Shespokeinawhiningandyetthreateningvoice:"WhatdoIwant,youask?What,indeed!Thatwhichhasbeentookawayfromme.WhoturnedmeoutofKingsdeanHouse?I"dlivedthere,girlandwoman,fornearonfortyyears.Itwasablackdeedtoturnmeout,andit"sblackbadluckit"llbringtoyouandhim!"

Louisesaid,"You"vegotaverynicecottageand-"

Shebrokeoff.Theoldwoman"sarmsflewup.Shescreamed."What"sthegoodofthattome?It"smyownplaceIwantandmyownfireasIsatbesideallthemyears.Andasforyouandhim,I"mtellingyoutherewillbenohappinessforyouinyournewfinehouse.It"stheblacksorrowwillbeuponyou!Sorrowanddeathandmycurse.Mayyourfairfacerot."

Louiseturnedawayandbrokeintoalittlestumblingrun.Shethought,"Imustgetawayfromhere!Wemustsellthehouse!Wemustgoaway."

Atthemomentsuchasolutionseemedeasytoher.ButHarry"sutterincomprehensiontookheraback.Heexclaimed,"Leavehere?Sellthehouse?Becauseofacrazyoldwoman"sthreats?Youmustbemad."

"No,I"mnot.Butshe-shefrightensme.Iknowsomethingwillhappen."

HarryLaxtonsaidgrimly,"LeaveMrsMurgatroydtome.I"llsettleher!"

AfriendshiphadsprungupbetweenClariceVaneandyoungMrsLaxton.Thetwogirlsweremuchofanage,thoughdissimilarbothincharacterandintastes.InClarice"scompanyLouisefoundrea.s.surance.Claricewa.s.soself-reliant,sosureofherself.Louis.e.m.e.ntionedthematterofMrsMurgatroydandherthreats,butClariceseemedtoregardthematterasmoreannoyingthanfrightening.

"It"ssostupid,thatsortofthing,"shesaid."Andreallyveryannoyingforyou."

"Youknow,Clarice,I-Ifeelquitefrightenedsometimes.Myheartgivesthemostawfuljumps."

"Nonsense,youmustn"tletasillythinglikethatgetyoudown.She"llsoontireofit."

Louisewa.s.silentforaminuteortwo.

Claricesaid,"What"sthematter?"

Louisepausedforaminute,thenheranswercamewitharush:"Ihatethisplace!Ihatebeinghere.Thewoodsandthishouse,andtheawfulsilenceatnight,andthequeernoiseowlsmake.Oh,andthepeopleandeverything."

"Thepeople.Whatpeople?"

"Thepeopleinthevillage.Thoseprying,gossippingoldmaids."

Claricesaidsharply,"Whathavetheybeensaying?"

"Idon"tknow.Nothingparticular.b.u.t.they"vegotnastyminds.Whenyou"vetalkedtothemyoufeelyouwouldn"ttrustanybody-notanybodyatall."

Claricesaidharshly,"Forgetthem.They"venothingtodobutgossip.Andmostofthemucktheytalktheyjustinvent."

Louisesaid,"Iwishwe"dnevercomehere.ButHarryadoresitso."Hervoicesoftened.

Claricethought,"Howsheadoreshim."

Shesaidabruptly,"Imustgonow."

"I"llsendyoubackinthecar.Comeagainsoon."

Claricenodded.

Louisefeltcomfortedbyhernewfriend"svisit.HarrywaspleasedtofindhermorecheerfulandfromthenonurgedhertohaveClariceoftentothehouse.

Thenonedayhesaid,"Goodnewsforyou,darling."

"Oh,what?"

"I"vefixedtheMurgatroyd.She"sgotasoninAmerica,youknow.Well,I"vearrangedforhertogooutandjoinhim.I"llpayherpa.s.sage."

"Oh,Harry,howwonderful.IbelieveImightgettolikeKingsdeanafterall."

"Gettolikeit?Why,it"sthemostwonderfulplaceintheworld!"

Louisegavealittleshiver.Shecouldnotridherselfofhersuperst.i.tiousfearsoeasily.

IftheladiesofStMaryMeadhadhopedforthepleasureofimpartinginformationaboutherhusband"spasttothebride,thispleasurewasdeniedthembyHarryLaxton"sownpromptaction.

MissHarmonandClariceVanewerebothinMrEdge"sshop,theonebuyingmothb.a.l.l.sandtheotherapacketofboracic,whenHarryLaxtonandhiswifecamein.

Aftergreetingthetwoladies,Harryturnedtothecounterandwasjustdemandingatoothbrushwhenhestoppedinmid-speechandexclaimedheartily,"Well,well,justseewho"shere!Bella,Idodeclare."

