Evening star., 1941-08-13
CHAPTER XVII

But you've been in touch with
her" jeff said.
Frankly, JEFF, amt"
Don't you know anything about
her? Anything at all?"
Frankly, between friends, like ]
told the cops, no."
But what the hell" jeff shouted.
You announced her for your cast. "
THAT was one of the clevereSt
strokes of genius I ever committed
Lees name is on the lips of New
York. Well pack EN- in! My show
will clean up! Don't you get the
angle?"
But, Parker" jeff said desper-
stely, you must know how to get
In touch with her!"
Il wish I did If you should find
out anything about her, will you
let me know immediately"
1 leaned back on the sofa. I felt
ike crying, But I should have known.
I knew Vincent Parker. jeff was
regarding him with amazement
mingled with diStaSte. Il still don t
get it. You put Lee Gray's name
in the papers. What did you ex-
pect? Why?"
she amt in no other show, is
she? So she needs a job! Okay,
When she sees I hired her, amt she
gonna be elated and come to see
me?"
Then you're taking it for granted
tIo {r
Obviously no other possibility had
occurred to him, but that only stop
ped him for a second. who don't
want to be an actress? Is there
some one?"
jeff gave up. He went to Parker
and extended his hand. Vince.
let me shake with you. You're
right; you are genius"
Parker clasped Jef's hand warm
ly. Il appreciate that, jeff, coming
from you. You didn't tell me, jeff,
what line you're in"
MY line is-I'm In advertising.
But right now I'm on my vacation. 4"
advertising, huh?" Parker made
note Who you with? I'll talk to
one of my friends there and get you
put in better spot
jeff managed not to laugh.
"C'mon, Haila. we'll be going"
You amt OBTAINING me-" Vincent
said. He turned to me. "Haila, I'm
glad you dropped in Maybe you
can tell me. I'm thinking Of Carol
Blanton for the part of the girl in
my show. I seen her in Green
Apples and she was good. But
what I want to know is this: Was
her performance indicative of her
talent? I mean, was it typical?"
I'D call it typically indicative"
JEFF said
Bright Idea.
7 froWned at him. This would
mean at least two weeks rehearsal
money for Carol even if the play
Topped as Vincent'S usually did,
and it would be an opportunity for
her to be seen in another part.
Carol is fine actress" I assured
Parker. And that isn't sentiment"
Il figured she might be. But I
wanted to be sure that the part she
played in Bowers show wasn't Just
her dish. Know what I mean?
That she amt just a one-part
actress"
"Oh, no, Vincent. Carol has
wonderful sense of character"
Sure" jeff put in She's got
everything. Especially a voice. 1t
gets me. It's exciting"
I'D like to have her read for me"
There's just one thing about her,
Vincent and that's it," said. She
gives a terrible first reading"
professional jealousy" JEFF jeered.
Don't be silly, jeff"
"Were you there when she first
read for Bowers?"
mo. but one night some agent
sent a couple of scripts over to the
apartment and Carol and I read
them to each other She's really
pretty bad-reads part as though
1t were a timetable. She admits it
herself and worries a lot about it.
I just told Vincent because I don't
want him to judge her by her first
reading. She works into part
beautifully"
Parker looked mortally wounded.
"Haila. have you ever known me to
misjudge talent? Amt that always
been one of my fortes?"
That must be one of Clint's
fortes, too" Jeff said, "if he cast
Carol despite her reading"
"Uh-huh, Clint and Vincent are
both famous for their casting ability.
Aren't you. Vincent?"
He smiled modestly. THE only
difference between Bowers and me is
that I got shoWmanship. For in
stance, not only do I want Carol
Blanton because she is perfect for
the part, but with all her publicity
about the poisoning and murder,
we'll pack them in! With her and
Lee Gray it can't miss"
That's ShOwmanship."
What" I felt a little Sickish.
Vincent, you're not going to eX-
plot Carols . murder publicity"
That's shoWmanship! It'll be a
elean-up!"
bul, Ll(cIIC, NdIOA NOI4 Sbell4t
for i'll"
When she reads the script . if
she's an artist . Look, let me tell
you about the script! Though
Heavens Fall That's the title. The
kid that wrote it is a genius. It's
his first play. He's only 81 years of
age. amt never even voted His
grandmother is a millionaire. She's
backing me to the hilt. I predict
that Though Heavens Fall" will
revolutionize dramatic writing. It's
in five acts"
People are used to three acts" J"
jeff said. They might leave after
the third"
Not a chance! This show is
gripping! 1t grips you. It's the
story of a violinist that loses an arm
fighting for free speech. He can't
play the fiddle any more. even if he
felt like it. He gets bitter and joins
the Communistic party. He sells his
only Stradivarius and donates the
money to the Reds so they can stage