THE LADY VANISHES
Iris Carr, a wealthy socialite, meets Miss Froy on a train returning from eastern Europe. Waking after a sleep, Iris is surprised to find that Miss Froy is no longer there. But when she asks the others in the compartment where Miss Froy has gone, she is astonished that they deny she was ever there! She goes in search of Miss Froy, and meets up with Max Hare and his friend, a Professor. Together, they agree to help Iris find Miss Froy, but the men soon begin to doubt Iris’s word as they are met with denial from everyone they talk to.
Who is lying? Is anybody actually telling the truth? Does Miss Froy even exist?
On station platform somewhere in European State
A group of strangers gather, for homeward travel wait.
When one is taken poorly, and to the ground does faint.
A doctor diagnoses, as sunstroke her complaint.
Miss Iris Carr is shaken, she’s travelling alone.
But confident and stubborn, is sure she’ll make it home.
When later whilst are boarded, and cup of tea “enjoy?”
Strikes up a conversation with Governess Miss Froy.
Returning to their carriage, our heroine, Miss Carr
Finds new friend to be missing (cannot have wandered far).
The mystery is heightened – the others there all say
Miss Froy has never been there, to Iris’s dismay.
She cannot understand it, she knows Miss Froy was here.
(In fact, for different reasons, they will not interfere).
An engineer befriends her, his name, he says, is Max.
The two of them together discuss the salient facts.
Investigations follow, “Miss Froy” then reappears.
Is “not the same” says Iris; with questions perseveres.
And when the “plot’s” uncovered, they find the reason “Why”.
Miss Froy, while she was Governess could break an alibi.
Eventually they find her, the real Miss Froy, I mean.
Kidnapped and bound and drowsy, in the carriage next has been.
If not for her persistence, and dogged temperament,
Miss Carr’s new friend’s absentia would be more permanent.
But all is well that ends well. At least for most, not all.
The baddies get arrested, may fate deserved befall.
For Iris and her engineer whose second name is Hare,
Are on their way back home at last, and love is in the air.
Janet Johnson