MrsEdge,whohadhurriedoutfromthebackparlourtoattendtothecongestionofbusiness,beamedbackcheerfullyathim,showingherbigwhiteteeth.Shehadbeenadark,handsomegirlandwa.s.stillareasonablyhandsomewoman,thoughshehadputonweightandthelinesofherfacehadcoa.r.s.ened,butherlargebrowneyeswerefullofwarmtha.s.sheanswered,"Bellaitis,MrHarry,andpleasedtoseeyouafteralltheseyears."

Harryturnedtohiswife."Bella"sanoldflameofmine,Louise,"hesaid."Head-over-earsinlovewithher,wasn"tI,Bella?"

"That"swhatyousay,"saidMrsEdge.

Louiselaughed.Shesaid,"Myhusband"sveryhappyseeingallhisoldfriendsagain."

"Ah,"saidMrsEdge,"wehaven"tforgottenyou,MrHarry.SeemslikeafairytaletothinkofyoumarriedandbuildingupanewhouseinsteadofthatruinedoldKingsdeanHouse."

"Youlookverywellandblooming,"saidHarry,andMrsEdgelaughedandsaidtherewasnothingwrongwithherandwhataboutthattoothbrush?

Clarice,watchingthebaffledlookonMissHarmon"sface,saidtoherselfexultantly,"Oh,welldone,Harry.You"vespikedtheirguns."

DrHaydocksaidabruptlytohisnieceClarice,"What"sallthisnonsenseaboutoldMrsMurgatroydhangingaboutKingsdeanandshakingherfistandcursingthenewregime?"

"Itisn"tnonsense.It"squitetrue.It"supsetLouiseagooddeal."

"Tellhersheneedn"tworry-whentheMurgatroydswerecaretakerstheyneverstoppedgrumblingabouttheplace-theyonlystayedbecauseMurgatroyddrankandcouldn"tgetanotherjob."

"I"lltellher,"saidClaricedoubtfully,"butIdon"tthinkshe"llbelieveyou.Theoldwomanfairlyscreamswithrage."

"AlwaysusedtobefondofHarryasaboy.Ican"tunderstandit."Claricesaid,"Ohwell-they"llberidofhersoon.Harry"spayingherpa.s.sagetoAmerica."

ThreedayslaterLouisewasthrownfromherhorseandkilled.

Twomeninabaker"svanwerewitnessesoftheaccident.TheysawLouiserideoutofthegates,sawtheoldwomanspringupandstandintheroad,wavingherarmsandshouting,sawthehorsestart,swerve,andthenboltmadlydowntheroad,flingingLouiseLaxtonoverhishead.

Oneofthemstoodovertheunconsciousfigure,notknowingwhattodo,whiletheotherrushedtothehousetogethelp.

HarryLaxtoncamerunningout,hisfaceghastly.

Theytookoffadoorofthevanandcarriedheronittothehouse.Shediedwithoutregainingconsciousnessandbeforethedoctorarrived.

(EndofDrHaydock"sma.n.u.script.) WhenDrHaydockarrivedthefollowingday,hewaspleasedtonotethattherewasapinkflushinMissMarple"scheekanddecidedlymoreanimationinhermanner.

"Well,"hesaid,"what"stheverdict?"

"What"stheproblem?"counteredMissMarple.

"Oh,mydearlady,doIhavetotellyouthat?"

"Isuppose,"saidMissMarple,"that.i.t"sthecuriousconductofthecaretaker.Whydidshebehaveinthatveryoddway?Peopledomindbeingturnedoutoftheiroldhomes.But.i.twasn"therhome.Infact,sheusedtocomplainandgrumblewhileshewasthere.Yes,itcertainlylooksveryfishy.Whatbecameofher,bytheway?"

"TookflighttoLiverpool.Theaccidentscaredher.Thoughtshe"dwaitthereforherboat."

"Allveryconvenientforsomebody,"saidMissMarple."Yes,Ithinkthe"ProblemoftheCaretaker"sConduct"canbesolvedeasilyenough.Bribery,wasitnot?"

"That"syoursolution?"

"Well,ifitwasn"tnaturalforhertobehaveinthatway,shemusthavebeen"puttingonanact,"aspeoplesay,andthatmeansthatsomebodypaidhertodowhatshedid."

"Andyouknowwhothatsomebodywas?"

"Oh,Ithinkso.Moneyagain,I"mafraid.AndI"vealwaysnoticedthatgentlemenalwaystendtoadmirethesametype."

"NowI"moutofmydepth."

"No,no,itallhangstogether.HarryLaxtonadmiredBellaEdge,adark,vivacioustype.YournieceClaricewasthesame.b.u.t.thepoorlittlewifewasquiteadifferenttype-fair-hairedandclinging-nothistypeatall.Sohemusthavemarriedherforhermoney.Andmurderedherforhermoneytoo!"

