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PAGE SIXTEEN -- Murder of (By Agatha Christie) CHAPTER IX The Goldfish Pond We walked back to the house to- gether. There was no sign of the in- spector. Poirot paused on the terrace and stood with his back to the house, slowly turning his head from side to side, "Une belle propriete," he said at last appreviatively. "Who inherits it?" His words gave me almost a shock. It is an odd thing, but until that mo- ment the question of inheritance had er come into my -head, Poirot Watched me keenly. "It is a new idea to you, that," he said at last. "You had not thought of it before--eh?" a I said truthfully, ad. ' He looked at fhe. ag "lI wonder juss, what! that," he said thoughtf: AR as 1 was about to speak. "Inutile would not tell me your real thought." "Every one has something to hide," I quoted, smiling. "Exactly." "You still believe that?" "More than ever my friend. But it is not easy to hide things from Her- cule Poirot, He has a knack of find- ing, out," e descended the steps of the Dutch garden as he spoke, "Let us walk a little," he said over his shouider, "The air is pleasant to- day." 1 followed him. He led me down a path to the left enclosed in yew hed- ges. A walk led down the middle, bordered each side with formal flower Leds, and at the end was a round paved recess with a seat and a pond ot goldfish, Instead of pursuing the path to the end, Poirot took another which wound up the side of a wooded slope, In one spot the trees had been clear- ed away, and a seat had been put, Sitting there one. had a splendid view over 'the countryside, and one looked right down on the paved recess and the goldfish pond, "England 1s very beautiful," said Poirot, his eyes straying over the pros- pect. Then -he smiled. "And so are English girls," he said in a lower tone, "Hush, my friend, and look at the pretty picture below us." It was then that I saw Flora. She was moving along the path we had just left and she was humming a lit- tle snatch of song. Her step was more dancing than walking, and, in spite of her black. dress, there was nothing but joy in her whole attitude, She "I wish 1 | suppose," said Flora gravely, At the same time she flung her head back and laughted outright. As she did so a man stepped out from the trees. lt was Hector Blunt. The girl started. Her expression changed a little, "How you startled me--I didn't see you." Blunt said nothing, but stood look- ing at her for a minute or two in silence, "What I like about you," said Flora, with a touch of malice, "is your cheery conversation." 1 fancy that at that Blunt redden- ed under his tan. His voice, when he spoke, sounded different--it had a curious sort of humility in it. "Never was much of a fellow for talking. Not even when 1 was young.' "That was a very long time ago, I 1 caught the undercurrent' ter in her voice, but I dong thnk Blunt did. "Yes," he said simply, "it was." "How does it feel to be methuse- iah?" asked Flora. This time the laughter was more ap- parent, but Blunt was following out an idea of his own, "Remember the johnny who sold his soul to the devil? In return for being made young again? There's an opera about it." "Faust, you mean?" "That's the beggar. Rum story. Some of us would do it if we could." "Any one would think you were creaking at the joints to hear you! talk," cried Flora, half vexed, half a- mused, Blunt said nothing for a minute or two, Then he looked away from Flora into the middle distance and observed , to an adjacent tree trunk that it was about time he got back to Africa, "Are you going on another expedi- tion--shooting things?" "Expect so. -shoot things, I mean." "You shot that head didn't you?" Blunt nodded. Then he jerked out, going rather red as he did so:-- "Care for some decent skins time ? "Oh! please do," cried Flora you really? You won't forget?" "I shan't forget," He added, in a sudden burst of com niumicativeness i-- "Time I went. sort of life, for it. society, in the hall, Never reniember the thing of faudh." "Usually do, you know any If so, I could get 'em for you." "Will said Hector Blunt, I'm no good in this Haven't got the manners I'm a rough fellow, no use in . "But you're t once, ph his EON Pane: you go She turned away a little, "You want me to stay?" asked t. He spoke deliberately but quite simply. "We all--" "I meant you personally," said Blunt, with directness. Flora turned slowly back again and met his eyes. "l want you to stay," she said, "if --if that makes any difference." "It makes all the difference," Blunt. There was a moment's silence. They sat down om the stone fish by the goldfish pond. It seemed