Evening star., 1941-08-30
UP TO KILLMa
by keNeY Roos,

all this :. thousand times. But
I couldn't"
why, Carol?"
Her eyes found Steves and there
was glistening Of quick tears In
them. steve. I didn't want
Steve :"
He was beside her then, she was
in his arms, sobbing into his shoul-
der. 1T was such nasty thing,
all of it. So horrible, not like what
I wanted for Steve and me. I was
ashamed of it. And I was afraid
Of what Steve would do if I told
him about Greeley . :"
Carol Is Upset.
The white lines around Steves
mouth tightened like little bands.
drawing 1t into a hard slit. I'm
going to be glad TO see Mr. Nor
ris"
"Steve!" Carols face was ashen.
steve, that's why I've been quiet!
That's why I've kept all this inside
me! didn't want you and Morris
to :. Oh. Steve, you mustn't see
him! Something will happen.
Steve, something will happen if you
do, and we'll we'll lose each
other, Stevel"
She turned to JEFF. She was cry
ing JEFF, don't let Morris come
here! You don't need to see him
now. I've told you everything, I've
explained 1t all to you! He doesn't
have to come. does he?"
Yes, Carol" JEFF said gently.
You see. we want Morris to ex-
plain a few things now"
Then then make Steve go
before he comes. Don't let him
e. Oh, I'm afraid for Steve! He
mustn't see Greeley Morris, he
We heard the elevator come to
groaning stop, quick footsteps in
the hall outside, and then the i'm
patient rapping at the door. JEFF
turned the key In the lock. Peter
son stepped to one side as the door
opened, and Greeley Morris preced-
ed him into the room.
| In a voice monotonous with fa-
| tigue and so low that at times
1 Peterson had to lean forward to
hear her, Carol retold her story
almost word for word. Only once
did he interrupt her. London,
huh? So that accounts for the
blank between the time you left
Salt Lake City and turned up here
in New York. We were working on
that now. Miss Blanton." He nod
ded curtly and she went on. oc-
casionally glancing furtively at
Greeley Morris as If she feared.
despite Steves reaSsuring nearneSS,
he might rise and start toward her.
But Morris hardly moved during
the long recital except TO light a
fresh cigarette.
An Important Question.
Peterson moved to the window
when Carol had finished and stood
looking down into the street. his
hands clasped behind his back. AT
last he turned and. facing Morris.
said abruptly, so you knew Miss
Blanton in London"
Il knew Miss Gray in London
when did you first know that
Carol Blanton was to apear in your
play over here?"
When Bowers cabled me the
names of the cast"
When was that?"
Just before the show went INTO
rehearsal"
so you knew" Peterson snapped,
that Miss Blanton vas in New York
and in your play
! Morris smiled. Naturally. But
didn't know that Miss Blanton was
Miss Gray"
You have no way of proving
that?"
"Of course not"
But you recognized her as Lee
Gray when you saw Green Apples
on opening night?"
Certainly"
And yet you denied knowing Lee
Gray. Why?"
That's fairly obvious, isn't Il?
Miss Blanton had been poisoned on
the very night of my arrival, unfor-
tunately. The police, apparently.
were searching for some one with a
past connection to her. I saw no
reason to offer the evidence of my
connection with her by explaining
Lee Gray and duplicating myself.
And since Miss Blanton seemed un-
anxious to do so e"
so. Very pretty And the story
Miss Blanton has just told was
1t has she been correct about
your relationship with her in Eng
land?"
Would you expect me TO admit
1t If it were the TRUTH"
rs it?"
That I'm degenerate. a maniac
who scares little girls?"
Why did Miss Blanton leave your
show?"
Steve jumped up angrily. Carols
told you why she left! Must you
drag her through all that again?
Isn't 1t bad enough that she has
to stay here and >"
Peterson interrupted him. She
doesn't have to stay here. She can
leave now if she wants to-"
III stay" Carol said quietly. Her
hand reached up to Steve, drawing
him down beside her. Steve, I've
got to stay"
"An right. Morris. Why did Miss
Blanton leave your showP"