty heer kegs com- ing down in the elevator from the American Club on several occasions, and that his stenographers were afraid to be in the building because so many "drunks" were around, A%derman Testifies Alderman T. J, Eansor was an- other, witness 'called by Mr. Roach to prove the inefficiency charges. The Alderman described a number of places which, he declared, he knew to be blind pigs and gambling joints. He admitted quite candidly that he had a glass of whiskey at 61 Pitt Street East, "Did you complain to the Chief Constable or anybody else in author- ity about these places?' asked Walker Whiteside, junior counsel for the defense. "No, I told nobody, not even the Mayor or the Commis- sion, because itw as no use," the Al- derman replied, This blunt reply drew titters and applause from the crowded court, and Judge Coughlin threatened to have the titterers arrested {if the demonstration was repeated. Hints of perjury proceedings against Mrs. Angela Lorenzi, con- fessed bootleeger, and thus far the star witness in Chief Thompson's de- fense, were made earlier in the day by Jude Coughlin, They came after Paul Baetani, a friend of the woman, had denied her charge that she sign- ed a statement against the Chief un- der threats of . jail by Alderman Clyde Curry. No Force Used, Says Witness Baetani was present when statement was signed. "Neither Mr. Curry nor Mr, Roach said she had to sign it," the witness swore, "She said she did not want to sign it because she was not sure what it meant, I told her to go ahead." "Did you tell her to swear to the statement even though it was not clear to her?" Coughlin asked. "Sure." "Then you both ought to be in jail," the Court said. "I may yet ask perjury warrants." The statement in question claimed that Chief Thompson accepted a bribe, Mr. Roach, counsel for Alderman Curry, indicated he would accuse Thompson of collusion with Frank Tarbeaux, alleged internationally § famous confidence man, who es- caped Windsor police in 1924 after, it is alleged, obtaining $60,000 in a race-track swindle, Tarbeaux was arrested recently in Chicago. the 25¢ Day-- Wednesday ALL DAY AT THE ARCADE Some of These Items Are Limited So Shop Early and Save Money White Flanswistie, » 25¢ Black, Drowh, 1otup. er blue and white 100 pair. Siaes 6 to 10. Pair, Bath Towels, extra heavy quality, colored 95 [se A A RE EE A I REE BE REE SER NE IE Children's Hose - 25¢ Flannelette, splen- did quality, striped design. Yard, ........ 25¢ Scotch Ginghams, 36" wide. 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