as though neither of them knew quite what, © y next. Mleit's such a lovely mor 2 said Flora at last, "You know, I can't help feeling happy, in spite--in spite of everything. That's awful, I sup " "Quite natural," said Blunt. "Never saw. your uncle until two years ago,| __ «did you? Can't be expected to grieve very 'much. Much bétter to have no humbug about it." "There's something awfully consoling about you," said Flora. "You make things seem so simple." "Things are simple as a rule," the big game hunter, "Not always," said Flora, Her voice had lowered itself, and 1 saw Blunt turn and look at her, bring- {ing his eyes back from (apparently) the coast of Africa to do so. He evi- dently put his own construction on her | change of tone, for he said, after a ) minute or two, in rather an abrupt | manner i-- "1 say, you know, you mustn't worry, | About that young chap, I mean, In- spector's an ass. Everyboy knows -- utterly absurd to think he could have | | done it. Man from outside, Burglar Shaw, That's the only possible solu- | said a 1 said Flora turned to look at him, "You really think so?" "Don't you?" said Blunt quickly, happy this morning. you, --Mr. Hammond, the will. Uncle twenty thousand pounds. --twenty thousand beautiful pounds." Blunt looked surprised. "Does it mean so much to you?" "Mean much to me? Why, everything, . Freedom--life--no He 3 However heart- less you may think me, I'd rather tell | It's because the lawyer has been told us about Roger has left me Think of it ' gantly it's | more | and apologise." scheming and scraping and lying for a | Flora. THE OSHAWA DAILY TIMES, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1927 up the mud and it's gone. i "Perhaps it's a crown," suggested Flora, "Like the one Melisande saw in the water." "Melisande," said Blunt reflectively "she's in an operas, isn't she?" "Yes, vou seem to know a lot about operas » "People take me sometimes," said Blunt sadly. "Funny idea of pleasure --worse racket than the natives make with their tom-toms." Flora laughed, "I remember Melisande," continued Blunt, "married an old chap old enough to be her father." He threw a small piece of flint into the goldfish pond. Then, with a | { change of manner, he turned to Flora, | "Miss Ackroyd, can I do anything? | About Paton, I mean. 1 know how | | dreadfully anxious you must be." "Thank von" sand Flora in a cold | voice. "There is really nothing to be | done. Ralph will be all right, T've got hold of the most wonderful de- tective in the world and he's going to | { find out all about it." For some time | had felt uneasy as | to our position, We. were not exactly | eavesdropping, since the two in the 'garden helow had only to ys their | heads to see us. Nevertheless, I should | "l--ah, yes, of course." {have drawn attention to our presence | Another silence, and then Flora before now, had not my companion put | burst out ;-- | a warning pressure on my arm. Clearly | "I'm -- I'll tell you why I felt so |he wished to remain silent. Now, how- ever, he acted briskly. He rose quickly to his feet, clearing his throat. "I demand pardon," not allow mademoiselle thus extrava- to compliment me, and not | draw attention to my presence. They | say the listener hears no good of him-' self, but that is not the case this time, To spare my blushes, I must join you he cried. "I can- He hurried down the path with me close behind him, and joined the others is M. Hercule Poirot," said "I expect you've heard of him," "This gave a sudden pirouette on her toes, | one's expected to say, Yes, time I "Lying?" said Blunt, sharply inter- by the pond, and her black draperies swung out. | went." rupting. Flora seemed taken aback -- - minute. STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT Low rental, CHARLES About 12,000 ft. of good dry storage space, conveniently locat- ed, with Canadian National siding, for rent either in whole or in part. ¢/o Mundy Printing Company, Limited Telephone 35 or 312 M. MUNDY "You know what I mean, uncertainly., "Pretending to be thank- ful for all the nasty cast-off thing talk of horrid things. I'm free. Free to do what I like, Fre not to--" She stopped suddenly, "Not to what?" said Blunt quickly. "I forget now. Blunt had a stick in his hand, an 8 omething, "What are you doing, Major Blunt? "There's something bright dow there. | like a gold brooch, Now I've stirre ' she said | I'm so happy. Nothing important," i he thrust it into the pond, poking at Wondered what it was--looks Poirot bowed, ; "I know Major Blunt by reputation," | he said politely. "I am glad to have 8 | encountered you, monsieur. I.am m rich relations give you. Last