Detective June—A School Story By Pamela

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23281, 25 February 1939, Page 9 (Supplement)

Detective June —A School Story By Pamela

THE inseparable three, Susan-called-Tommy, Joan and Babs, were unwrapping the fourth form's new cricket set. Paper wrapping littered the study floor as they discussed their prospects - for the •form matches. "Of course we've got to remember that the team will be weaker without Mary this year. Her slow balls were really the reason for our beating the Sixth last year," said Tommy; the captain, swinging a new bat. "I wonder what the new girl's like at games," Babs said. "She's the hardest person to know. It's not because she's shy. She's full of self-confi-dence . . . but she just won't be friendly." Tommy sat down on a stool and began to collect the papers. "Yes," she agreed. "She seems lots older than we are . . . says she has travelled a great deal, so perhaps that explains the difference. I saw her father with her when she came . . . tall, dark and mysteri-

ous. ..." "Oh I" Joan held up a piece of crumpled newspaper. "Look! Who do you think this is like?" They all stared at the picture of a smart, dark-eyed young woman. "Elaine Mills! The new girl!" Tommy and Babs said together. Then Tommy shrugged. "Just because wo were talking about her," she laughed. It's what Daddy calls 'the association of ideas.' Who is she, anyway?" "A jewel tlnef!" Joan read aloud rather breathlessly. "The police have tracked the gang as far as the city, but have now come to a dead end." "Thrilling!" cried Tommy. "Miss Elaine would be pleased at resembling a jewel thief so closely." There was a sound of running footsteps in the corridor and the d9or burst open to admit a jolly, curly-haired girl. "Hullo, June," the three chorused. "We were just discussing your new room mate. What do you make of her i^' "A mystery," grimaced June. "She s hardly said two words except when I tried to move her old mystery case, last night." . ~ , "Mystery case," grinned Babs, "Whatever's that?" "One would imagine it was a treasure chest to heai' the fuss when I attempted to move it." Tommy caught her breath and looked at Joan. Was she thinking the same? ".Perhaps it is a treasure chest, said Joan, significantly. They showed June the photograph and the printed paragraph. Her eyes were wide with excitement when she looked up. "We've got to look inside that case. ' "She never lets it out of her sight," June said softly. "How can we do it without sneaking. They sat talking until the tea-bell rang, and by that time they had formed a plan of attack. June was to pretend a sudden fit of coughing during tea and would ask to be excused,. She would have a chance then to slip up to her cubicle and to examine the case. The four friends were seething with excitement at the commencement of tea. Tommy looked covertly at Elaine

Mills seated opposite her. Her thin mouth was set in a firm line, her dark eyes roved curiously from girl to girl. Tommy felt strangely excited. If only the others suspected that a famous jewel thief i?at among them! She looked at prim, sharp-eyed Miss Waters serving stewed fruit at the top of the table, and choked back a spasm of giggles. What would Miss Waters'do if the truth were suddenly revealed to her? Half-way through the meal June began to choke. Tommy and Joan exchanged glances and sighed with relief when Miss Waters gave her permission to leave the table. They kept up a strained conversation while she was away, not daring to look toward Elaine. It seemed hours before June returned. They looked searchingly at her. There was a gleam in her eyes which might have meant excitement. She went on with her meal, calmly enough until, suddenly, she began to choke once more . . . "Leave the table, June, until you have quite recovered," rapped out Miss Waters.

As soon as they could, Joan, Babs and Tommy joined their chum in their study. "Well," said Tommy, shutting the door carefully, "What did you find?"

To their astonishment June began to laugh again. "I Mound the case," she stammered helplessly. yf 'What's the matter," cried Joan, "it's serious." June recovered slightly. "I had an awful hunt for the key of the case," she said. "At last I found it in her purse. I felt dreadful all the time." "Yes—yes," prompted Tommy "And when I opened it ... I found . . . I found ... a diary I" The other three collapsed on the settee and joined in the laughter. The following week Elaine Mills left the school. Her father was going to the Continent once more, she informed the curious June. The Fourth Form forgot her very soon, but they had a severe reminder some weeks later.

It was Tonftny, again, who found the paragraph at the foot of a column in the local daily. It was headed, "Jewel Thieves Arrested," and read': "The notorious jewel thief, Dan Hodges, and his clever partner, Ellen Miller, were arrested last night after a long and baffling search. The missing jewels were found in an ingenious hiding-place, a box camouflaged to represent a wellworn diary." In the silence of the study you could liavo heard a pin drop.