The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-12-18

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II should call Greeley Morris
ana what would happen If I id
when the phone shrilled n M
ear. l jumped mile before I
picked It up.
Hello. you big burns"
This IS Alice. JEFF Just called
me- Halla- But he was il a htIrrv
| didn't have q chance to tel hin
about you"
Where was hez7
l don't know where he called
from But he's going to be at the
theater at three. He asked me Ia
get hold Of Phoebe Thomson and
Ashley and tell them TO Be there
too. l don't know what's haDpen-
ing, do your He was very mys-
ferrous"
Well you know more than I
Win you be there7D
haven't been invited"
Don't be sillyI JEFF seemed in
a terrible rush. You're IN this as
much as anybody"
replaced the phone and
LEANED back. Alice, Phoebe. Ash-
ley and jeff Well, either JEFF was
going 70 have the girls teach hin
and Steve 70 dance or something
was going TO happen. And he was
gong TO let It happen without ne.
That's what he thought.
changed into some old clothes
put on my plaid trench coat and
started out. It was stil raining IN
a steady cownpour, bat il wasn't
a cold rain and It felt clean and
soft on my face. I spiaShed over
p Broadway. Before I got there
the rain md turned to snow ard
the paTements were nush COW
cred The day darkened and the
lights shone Hliztily through sky
scraper Office windows.
Through the great oval glass Of
a restaurant / thought I could
smell the fragrance OF the steam
ing coffee that was being served
inside. At once I was hungry and
cold and stopped uncertainty to
peer at my watch. Not quite two
thirty. There was plenty OF time
Tor a sandwich and CUP OF COZ
Zee. Then, with q nice display OF
viii power, ] turned my head ard
went On II would be better 10
arrive at the theate- a little early
than little late / wanted 10 see
JeIS flush of pleased surprise
when be got there and spied me.
On Stage Again
a LICE MCDONALD was stand
a ing at the entrance OF the
Colony stage alley. With her man
nish black rubber slicker, an old
felt hat pulled down over her
eye and overShces on low-heeled
orogans. she looked ready for a
hurricane.
Nice day. Alice. for you know
7 love it. the wind and the
rain
Anyone here YETI"
NO, nobody. Let's go in"
sYou bet"
oh. Niek's here. Asleep in his
chair at the door as usual. Wei
be careful not 10 Waken the poor
old man"
Together we sloshed down the
alley, almost dark now. and
through the stage door. MEX was
at the low table Just inside. his
pipe IN his mouth and his head
bent over a sheaf OF papers. He
was sound asleep. There wasn't a
movement from him as we
slipped by and went out onto the
stage
Nothing had been changed
since that tragic night when I had
opened the door on sage rant
and found Eve North's dead body
huddled behind il. Even the small
hand props scattered about the
room were as we had left them,
the scarlet tipped stubs OF ciga-
rettes that I had smoked still IN
the ash trays. Half hidden by the
blOtter on the desk was the note
that | had written while old Ben
Kerry and I had played that last
scene.
Except for a single shadeless
rehearsal lamp that stood ludi-
crouSly N the center OF that love-
" set and filed it with a bleak
white glare. II was ali the same. i
seemed strange 70 me- for no rez-
son AZ all. that 50 much could
have happened 70 all OF Us who
played there while i remained
sereneiy unchanged
Aice's hand tigatened On nv
arm and We walked over 10 the
light. @Haila.P she said softly.
has JEFF found cut anything?
Does he know
I haven't seen him since last
night" / pulled my arm away
from her. didn't care for Alice
when she got intense.
he knows who the murderer
is. doesn't he2"
JEFF doesn't confde in me, the
ne knows; that's why he's
having everyone meet here. He's
told You who i Is, hasn't her"
i said that
Il know. You won't tell me. It's
because you don't Ike me, Haila.
You've never liked me; you're
jealous Of me-because I coEae
from family of great actors, be-
cause Of my heritage"
| turned my back on her and
started for the door. I wasn't 60
ing % listen to a performance by
, frustrated actress. / had taken
three steps when she elutched my
arm and swung me around
Then suddenly, the light way-
cred, as if il had been a candle.
and went out.