year's | need of some information that you can | coats and skirts and hats." | give me. "Don't know 'much about ladies' Blunts Jouked at him ingu iringly. I clothes ; should have said you were al- "When didiyou last see My Ackroyd | R| ways well turned out." alive?" B| "It's cost me something, though," | "At dinner." AT i said Flora in a low voice. "Don't let' s | "And you ne ither % die nor heard anything of chim after {at "ue, e| "Didn'yosee him. Hea#d: his voice, "How, was that?" "I strolled out on the terrace "Pardon me, what time was this?" "About hali-past nine. I was walk- ing up and down smoking in front of the drawing-room window, I heard Ackroyd talking mn his study-----" Poirot stooped and removed a mi- croscopic weed, "Surely you couldn't hear voices in the study from that part of the ter- i race," he murmured, " d " n d All Oshawa bdeven Druggists He was not looking at Blunt, but I was, an to my intense surprise, I saw the latter blush, "Went as far as the corner," he ex- plained unwillingly. "Ah! indeed?" said Poirot, an impression that more was wanted, "Thought I saw -- a woman disap- pearing into the bushes. of white, you know. mistaken, mond 7" time. Seems I was wrong." For~-- Solva We are Jeddo Premium Coal The Best Produced in America General Motors Wood -- All Fuel Orders weighed on City Scales if desired. DIXON'S ay Coke Telephone~ 262 Four direct lines to Central Naa pame?" "Oh, no. think----?" Blunt explained laboriously. some papers to Ackroyd. : thought of it being anybody else." you heard were?" "Afraid 1 can't. 4 scrap of it. 4 thing else at the time," Poirot, covered?" "Chair? No--why should 1?" did not answer, He turned to Flora. know from you, mademoiselle. When. silver table with Dr. r the dagger in its place, or was it not?" Flora's chin shot up. me that?" she said resentfully. told him, and I'll tell you. fectly certain there. He thinks it Flora stamped her foot. can reach it." lakes and pours it into the Mississip- I'per cent of the Chicago water ser- In the mildest manner he conveyed Just a gleam Must have been It was while I was stand- ing at the corner of the terrace that 1 heard Ackrowd's voice speaking to Dr. Sheppard" that secretary of his," I hesitated, : ; "Speaking to Mr. Geoffrey Ray- Oh, do! "Yes--that's what I supposed at the "Mr. Ackroyd didn't address him by "Then, if I may ask, why did you "Took it for granted that it would be Raymond, because he had said just before 1 came out that he was taking Never "Can you remember what the words Something quite ordinary and unimportant. Only caught I was thinking of some- "It is of no importance," murmured "Did you move a chair back against the wall when you went into the 'study after 'the body was dis- Poirot shrugged his shoulders but "There is one thing I should like to you were examining the things in the Sheppard, was "Inspector Raglan has been asking "lve I'm per- the dagger was not was and that Ralph sneaked in later in the evening. And--and he doesn't believe me. He thinks I'm saying it so -- to shield i. "And aren't you?" I asked gravely. "You ,t00, Dr. Sheppard! Oh! it's From R. March 13th. A too bad." I looked at' poirot, but he was busy Poirot tactfully made a diversion. Iinspecting his appearance in tiny ' "It is true what | heard you say,|pocket glass. He paid par at- Major Blunt. There is something that | tention to his moustaches, none glitters in this pond." Let us see if [at all to me. I saw that he did not He knelt down by the pond, baring WATER NETERING LAW IN CHICAGO IS NOT RESCINDED Thompson's Fail Temporarily at Least Federal Department Prom:| ises to Consider Washington, Nov. 10.--The efforts of Mayo: Willlam Hale Thompso OO rds. the Fesoml Government to rescind metering regulations against Chicago so far as householders are concerned, fail- ed partially Tuesday. When there was a battle between the lake states and Illinois over Chicago's diversion of water from the lakes, the Federal Government sought to modify its license under whi-h Chicago takes 3.500 cubie feet of water per second from the @ pl river. Washington attached sev- eral conditions to the renewal of this license, one being that all but the smallest users of water in Chicago ! must install meters to prevent wast- |age. Tt is estimated .that Chicago 'uses twice as much water per head as the average city and reckless waste is charmed against the con- stituents of Mayor William Hale? | Thampson, * During his last majority campairn Thompson asserted that he would show Washington whether or not the metering system could be enforced. He had a conference with the offi- cials of the war department under whose charge are the water licenses and asked that thé metering order he amended so as to affect only 80 bukingly: { CROWN Life Policies you maximum value ection Investment Returns Insurance Service CROWNLIFE ve * * INSURANCE COMPANY R. S. DISNEY, Agent Disney Bldg. W. G. GILFILLAN, District Agent Oshawa, Ontario FACE FIRING SQUAD 'WITH FORTITUDE Mexican Rebel el Leaders Die With Traditional Bravery Mexico City, Nov. 10.