Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-09-10

tItiidlu 4~OtillllS wrong Win them highly
'pectable we'll -known in Hampshire where they
me from. Two French commercial travellers, one
pm Lyons, one from Paris. Both respectable
kddle-aged men. A young man. James Elliot and
wife - flashy piece of goods she was He's got
pad reputation, suspected by the police of being
Xed up in some questionable transactions, but has
yer touched kidnapping. Anyway his compartment
is searched and there was nothing in his hand
sgage to show that he was mixed up in this Don't
how he could have been. Only other person was
American lady, Mrs. Van Snyder, travelling to
ris. Nothing known about her. Looks O. X. That's
lot"
And it is quite definite that the train did not stop
er it left Amiens?
| Absolutely. 1t slowed down once but not enough
let anyone jump off not without damaging
emseIves pretty severely and risking being killed
Fright
l'oirot murmured: That is what makes the
oblem so interesting The schoolgirl vanishes into
in air just outside Amiens She reappears from thin
| also just outside Aniens - but in different
ace. Where has she been in the meantime"
Inspector Hearn shook his head
1T sounds mad. put like that Oh! BY the way,
ey told me you were asking something about shoes
the girls shoes. She had her shoes on all right
len she was found but there was pair of shoes
/ the line, signalman found them. Took EN- home
tn him as they seemed in good condition. Stout
ack-aced walking Shoes
"Ah. said Poirot. He looked gratied
Inspector Hearn said curiously:
Il don't get the meaning of the shoes, sir? Do
Fey mean anything"
They confirm theory. A theory of how the
x-.~ - L..
Miss Pope's school was situated in Neuilly.
ercule Poirot staring up at its respectable facade,
as suddenly submerged by flow of girls emerging
)m its portals. T.
He counted twenty-five of them all dressed alike
dark blue coats and skirts with uncomfortable
oking British hats of dark blue velour on their
lads. round which was tied the distinctive purple
I'D gold of Miss Pope's choice. They were of ages
trying from fourteen to eighteen, thick and thin,
r and dark, awkward and graceful. At the end,
plking with one of the younger girls was gray
fred. fussy-looking woman whom Poirot judged to
Miss Burshaw.
lPoirot stood looking after them a minute; then
rang the bell and asked for Miss Pope.
Miss Lavinia Pope was very different person
|,m her second in command. Miss BurshaW. Miss
pc had personality Miss Pope was awe-inspring.
.r gray hair was dressed with distinction her COS
ne was severe but chic. She was competent and
iniscient.
The room in which she received Poirot was the
-om of a woman of culture. 1t had graceful furni-
re, flowers. some framed signed photographs of
ose of Miss Pope's pupils who were of note in the
rld - many OF them in their presentation gowns
d feathers On the walls hung reproductions of the
Tlds artistic masterpieces and some good water
lor sketches.
Miss Pope received Poirot with the competence
one whose judgment seldom fails
IN. Hercule Porot? know your name. of course.
oppose you have come about this very unfortunate
air of Winnie King. most distressing incident
ISIS Pope did not look distressed. She took disaster
it should be taken. dealing with it oompetently
d thereby reducing it almost to insignificance.
alch thing. said Miss Pope. has never occurred
fore
fIercule Poirot said: 1T was the girls first term
e. was it not'"
1T was
You had had a preliminary interview with
Ennie and with her parents?'
mot recently. Two years ago was staying near