Lesson 85 Never too old to learn
How long has Mr. Page been teaching?
I have just received a letter from my old school, informing me that my former
headmaster, Mr. Stuart Page, will be retiring next week. Pupils of the school, old and
new, will be sending him a present to mark the occasion. All those who have contributed
towards the gift will sign their names in a large album which will be sent to the
headmaster's home. We shall all remember Mr. Page for his patience and understanding
and for the kindly encouragement he gave us when we went so unwillingly to school.
A great many former pupils will be attending a farewell dinner in his honour
next Thursday. It is a curious coincidence that the day before his retirement,
Mr. Page will have been teaching for a total of forty years. After he has retired,
he will devote himself to gardening. For him, this will be an entirely new hobby.
But this does not matter, for, as he has often remarked, one is never too old to learn.
Lesson 86 Out of control
What was the danger?
As the man tried to swing the speedboat round, the steering wheel came away in his hands.
He waved desperately to his companion, who had been water skiing for the last fifteen
minutes. Both men had hardly had time to realize what was happening when they were
thrown violently into the sea. The speedboat had struck a buoy, but it continued to move
very quickly across the water. Both men had just begun to swim towards the shore, when
they noticed with dismay that the speedboat was moving in a circle. It now came straight
towards them at tremendous speed. In less than a minute, it roared past them only a few
feet away. After it had passed, they swam on as quickly as they could because they knew
that the boat would soon return. They had just had enough time to swim out of danger
when the boat again completed a circle. On this occasion, however, it had slowed down
considerably. The petrol had nearly all been used up. Before long, the noise dropped
completely and the boat began to drift gently across the water.
Lesson 87 A perfect alibi
What was wrong with the man's story?
'At the time the murder was committed, I was travelling on the 8o'clock
train to London,' said the man.
'Do you always catch such an early train?' asked the inspector.
'Of course I do,' answered the man. 'I must be at work at 10 o'clock. My employer
will confirm that I was there on time.'
'Would a later train get you to work on time?' asked the inspector.
'I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.'
'At what time did you arrive at the station?'
'At ten to eight. I bought a paper and waited for the train.'
'And you didn't notice anything unusual?'
'Of course not.'
'I suggest,' said the inspector,
'that you are not telling the truth. I suggest that you did not catch the 8 o'clock train,
but that you caught the 8.25 which would still get you to work on time. You see,
on the morning of the murder, the 8 o'clock train did not run at all. It broke down at
Ferngreen station and was taken off the line.'