Evening star., 1941-08-30
CHAPTER XXXIV.

CIlCc 1 icdIly SOI JOD, lOI d
good one, but a job" Carol went
on. "A manager who had seen my
performance in Green Apples and
had liked me. I got as far as
weeks rehearsals. That vas all.
Morris heard about it and I was
fired.
There was nothing for me in
London then and so I came back.
I changed my name to Carol Blan-
ton again so that Morris couldn't
find me, couldn't spoil my chances
with the managers here if he still
wanted to. And I was afraid he
did.
Il pounded the pavements here
for months. I did get a few
chances to read for parts, but I
read so badly. And I had had no
experience. I couldn't tell them
about Green Apples 7 had to say,
No. No experience at all Then
one day I saw in the paper that
Clint Bowers was going to do Green
Apples All of sudden it came
to me. There was a part / could
do. Jeff, you saw what that critic
said in Manchester. And Greeley
Morris never came to America for
any Of his plays. He would never
know if the girl who played Dina
was Leila Gray. 1 was pref
ty desperate then. There was no
money left, none at all Well, it
was worth the chance and I took it."
She studied her fingertips intent
ly. You know the rest. I got the
job and the day we opened 1 heard
that he was to be here.
Il didn't know what to do at
first. And then I thought he
was only to be here that one night
and, if he shouldn't see me, if he
should go on to Hollywood with
out knowing-I had to make Alice
play that one night.
Lost Voice Explained.
"I did it. I pretended my voice
was gone, and then, when you had
gone to the theater, Haila. then !
remembered the pictures in front
Of the Colony. and knew it wouldn't
work. He couldn't help seeing that
big picture of me plastered there
and he would know 1t would be
better if I played Maybe he
wouldn't say anything, maybe ]
could keep him from saying any.
thing. You and Tommy came ir
when I was telephoning the theatel
to say that I'd be there. You didn't
believe me, I could see that. But
l.. couldn't explain.
II wrote the note when I was
alone in my dressing room and after
it was written I didn't know what
TO do with it. I kept asking myself
if it was worth while to plead with
him or if I should just keep still
and take my chance. Even after
the play I was still muddled up
I didn't know what to do. Anc
then suddenly I was sick. The kinC
of sick when you think you're dying
and nothing matters at all. I forgot
about that note and Greeley Morris
and my job. forgot about everything
but getting home and into bed
That was all. The next thing
| knew i was IN Bellevue.
She sank on the couch and COW
cred her face with her hands. After
a moment jeff said. Did you think
it was Greeley Morris who tried
to kill you, Carol?"
81 I don't know. At first
did. When we met that morning In
Bowers office and he pretended not
to know me, wnen he said that he
had never heard of Lee Gray, then
I thought he was the one. But the
next night when Eve was murdered
he wasn't even in the theater. And
then =. then I knew it couldn't
be he"
Carol, why we're you calling him
at his hotel? When I answered the
phone?"
L nearly tainted when 1 recog-
nized your voice"
Where was Crowley when you
called?"
CrOwley'S Fault.
Il had gone out for a walk ano
he was with me And suddenly ]
had to talk to Morris. I had tt
find out what he was going to do
I didn't want him to tell the police
about Lee Gray. the way he'd tel
it, it would sound if any one
told the police or Mr.. Bowers or yor
1 wanted to do it"
But if Crowley was with you >
Il managed to lose him in thu
crowd and sneak into a corner drue
store without him seeing me. When
I came out he was running back
and forth on Madison avenue look
ing for me-
jeff said ruefully: "If Crowley
had only reported that he had losr
track of you at that corner anc
at that time we would have known
you were Lee Gray. Because
traced the call to that drug store.
He was so embarrassed at losing
sight of me that I knew he'd never
mention it to Peterson"
THE lugl"
Carol smiled family. He didn't
even know had been in that drug
store; he couldn't have thought II
would have mattered. I was only
gone minute. I knew the num-
ber and as soon as jeff answered
hung up and ran out. I was
afraid you had recognized my voice
jeff"
You only said one word But II
I had it would have saved you q
| lot of trouble and worry"