Evening star., 1941-08-05
CHAPTER. TX

VIC lOuC Ill SllcIlCc ulltll We ildu
crossed Madison avenue. Then she
reached over and laid her hand on
my arm. "Haila, that wasn't it.
Please believe me. did lose my
voice and it did come back. 1t
sounds strange, know it does, but
that's what happened. About half
ar hour after you left, it just was
there again, that's all. / dressed
as quickly as I could to make the
curtain. Then as I was leaving
realized that I should call the
theater and tell them :. and that's
when you and Tommy came in"
oh"
Il don't suppose anybody1l believe
me-"
II do, Carol. It's just that didn't
understand. hoped that I
was right. 1t wouldn't all be so
mysterious and horrible if you knew
who might want to .. . Carol, isn't
there some one in the company
whom you've known before some
place."
mo. I never saw any of them
until we started rehearsing."
And you don't know why one
of them would ...'
mo. I don't know"
The cab swung into Fifty-fourth
street off Lexington avenue. 1
looked at the meter and started
cropping in my purse for the right
amount of change. Carol, there
must be an answer to this. Think
back; there must be some one
who .. :"
She stopped me. I've thought !
back . that's all I've been doing
ever since and I can't any
more! I've tried and tried and it
always ends up the same. I don't |
know who wants to kill me or why.
Please let's not talk about it any
more now, Haila, pleased"
Detective Troy.
The shadows under Carols eyes
had grown darker and her face
seemed even paler than before.
unlocked the door and she almost |.
fell into the nearest chair. I in !
sisted that she get some rest if she
expected to play that night.
I'm all right, Haila, honest I am"
She tried hard to sit up straight
and look ready for anything, but it
wasn't very good. Firmly 1 led her
into the bedroom, made her lie down.
I opened window four inches and
pulled down all the shades. /
would you like anything? A cup
of tea?"
mo, thank you, Haila. You're so
kind. All l want is to sleep and
forget that stomach pump. :"
She was practically asleep already. |
After covering her with Grandma
Rogers afghan, 1 tipped back into
the living room. jeff had promised
to follow us and I walked aimlessly
about the room waiting for him. I
knew what was the matter with me
and finally I admitted it. I was
scared.
1t was nearly S o'clock when the
Troy rat-a-tat sounded at the door
He came in looking as though he'd
just eaten a flock of canaries. On
toast. His smile stretched from ear
to ear and the sight of all this calm
happiness made me furious.
Success In Sight.
"Where've you been? Seeing a
movie while I sat here petrifying
with fear?"
"How's Carol?"
"She's sleeping, thank heaven"
Good. Well, sweetheart, I've
found a way to spend my vaca-
ton"
That's nice. Drop Carol and
me a card. In care of the morgue"
Somebody trying to do away
with you, too, Haila?" He didn't
seem the least worried I knocked
his feet off the coffee table.
You're doing your best"
EAU contraire, kid to the con-
trary. I'm about to start solving
the Colony Theater attempted
murder case. I'm going to see that
no harm comes to Carol or you.
Or anybody. That's the unselfish
way I'm spending my vacation"
'I feel better already. What are
you Cabling about?"
Bowers engaged me as private
detective"
"Why?"
Because Green Apples and
Bowers will make a pile of money
If some unknown doesn't continue
to make passes at his ingenue's life"
"Uh-huh."
Furthermore, Bowers doesn't |
like to see his acquaintances lying !
about in cold blood"
"Shh! Carol may not be Sleep |
ing?"
jeff obligingly lowered his voice. |
so he has accepted my offer. We
have a gentlemen's agreement. He's |