--The rebe leaders executed in recent days in |the state of Vera Cruz faced the.fir- jing squad with fortitude traditional mong Mexican military men. Fernando Reyes, rugged old revo- !lutionist of the Villa days, when he stood before the squad, mand himself and personally issued the order to fire. words the bullets his body. General Adalberto Palacios turn- ed to the spectators when some joke caused them merriment, and said re- "It is no laughing mat- In obedience to hi plowed took com- through - er." Palacios, however, laughed him- self, when Martinez Fulido, who was standing beside him ready to be shot, asked Palacios for a few pesos. "Be sure and pay them back," said Palacios, handing the money 'o Fulido, who gave it to the members of the firing squad as an inducement to take good aim and put the bullets through his heart. T6 insure precise markmanship and instant death, Fulido unbuttored his shirt, bared his chest, and point- ed his fineer at the heart, as the soldiers fired. PARASOLS FOR MAUD MULLER Maud Mullers of Germany who must rake hay while the sun shines are to he provided with large para- sols that leave both hands free. A canopy that is supported by steel tub- ing attached to the shoulders has been perfected. It is light in weight and may be folded when not in use. Artists, gardeners and others who work in the open are also taking to the new device, 1 proposal '"'later." Meanwhile metering must be in- stalled for at least 90 per cent of Chicago's water consumption, Com- pliance with the metering order and also the order to install sewage dis posal plants, thus removing the necessity for the drainage canal is not being complied with very rapidly and Thompson was asked to speed up eonstruction, William Hale a<sured the war de- nartment that 'Chicago does not wish to interfere with the depths of water in the Great Lakes channels." CREAMERY BURNED A disastrous fire occurred at Hali- burton Tuesday night, when the Hali- {burton Cold Springs Creamery was burned to the ground. The building, | which was of frame construction, was almost totally destroyed before fire fighters gathered. It had been idle for a week, The creamery was owned by Austin Bros, and did a big business in the district. The cause is unknown. his arm to the elbow, and lowered it in very slowly, so as not to disturb the bottom of the pond. But in spite of all his precautions the mud eddied vice. 'This would elimniate small a householders, he thought, The de- a -- - - partment promised to consider the ||} eee---- -- -- -- --- SATURDAY SPECIALS and swirled, and he was forced to draw his arm out again empty-handed, He gazed ruefully at the mud upon, his arm . I offered him my handker- chief, wheih he accepted with fervent protestations of thanks. Blunt looked at his watch, "Nearly lunch time," he said, "We'd better be getting back to the house," | "You will lunch with us, M. Poirot?" asked Flora. "lI should like you to meet my mother. SHe is--very fond cf Ralph." The .tittle man bowed, "I"shall be delighted, mademoiselle," "And you will stay, too, won't you, ' I wanted to, so I accepted the invi- tation without further ceremony, We set out towards the house, Flora and Blunt walking ahead. 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Do you tell | your patients everything---but every- thing, doctor? [I think not. Nor do vou tell your excellent sister every- thing either, is it mot 807, Before showing my empty hand, what it contained nto my other band. You shall see what that was." He held out his left hand, palm op en. On it lay a little circlet of g: A woman's wedding ring. I took it from him. "Look inside," commanded Poirot. I did so." Inside was an inscription in fine writing :-- intend jo be To Be Copibey am' "Bever | PEI III SE ERE RR IE A 36" Unbleached Cotton, EERE EE I a A RA Hickory Rubber Crib Sheets, knap, white or , 200 Pair of Ladies' Pure Wool Cashmere Hose, Size 9, 9", and 10. Black, brown, white. Saturday Special, .................. Pair, Special purchase of Boys' wool, heavy quality. ..... Pure Linen Hand Toweling, 18 bashes vi 20c «Bleached Linen Table Cloths; assorted de- "signs, 66" x 66", Special, ........ 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