Evening star., 1941-08-19
CHAPTER %.

.. came here to :"
'I'm afraid So" jeff said.
Carols voice was loud and harsh
protesting: mo, jeff No! There
was no one here when Haila anc
got home, I tell you!"
From that window" jeff pointed
"he could see you coming down the
street. He could see that Haila was
with you And that was plenty OF
time for him to leave. BY the stairs
-, or even by the fire escape"
mo, that isn't it. I don't believe
It.! Won't you please stop talking
about me getting killed? You sit
around and figure out ways! 1t
makes me . can't
She rushed into the bedroom I
started to follow, then stopped
knowing how futile my comfort
would seem to her. jeff was beat
Ing a nervous tattoo on the window
pane. When he spoke the excite
nent in his voice startled me.
"Haila. when we were up at Vln-
cent Parker's today, he said some
thing about seeing Clint Bowers sun
day night, didn't he?"
'I don't remember, JEFF"
"Of course, you do! He said they
walked up Lexington avenue together,
they =. :"
"Oh. yes! Parker had an idea
for the third act 1t was after the
invitation performance.
Crowley on Watch.
Fright! And they separated out
side of Zollers. Just down here
around the corner. There isn't an
other Zollers, is there?"
Not that I know of, jeff, you
don't mean -. that Clint was the
man Jinx saw at our door! He
couldn't have mistaken Clint Bowers
Tor you. he's so much heavier
and -"
what! Who did Parker say was
with Clint?"
Tommy Tommy Nelson! No,
Jeff 1t couldn't have been Tommy
wouldn't sneak in like that and .
oh. Jeff, no! Not Tommy
Grab your coat, Haila!"
"Why? Where are we going?"
ITO see Clint Bowers. To find
out where he left Tommy. Tom
nv fits Jinxs description as much
as 7 do. It could've been Tommy!
But we shouldn't leave Carol alone
just now"
"She won't be alone"
He opened the door and Crow
ieys tall shadow fell across the
rectangle of light that spilled out
of the living room. I snatched up
my coat and followed jeff past
Crowley to the elevator.
It was only a few minutes until
Osuga, Japanese boy I had seen
occasionally at the theater, uShered
us into the library of Clinton Bow
ers' penthouse apartment and in
his soft lifting voice explained that
Mr.. Bowers was busy with a young
man and would we wait, please.
The whole living room had been
designed for comfort. My survey was
interrupted by a whistle from JEFF,
who had discovered shelf holding
only beautifully bound copies of the
plays Bowers had done-and that
the list stopped short when Bowers
association with Eve North began.
Call From Peterson.
Stepping back into corner I
tried greedily to take in all Clint
Bowers living room at once. II
would like" said, ito spend a solid
year here"
ANY year at all, Haila."
Bowers was in the doorway, his
ewes tried and his face drawn. but
he smiled at us with appreciation
At his elbow was the young man
of whom Osuga had spoken and
that young man was Steve Brown.
Immediately jeff gave me the
high sign, so high it almost went
completely over my head, to take
care Of Steve, and I wheedled him
into sitting beside me on the couch.
Over his shoulder I could see jeff
and Clint talking softly by the
desk, their heads together.
Steve said: How is Carol, Haila?"
Brave. Honest, Steve, she's been
swell"
"I know" His hands clenched.
God! Who'd want to do that to
kid like Carol? What could she
have ever done to any one? Why
should any one want to hurt her at
all, let alone want to murder hsr?'
That's what we're all asking
ourselves. And Carol most of all"
II wish :" He broke off and
stood up impatiently. I cast de-
spairing glance at jeff and he and
Bowers stopped talking I could
read nothing from their faces. They
looked discouraged and troubled, but
there was no hint of anything else
Steve rambled uneasily over to the
big chair beside the window and
slouched down in it. There was an
uncomfortable silence that the ring
ing of the telephone shattered
Bowers reached for the phone.
Phoebe Answers.
~Yes7 Oh, yes, Peterson. Yes,
We have what we call a working
script. Everything's in that.
Yes. Well, Phoebe Thompson has
that. Yes, of course you may
have it. I'll telephone her right
away. No, not at all Good-by."
He turned to us with a puzzled
expression. Peterson is anxious to
see the working script Of Green
Apples. Apparently he's in great
hurry to get hold of it, too"
jeff nodded. Il think I know
why, I was talking to him this
afternoon. They're working on the
poison n-put-in-on-stage angle. I sup
pose he wants to see which of the
actors could possibly have been
close enough to the table for long
enough time to have done it"
I'm afraid they won't find much
there. Everyone goes to the table
for one reason or another during
the third act" He reached under
the desk for a phone book, opened
1t and began to run his finger down
page. Thompson E. God, there
are million of them! Where does