Evening star., 1939-09-03

how terrible for poor Dr.. Oldfeld.'
You don't think that it would
really be good thing for him?"
How do you mean?'
Poirot said: IF he is innocent -"
He broke off. He watched the thought
take root in Nurse Harrison's mind,
saw her frown perplexedly, and then
saw her brow clear.
She took deep breath and looked
at him. Il hadn't thought of that. OF
course. it is the only thing to be done"
There were series of thumps on the
floor above. Nurse Harrison started.
Its my old lady. Miss Bristow.
She's walked up from her rest. l must
90. Yes. Nj. Poirot. l think you are
quite right. A post mortem will settle
the business once and for all. 1t will
scotch the whole thing and all these
dreadful rumors against poor DR..
Oldfield will die down.
Hercule Poirot walked along to the
post office. He had a London call.
The voice at the other end was
petulant:
Must you 60 noslng out these
things. my dear Poirot? Are you sure
it's case for US? You know what
these country town rumors usually
amount to - nothing at all.
This is special case"
''Oh well - if you say so. You have
such tiresome habit of being right.
But if it's all mares nest we shan't
be pleased with you, you know.
Poirot smiled to himself.
Emerging into the post office, ne
leaned across the counter. He said in
his most engaging tones: Can you by
any chance tell me, Madame. where
Beatrice, the maid who was formerly
with DR.. Oldfeld, now resides"
Beatrice King? She's with Mrs.
Marley over the Bank now
Poirot thanked her, bought book
of stamps, and during the purchase
contrived to bring the death of the late
Mrs. Oldheld into the conversation.
He was quick to note the peculiar
furtive expression that stole across
the postmistress s face. She said:
Every sudden, wasn't it? It's made
a lot of talk as you may have heard.
A gleam of interest came into her eyes.
"Maybe that's what you'd be wanting
to see Beatrice for? We all thought it
odd the way she was got out of there
all of sudden. Somebody thought she
knew something - and maybe she
did. She's dropped some broad hints
Beatrice King was a short, sly
looking girl. She presented an appear
ance of stolid stupidity, but her eyes
we're more intelligent. There was moth
ing to be got out of Beatrice King. it
seemed. She repeated:
II don't know nothing about any
thing. It's not for me to say what
went on up there. don't know what
you mean by overhearing conversa-
ton between the doctor and Miss
AIoncrieffe. I'm not one to 60 listening
to DOORS don't know nothing"
Poirot said: Have you ever heard
of poisoning by arsenic"
A flicker of interest came into her
sullen face. She said: so that's what
it was in the bottle?"
What bottle?"
"One of the bottles of medicine
what that Miss Moncrieffe made up
for. the Missus. Nurse was all upset -
l could see that. Tasted it, she did,
and smelt it, and then poured it away
down the sink and filed it up with
plain water from the tap. 1t was white
like water anyway. And once when
Miss Moncrieffe took up pot of tea
to the Missus. Nurse brought it down
again and made it fresh - said it
hadn't been made with boiling water
but that was just my eye. that was.
Thought it was just the sort of fussing
way nurses have at the time