Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-11-07

Poirot said: "He must have been
angry when she would not have any
thing to do with him ?"
"He was sore about it, yes" ad-
mitted Nurse Hopkins. Blamed me
for it, too"
"He thought it was your fault?
"That's what he said. I'd perfect
right to advise the girl. After all, /
know something of the world. I did
MT want the girl to throw herself a.
way"
Poirot said gently: "What made
you take so much interest in the
girl 2"
swell, 1 don't know " Nurse
Hopkins hesitated. She looked shy
and a little ashamed of herself.
"There was -well-roman-
tic about Mary"
Poirot murmured: "About her, per-
haps, but not about her circumstan-
ces. She was the lodgekeeper's
daughter. wasn't she?"
Nurse Hopkins said: "Yes-yes,
of course. At least" She hesitated,
looked at Poirot, who was gazing at
her in the most sympathetic manner.
GAS a matter of fact" said Nurse
Hopkins, in a burst of confidence,
"she wasn't old Gerrard's daughter
at all. He told me so. Her father was
a gentleman"
Poirot murmured: 81 see And
her mother?"
Nurse Hopkins hesitated, bit her
lip, and then went on: "Her mother
had been lady's maid to old Mrs. We'll
man. She married Gerard after
Mary was born"
GAS you say, quite romance.-a
mystery romance"
Nurse Hopkins face lit up. "Wasn't
it? One can't help taking an interest
in people when one knows something
that nobody else does about them.
Just by chance I happened to find
out a good deal. AS a matter f fact,
it was Nurse O'Brien who set me on
the track; but that's another story.
But, as you say, it's. interesting know
ing past history. There's many ira
gedy that goes unguessed at. It's q
sad world"
Poirot sighed and shook his head
Nurse Hopkins said with sudden
alarm: "But I oughtn't to have gone
on talking like that. I wouldn't have
word of this get out for anything
After all, it's nothing to do with the
case. AS far as the world is concern
ed, Mary was Gerrard's daughter
and there mustn't be hint of any
thing else. Damaging her in thu
eyes of the world after she's dead
He married her mother and that
enough"
Poirot murmured: "But you know
perhaps, who her real father was p
Nurse Hopkins said reluctantly
"Well, perhaps I do; but then again
perhaps I don't. That is. I dom
know anything. I could make guess
Old sins have long shadows, as the.
say! But I'm not one to talk, and
, sha'n't say another word"
Poirot tactfully retired from tn
fray and attacked another subject
"There is something elsa delicat
matter. But I am sure I can rely o.
your discretion" Nurse Hopkin
bridled. A broad smile appeared o.
her homely face. Poirot continued
I speak of Mr.. Roderick Welman. H
was, so I hear, attracted by Mar
Gerard"
Nurse Hopkins said: "Bowled owe
by her!"
although at the time he was en-
gagged to Miss Carlisle ?"
eff you ask me-" said Nurse Hor
kins, "he was never really sweet o
Miss Carlisle. Not what I'd call swee
on her."
Poirot asked, using an old-fashior
ed term: "Did Mary Gerrard-er ell
courage his advances
Nurse Hopkins said sharply: "Sh
behaved very well. Nobody could sa
she led him on!"
Poirot said: "Was she in love wit
him?"
Nurse Hopkins sad isharply: IN
J she wasn't"
"But she liked him?"
| ooh, yes, she liked him well
. nough."
} "And I suppose, in time, somethir
, might have come Of III"
! Nurse Hopkins admitted tha
} "That may be. But Mary wouldn
} have done anything in a hurry. 81
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