We were received at Andover by Inspector Glen，a tall fair-haired man
with a pleasant smile.
For the sake of concisenss I think I had better give a brief resume of
the bare facts of the case.
The crime was discovered by Police Constable Dover at 1am on the morning
of the 22nd.When on his round he tried the door of the shop and found it
unfastened，he entered and at first thought the place was empty.Directing
his torch over the counter，however，he caught sight of the huddled-up body
of the old woman.When the police surgeon arrived on the spot it was elicited
that the woman had been struck down by a heavy blow on the back of the head，
probably while she was reaching down a packet of cigarettes from the shelf
behind the counter.Death must have occurred about nine to sever hours
previously.
"But we've been able to get it down a bit nearer than that，"explained
the inspector."We've found a man who went in and bought some tobacco at
5.30.And a second man went in and found the shop empty，as he thought，at
five minutes past six.That puts the time at between 5.30and 6.5.So far I
haven't been able to find anyone who saw this man Ascher in the
neighbourhood，but，of course，it's early as yet.He was in the Three Crowns
at nine o'clock pretty far gone in drind.When we get hold of him he'll be
detained on suspicion."
"Not a very desirable character，inspector?"asked Poirto.
"Unpleasant bit of goods."
"He didn't live with his wife?"
"No，they separated some years ago.Ascher's a German.He was a waiter at
one time，but he took to drink and gradually became unemployable.His wife
went into service for a bit.Her last place was as cook-housekeeper to an old
lady，Miss Rose.
She allowed her husband so much out of her wages to keep himself，but he
was always getting drunk and coming round and making scenes at the places
where she was employed.That's why she took the post with Miss Rose at The
Grange.It's three miles out of Andover，dead in the country.
He couldn't get at her there so well.When Miss Rose died，she left Mrs
Ascher a small legacy，and the woman started this tobacco and newsagent
business-quite a tiny place-just cheap cigarettes and a few newspapers-that
sort of thing.She just about managed to keep going.Ascher used to come round
and abuse her now and again and she used to give him a bit to get rid of
him.She allowed him fifteen shillings a week regular."
"Had they any children?"asked Poirot.
"No.There's a niece.She's in service near Overton.Very superior，steady
young woman."
"And you say this man Ascher used to threaten his wife?"
"That's right.He was a terror when he was in drink-cursing and swearing
that he'd bash her head in.She had a hard time，did Mrs Ascher."
"What age of woman was she?"
"Close on sixty-respectable and hard-working."
Poirot said gravely:
"It is your opinion，inspector，that this man Ascher committed the
crime?"
The inspector coughed cautiously.
"It's a bit early to say that，Mr Poirot，but I'd like to hear Franz
Ascher's own account of how he spent yesterday evening.If he can give a
satisfactory account of himself，well and good-if not-"His pause was a
pregnant one.
"Nothing was missing from the shop?"
"Nothing.Money in the till quite undisturbed.No signs of robbery."
"You think that this man Ascher came into the shop drunk，started
abusing his wife and finally struck her down?"
"It seems the most likely solution.But I must confess，sir，I'd like to
have another look at that very odd letter you received.I was wonderiing if
it was just possible that it came from this man Ascher."
Poirot handed over the letter and the inspector read it with a frown.
"It doesn't read like Ascher，"he said at last."I doube if Ascher would
use the term "our"British police-not unless he was trying to be extra
cunning-and I doube if he's got the wits for that.Then the man's a wreck-all
to pieces.His hand's too shaky to print letters clearly like this.It's good
quality notepaper and ink，too.It's odd that the letter should mention the
21st of the month.Of course it might be coincidence."
"That is possible-yes."
"But I don't like this kind of coincidence，Mr Poirot.It's a bit too
pat."
He was silent for a minute or two-a frown creasing his forehead.
"A B C.Who the devil could A B C be?We'll see if Mary Drower (that's the
niece)can give us any help.It's an odd business.But for this letter I'd have
put my money on Franz Ascher for a certainty."
"Do you know anything of Mrs Ascher's past?"
"She's a Hampshire woman.Went into service as a girl up in London-that's
where she met Ascher and married him.Things must have been difficult for
them during the war.She actually left him for good in 1922.They were in
London then.She came back here to get away from him，but he got wind of
where she was and followed her down here，pestering her for money-"A
constable came in."Yes，Briggs，what is it?"
"It's the man Ascher，sir.We've brought him in."
"Right.Bring him in here.Where was he?"
"Hiding in a truck on the railway siding."
"He was，was he?Bring him along."
Franz Ascher was indeed a miserable and unprepossessing specimen.He was
blubbering and cringing and blustering alternately.His bleary eyes moved
shiftily from one face to another.
"What do you want with me?I have not done nothing.It is a shame and a
scandal to bring me here!You are swine，how dare you?"His manner changed
suddenly."No，no，I do not mean that-you would not hurt a poor old
Franz.Poor old Franz."
Mr Ascher started to weep.
"That'll do，Ascher，"said the inspector."Pull yourself together.I'm not
charging you with anything-yet.And you're not bound to make a statement
unless you like.On the other hand，if you're not concerned in the murder of
your wife-"Ascher interrupted him-his voice rising to a scream.
"I did not kill her!I did not kill her!It is all lies!You are goddamned
English pigs-all against me.I never kill her-never."
"You threatened to ofter enough，Ascher."
"No，no.You do not understand.That was just a joke-a good joke between
me and Alice.She understood."
"Funny kind of joke!Do you care to say where you were yesterday evening，
Ascher?"
"Yes，yes-I tell you everything.I did not go near Alice.I am with
friends-good friends.We are at the Seven Stars-and then we are at the Red
Dog-"He hurried on，his words stumbling over each other.
"Dick Willows-he was with me-and old Curdie-and George-and Platt and
lots of the boys.I tell you I do not never go near Alice.Ach Gott，it is the
truth I am telling you."
His voice rose to a scream.The inspector nodded to his underling.
"Take him away.Detained on suspicion."
"I don't know what to think，"he said as the unpleasant，shaking old man
with the malevolent，mouthing jaw was removed."If it wasn't for the letter，
I'd say he did it."
"What about the men he mentions?"
"A bad crowd-not one of them would stick at perjury.I've no doubt he was
with them the greater part of the evening.A lot depends on whether any one
saw him near the shop between half-past five and six."
Poirot shook his head thoughtfully.
"You are sure nothing was taken from the shop?"
The inspector shrugged his shoulders.
"That depends.A packet or two of cigarettes might have been taken-but
you'd hardly commit murder for that."
"And there was nothing-how shall I put it-introduced into the
shop?Nothing that was odd there-incongruous?"
"There was a railway guide，"said the inspector.
"A railway guide?"
"Yes.It was open and turned face downward on the counter.
Looked as though someone had been looking up the trains from
Andover.Either the old woman or a customer."
"Did she sell that type of thing?"
The inspector shook his head.
"She sold penny time-tables.This was a big one-kind of thing only
Smith's or a big stationer would keep."
A light came into Poirto's eyes.He leant forward.
A light came into the inspector's eye also.
"A railway guide，you say.A Bradshaw-or an A B C?"
"By the lord，"he said."It was an A B C."
|
|
