Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-12-12
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

she! AND ner lying IHeIc HSlP
less? Just lift one hand, that was al
she could dol"
"Some one might have helped herr
"Ah! l see now what you're mean
ing. Miss Carlisle, or Mr.. Welman
or maybe Mary Gerrard?"
It would be possible, would it not?'
Nurse O'Brien shook her head. She
said: "They'd not dare-any OF
them"
Poirot said slowly: perhaps not
Then he said: what was it Nurse
Hopkins missed the tube OF NOR
phine?"
"It was that very morning. I'm
sure 1 had it here she said. Very
sure she was at first; but you know
how it is, after while your mind
gets confused, and in the end she felt
she'd left it at home"
Poirot murmured: "And even then
you had no suspicion?"
"Not the least in the world! Sure
it never entered my head for mo-
ment that things weren't as they
should be. And even now tits only a
suspicion they have"
"The thought of that missing tube
never caused either you or Nurse
Hopkins an uneasy moment?"
"Well,, I wouldn't say that. 4 do
remember that it came into my head
and into Nurse Hopkins head, too,
I believe the Blue Bit Cafe, we
were at the time. And l saw the
thought pass into her mind from
mine. TT couldn't be any other way
than that left it on the mantelpiece
and it fell into the dustbin, could it?
she says. And No, indeed, that was
the way of it, 1 said to her; and
neither of us saying what was in our
minds and the fear that was on us.
Hercule Poirot asked: "And what
do you think now?"
Nurse O'Brien said: eff they find
morphine in her therell be little
doubt who took that tube, nor what it
was used for-though I'll not be be-
lieving she did it till it's proved
there's morphine in her."
Poirot said: "You have no doubt
at all that Elinor Carlisle killed Mary
Gerrard?"
"There's no question of it at all, in
my opinion! Who else had the reason
or the wish to do it,"
"That is the question:" said Poirot
Nurse O'Brien went on dramati-
cally: wasn't l there that night
when the old lady was trying to speak
and Miss Elinor promising her that
everything should be done decently
and according to her wishes? And
didn't see her face looking after
Mary as she went down the stairs one
day land the black hate that was on
it? Twas murder she had in her
heart that minute"
Poirot said: eff Elinor Carlisle
killed Mrs. Welman, why did she do
it,"
Why For the money, of course.
Two hundred thousands pounds, no
less. That's what she got by it, and
that's why she did tiff she did it.
She's bold, clever young lady, with
no fear in her, and plenty of brains"
Hercule Poirot said: eff Mrs. We'll
man had lived to make will, how do
you think she'd have left her mon
ey?"
"Ah, it's not for me to be saying
that" said Nurse O'Brien. betraying,
however, every symptom of being a.
bout to do so. "But it's my opinion
that every penny the old lady had
would have gone to Mary Gerard"
"Why?" asked Hercule Poirot.
The simple monosyllable seemed to
upset Nurse O'Brien. why? Is it
why you're asking? Well-Id say
that that would be the way of it."
Poirot murmured: "Some people
might say that Mary Gerard had
played her cards very cleverly, that
she had managed so to. ingratiate her.
self with the old woman, as to make
her forget the ties of blood and affec
ton"
"They might that" said Nurse o.
Brien slowly.
Poirot asked: "Was Mary Gerrarc
a clever, scheming girl.?"
Nurse O'Brien said, still rathe
slowly: "I'll not think that of her
;. All she did was natural enough
with no thought of scheming. Sh
wasn't that kind. And there's reason
often for these things that never ge
made public :"
Hercule Poirot said softly: "Yo,