Evening star., 1941-08-27
CHAPTER 81.

Chapter 81.
Tom Nelson glowered at us over
the rim of q rye highball. Who
the hell cares why I wasn't in my
room? The Bristol isn't q girls
dormitory. I don't have to sign
out every time decide to go some
place"
For two hours JEFF and had been
tearing around Times Square and
We had finally traced Tom to q bar
on Forty-sixth street. Now, as If
finding him hadn't been enough to
get q girl down, he was bent on
being difficult.
Looking steadily at Tom, JEFF
said: Nobody gives a damn right
now why you weren't in your room
except Haila and me. But in an
hour or so there will be about 10
cops who are going to find out or
else"
'Why?" Tom was belligerent
JEFF gave 1t to him bluntly. Be
cause after you left word at your
hotel desk that you were not to
be disturbed some one took a shot
ut Carol from the sixth floor OF
the Esquador Hotel"
Toms empty glass went down on
the table with a resounding bang.
WAS she :"
JEFF said: "No. She's all right.
They missed her"
Tom shook the ice around in his
glass and drained it. Carol leads
q charmed life. She ought to 60
with q circus. Poisoned, stabbed
and shot at, and still in the pink
Of condition" He beckoned the
waiter and asked for another rye
highball.
why did you leave word that you
weren't to be disturbed when you
had no intention of staying in your
room?"
Offers No Alibi.
7 had every intention of STAYING
In my room. I didn't want to be
disturbed because I was going to
take nap"
JEFF smiled. You're not going to
tell us that you were in your room.
That you were so sound asleep you
didn't hear the phone"
"Oh, for Gods sake! No, I didn't
60 to bed at all. Almost as soon
a. got to my room Tony Eldridge
came in. He told me that Max
Shuman was sending a company
OF Peter and Paul to London. RI
stage managed the New York pro-
duction and he thought I'd have
chance to get the job again. So
I went out in a hurry. didn't stop
TO call the operator and tell her. |
Why should I? And that's all there
Is to it."
Where is Shuman's Officer"
"On Fifty third, just east of Madi-
SON"
What time were you there?"
Il got there about 5. Shuman
was out. 1 talked to his secretary
Tor a while and left about Sis"
"Five-fifteen, huh?" jeff rooted
around in the little wicker basket
and found me a potato chip. And
the shot came through the win
dow at exactly $50"
Still in Love.
There was alarm in Tommy's
voice when he spoke again. Look.
JEFF, I know what you're thinking
shuman's office is only a couple of
blocks from the Esquador. I could
have got up there in time to take
that shot at Carroll"
What did you do, Tommy?"
We'll, 1 :" He hesitated.
Damn it! This would happen to
me. Well, I got here about $50.
On my way here I stopped at a bar
on Broadway and had a couple of
drinks" JEFF opened his mouth and
Tommy said angrily, mo, 1 can't
prove was there! 1 didn't see
any one I knew. And the place
was jammed; I don't think the bar
tender or any one would remember
me. What the he'll are you trying
70 do to me, jeff"
Nothing. I just wish you had
IN alibi for $50 this afternoon"
Tommy jumped to his feet. I'D
setting the glass the waiter had
placed before him. do you mean |
TO say I'm going to be mixed up
In this thing because 1 was going
around minding my own business?
What the hell, JEFF! Listen, I didn't
take a shot at Carol. I didn't try TO
poison her and I didn't stab Eve
North. 1 don't want to kill Carroll
For Gods sake, why should I?"
You said you were going to-"
said.
Tommy Still In Love,
ne sat as quickly as he had risen.
Dat much more quietly. He looked