The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-12-16
Chapter 80
Morris, Story

As HAS already been pointed
II OUT Morris said, q drove
her from IL !"
BY forcing your attentions on
herr?
Not at all I fred her for in
competency. She had nasty
habit Of standing on stage and MT
being able 70 say Z line
Steve said. Yes, because she
was 50 terrified of you that .
Morris voice rose above Stoves.
No. Because she was drunk. On
one occasion, the last. she wasn't
even able TO stand, she passed out
on stage. We had to lower the
curtain and have the understudy
take over"
That's q hen Steve said
hearsely.
Carol clutched at his shoulders
with both hands. I could see that
they were shaking. But her voice
was steady.
Yes. Steve, it's a lie. It's VIVA.
he told the other managers IN
London about me. That's why
they wouldn't give me a job, any
OF them. Don't listen to him,
Steve
Morris said calmly. Z told the
other managers about you be-
cause didn't want you 70 spoil
their productions as you did
nine
Go an. Mr. Morris 90 On. TEL
what you told them Tel every
thing you said"
I'd rather not, really"
NO. You're afraid to. You're
afraid in front Of Steve. you know
that ne
Peterson SAID. Take it easy,
Miss Blanton-"
She sank back on the eouoh
trembling violently and Steve
held her tight with one arm
around her Shoulders, his other
hand clasping hers. Morris looked
at the cigarette that he turned In
his fingers as If il were the only
important thing IN the room.
So you'd rather not talk about
what happened In London, Mr..
Aorris2"
No. 7 assure you It IS as pain
ful 70 me as il IS 10 Miss Blanton
and her young champion"
Nuts" said Peterson. IF ]
were you, Mr.. Morris, I'd talk.
And I'd talk loud"
Very well It seems my reti-
cence has implicated me IN a
mess Pd hoped to avoid So my
story IS this.
u saw Miss Blanton, then Miss
Gray, playing at the Royal Acad-
envy as she says, and thought
her a beautiful child giving !
lovely performance. I cast her In
Green Apples. When rehearsals
started we were a happy group Of
people. The cast was 4 play
wright's dream.
But IN six weeks il was turn
ing into a ceSspool. There wasn't
a friendship left. Ny actors were
behaving like a bunch of neu-
rotlcS. My leading man and nv
leading lady hated each other
HE lovely young thing who had
been PLAYING Haila Rogers part
attempted suicide. Her engage
ment 70 the young stage manager
had been mysteriously broken.
My character man, q fine old
chap, had suddenly become a Dip
somanlae. That made two in nv
company, including Miss Blan-
ton"
Truth At Last
JEFF sideStepped in front OF
y Steve as he started to rise
Carol sat rigidly, one hand COW
ering her eyes.
Peterson growled, Go on"
The character man had been
MIXED of every cent he had. and
made a fool OF, by my pretty in
genue. In those six weeks a bril-
liant young actress career and
love affair had been ruined by
this ingenue's malignant SANDER.
She had broken friendships. torn
people apart with her lies ard in
trigle and ambition. That ingenue
was Leila Gray
There was a moment of white
hot silence before Carol. tears
str G ming down her cheeks.
leaped to her feet.
Now you see why I ran away;
why ! changed my name. why
I've lived IN terror of himI Now
he's trying to wreck Steve's love
Tor NE he's trying 70 break my
She turned to Steve, her chin
lifted hravely. Il knew he'd do
this. Steve That's why / wanted
70 send you away. Steve, darIing
Try to forget all this, forget how
horrible he IS and all his horrible
She fed into the bedroom.
Steve stared after her. a Devil
dered almost frightened look on
bis face.
Steve" I said, go to her She
needs you now. Don't stand there
hke that! Steve, why don't you 20
TO heTl"
JEFF said quietly: Because
what Morris said IS true, Haila.
Al OF Il"
No one moved Steve was still
boxing dazedly at the closed bed
room door and Greeley Morris
watched him with anxiety. Peter
son. the policeman, sat waiting.
said. No. JET"
Yes. Don't you see that she's
Gone the same thing to your CON-