"Youusethewordmurder?"

"Well,hesoundstherighttype.Attractivetowomenandquiteunscrupulous.Isupposehewantedtokeephiswife"smoneyandmarryyourniece.HemayhavebeenseentalkingtoMrsEdge.ButIdon"tfancyhewasattachedtoheranymore.ThoughIdaresayhemadethepoorwomanthinkhewas,forendsofhisown.Hesoonhadherwellunderhisthumb,Ifancy."

"Howexactlydidhemurderher,doyouthink?"

MissMarplestaredaheadofherforsomeminuteswithdreamyblueeyes.

"Itwaswelltimed-withthebaker"svanaswitness.Theycouldseetheoldwomanand,ofcourse,they"dputdownthehorse"sfrighttothat.ButIshouldimagine,myself,thatanairgun,orperhapsacatapult-heusedtobegoodwithacatapult.Yes,justasthehorsecamethroughthegate.Thehorsebolted,ofcourse,andMrsLaxtonwasthrown."

Shepaused,frowning.

"Thefallmighthavekilledher.Buthecouldn"tbesureofthat.Andheseemsthesortofmanwhowouldlayhisplanscarefullyandleavenothingtochance.Afterall,MrsEdgecouldgethimsomethingsuitablewithoutherhusbandknowing.OtherwisewhywouldHarrybotherwithher?Yes,Ithinkhehadsomepowerfuldrughandy,thatcouldbeadministeredbeforeyouarrived.Afterall,ifawomanisthrownfromherhorseandha.s.seriousinjuriesanddieswithoutrecoveringconsciousness,well-adoctorwouldn"tnormallybesuspicious,wouldhe?He"dput.i.tdowntoshockorsomething."

DrHaydocknodded.

"Whydidyoususpect?"askedMissMarple.

"Itwasn"tanyparticularclevernessonmypart,"saidDrHaydock."Itwasjustthetrite,well-knownfactthatamurdererissopleasedwithhisclevernessthathedoesn"ttakeproperprecautions.Iwasjustsayingafewconsolatorywordstothebereavedhusband-andfeelingsorryforthefellow,toowhenheflunghimselfdownonthesetteetodoabitofplay-actingandahypodermicsyringefelloutofhispocket."

"Hes.n.a.t.c.heditupandlookedsoscaredthatIbegantothink.HarryLaxtondidn"tdrug;hewasinperfecthealth.Whatwashedoingwithahypodermicsyringe?Ididtheautopsywithaviewtocertainpossibilities.Ifoundstrophanthin.Therestwaseasy.Therewa.s.strophanthininLaxton"spossession,andBellaEdge,questionedbythepolice,brokedownandadmittedtohavinggot.i.tforhim.AndfinallyoldMrsMurgatroydconfessedthat.i.twasHarryLaxtonwhohadputheruptothecursingstunt."

"Andyourniecegotoverit?"

"Yes,shewasattractedbythefellow,but.i.thadn"tgonefar."

Thedoctorpickeduphisma.n.u.script.

"Fullmarkstoyou,MissMarple-andfullmarkstomeformyprescription.You"relookingalmostyourself.a.gain."

TheThird-FloorFlat

"Bother!"saidPat.

Withadeepeningfrownsherummagedwildlyinthesilkentrifleshecalledaneveningbag.Twoyoungmenandanothergirlwatchedheranxiously.TheywereallstandingoutsidethecloseddoorofPatriciaGarnett"sflat.

"It"snogood,"saidPat."It"snotthere.Andnowwhatshallwedo?"

"Whatislifewithoutalatchkey?"murmuredJimmyFaulkener.

Hewasashort,broad-shoulderedyoungman,withgood-temperedblueeyes.

Patturnedonhimangrily."Don"tmakejokes,Jimmy.Thisisserious."

"Lookagain,Pat,"saidDonovanBailey."Itmustbetheresomewhere."

Hehadalazy,pleasantvoicethatmatchedhislean,darkfigure.

"Ifyoueverbrought.i.tout,"saidtheothergirl,MildredHope.

"OfcourseIbrought.i.tout,"saidPat."IbelieveIgaveittooneofyoutwo."Sheturnedonthemanaccusingly."ItoldDonovantotakeitforme."

Butshewasnottofindascapegoatsoeasily.Donovanputinafirmdisclaimer,andJimmybackedhimup.

"Isawyouput.i.tinyourbag,myself,"saidJimmy.

"Well,then,oneofyoudroppeditoutwhenyoupickedupmybag.I"vedroppeditonceortwice."

"Onceortwice!"saidDonovan."You"vedroppeditadozentimesatleast,besidesleavingitbehindoneverypossibleoccasion."

"Ican"tseewhyeverythingonearthdoesn"tdropoutofitthewholetime,"saidJimmy.

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