Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-02-27
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

He paused: Once one had seen the
truth with the eyes of the mind the
rest was easy. The quickness of air
travel made it possible for witness
who knew Mary Draper we'll in New
Zealand to be present in court"
Peter Lord said: "Supposing you
had been wrong and Nurse Hopkins
and Mary Draper had been two en-
tirely different people,"
Poirot said coldly: 81 am never
wrong"
Peter Lord laughed.
Hercule Poirot went on: My
friend we know something now of this
woman Mary Riley or Draper. The
police of New Zealand were unable
to get sufficient evidence for a con-
viction, but they had been watching
her for some time when she sudden
" left the country. There was a pa
tient Of hers, an old lady, who left
her dear Nurse Riley a very snug
little legacy, and whose death was
somewhat of a puzzle to the doctor
attending her Mary Diapers hus-
band insured his life in her favor for
q considerable sum, and his death was
sudden and umaccountable. Unfortu-
natelv for her, though he had made
out check to the Insurance Com
pany, he had forgotten to post it..
Other deaths may lie at her door. 1t
is certain she is a remorseless and
INSCRIPTIONS woman.
Zone can imagine that her sisters
letter suggested possibilities to her
resourceful mind. When New Zea-
land became too hot, as you say, to
hold her, and she came to this country
and resumed her profession in the
name of Hopkins "a former colleague
of hers in hospital who died abroad)
Maidensford was her objective. She
may perhaps have contemplated some
form of blackmail. But old Mrs. Wei
man was not the kind of woman to
allow herself to be blackmailed, and
Nurse Riley, or Hopkins, very wisely
did not attempt anything of the sort
Doubtless she made inquiries and dis
covered that Mrs. Welman was very
wealthy woman, and some chance
word of Mrs. Welman's may have re-
veaIed the fact that the old lady had
not made a will
so, on that June evening" wher
Nurse O'Brien retailed to her col
league that Mrs. Welman was asking
for her lawyer, Hopkins did not hest
tate. Mrs. Welman must die interstate
so that her illegitimate daughter
would inherit her money. Hopkins haC
already made friends with Mary Ger
rard and acquired a good deal of in
fluence over the girl. All that she
had to do now was to persuade the
girl to make will leaving her money
to her mothers sister; and she inspir
ed the wording of that will very care
fully. There was no mention of the
relationship; just Mary Riley, sister
VI Vic AhCC GAIIHd ISIlSy' OIICS IfldI W a.
signed, Mary Gerard was doomed
The woman only had to wait for q
suitable opportunity. She had, I fan
cy, already planned the method of the
crime, with the use of the apormor-
phine to secure her own abb. She
may have meant to get Elinor anc
Mary to her cottage, but when Elinol
came down to the lodge and asked
them both to come up and have sand
wiches she realized at once that a per-
feet opportunity had arisen. The cir
cumstances were such that Elinor was
practically certain to be convicted"
Peter Lord said slowly: eff it had
Mt been for you-she would have
been convicted"
Hercule Poirot said quickly: mo
it is you, my friend, she has to thank
for her life"
81? 1 didn't do anything. l tried
He broke off. Hercule Poirot smil-