Evening star., 1955-06-16
BY MIRIAM GUTENBERG


It started like any other day
In Lane Manor-an ideal suburb
for children in Prince Georges
County, right across the street
from park.
Nancy Marie Shomette, 16, ran
down the steps from her bed
room, her full orchid skirt bill
lowing around her, her hair still
up in pir-curlS.
In the kitchen her 7-year-old
sister Kathryn was trying to
talk her mother into making
pancakes.
I1l make them for you when
get back from school," Nancy
called pulling out the pins and
shaking out her longish blond
hair.
Down the street in another
sen1idetached brick house Mich
sael Ann Ryan, IA. was in her
mothers bedroom, showing her
the skirt Mrs. Ryan had let down
for her.
Look, NOM" she said, II
thought I'd grown a lot since
laStyear but / guess haven't" !"
She ran back into her bedroom
and changed into a blue and
white striped skirt and a black
blouse. Her mother heard the
front door slam behind her.
Nancy saw her coming, called
into the kitchen, There's Mikey.
I have to 60"
The time was a few minutes
before 8 am.
Take Short Cut
Michael'S younger sister, Ruth.
left the house soon after her and
saw the two girls cross the street
and enter the park. They were
taking the short cut through the
tree shaded field to Colesville
road and Northwestern High
School.
Nancy had to go to school to
pick up the report card for her
junior year, and Michael, who
was graduated last Friday from
ST. Joseph's Parochial School in
Washington, went along to see
her friends. They expected to be
at the school for only an hour.
The morning wore on. Mrs.
Shomette washed slip covers and
hung them up to dry. Mrs. Ryan
went next door for a coffee gos-
sip. Lane Manor is a neighborly
place. ......
Soon. the children began drift
Ing back from school.
Teenagers from around the
corner and down the block kept
coming to the Shomette door tc
ask Mrs. Shomette if Nancy was
back yet, They had a picnic
planned at noon in the park
Everyone was supposed to bring
something.
"Some Of her grades weren't
so good. You know she was ou,
a lot with her asthma" Mrs
Shomette said. Maybe she hac
to stay for a conference"
She said the same thing wher
Mrs. Ryan called. Boys had come
to her house, too.
Puzzling News
But when all the children were
back and Nancy and Michael still
hadn't appeared, Nancy's father
Print E. Shomette. called to ont
of the boys. Come on, let's drive
over to school and see whats
keeping them
The boy ran up to Nancy
home room. Her teacher, Mis-
Adelaide Clough. told him Nanc!
hadn't been to school.
Puzzled, but not yet seriouSl,
worried. Mr.. Shomette droy'
home. He had just told Mrs
Shomette that Nancy hadn't ap
peared for her report card whel
boy ran out of the park.
There's somebody lying dow
by the creek" he painted. THE.
think it's Petie's sister,"
Mr.. Shomette ran to his ca
again. Nancy's brother, Print
ir., IL, is called Petite" by hi
chums.
Down the street. Mrs. Ryal
heard the boy shout something
saw Mr.. Shomette climb into hi
car again and turn down tn
dirt road into the park. Sh
clutched her neighbor, her eye
wide with fear.
Something's happened t.
Mickey" she cried.
Mr.. Shomette raced down tn,
dirt road. past the football goa
post. the basketball blackboard
brick fireplaces and picnic tables
He didn't notice the policemen
already gathering in the grove
He stopped his car there and raj