Evening star., 1941-08-04
CHAPTER VIII.

I'm afraid you're not going to
play tonight, Carol" Bowers said
grimly.
But I'm all right now, honestly
I am. Just little weak"
1T isn't that, Carolw I cried.
"It's that some one tried to kill you,
some one right in the company! And
| tonight they might. -
I stopped, wishing I could bite off
my stupid tongue. Carols lips
trembled and she had tough time
making the corners turn up instead
of down. But it came out smile.
Il know, Haila. They've told me
at the hospital They've told me
about the poison and the glass and
when it was done. And I I
still can't believe it. There isn't
any ore who would would do
that to me-" The corners went down
this time and she looked scared and
little and yet brave, too. She took
a long breath.
But even if somebody did try to
kin me, still want to play. I've
got to! Oh, don't you see? If I
didn't play tonight I'd be afraid to
tomorrow night, It's sort of like =.
like going up in an airplane after
you've just crashed. have to do it,"
Bowers didn't answer her. He was
frowning intentiy at a pencil in his
hand
I had never dreamed that Carol
was made of that kind of stuff. If
the poison had been put in my glass,
no power on earth could have got
me out of my locked and bolted bed
room.
You'd better let her do it."
Peterson Agrees.
1t was Peterson speaking from the
doorway. He hadn't moved since
Carol had appeared and I had for
gotten he was still there.
II think she's right" he said.
Nothing will happen to her at the
theater. She's safer there than any
where else. Ill be there" There
was no boast in his tone, just a
calm matter of -factness that made
us all feel that his being there would
make everything all right.
VERY we'll" Bowers said slowly.
Carol stood up and rubbed her
hand across her eyes. I'LL be at
the theater on time"
I'll go home with you," I said, and
put my arm around her shoulders.
Peterson stopped us at the door.
"Just a second, Miss Blanton." I
lrx,o L.. Oh f@ 1,z4A
his theme song, who is Lee Gray?"
Carol didn't answer. She looked
from the detective to all of us.
Peterson stood quietly waiting. At
last she said, so softly that you
could scarcely hear her, Il don't
know"
Peterson had the note between
his fingers again. This was found
in your purse. TITS from some one
named Lee Gray" Carol watched
him, not moving "It was handed
to you in the theater last night,
wasn't it?"
Carols eyes leaped up to his.
NO" she said slowly. mo, it
wasn't. When I came up to my
dressing room to make my second
act change, it was there. Propped
up against my mirror. T put it in
my purse. But I didn't see her at
| all"
| I caught my breath. "You {.
you knew it was woman"
A Woman's Writing.
She looked at me in surprise.
Eyes, of course. The handwriting
Is girls handwriting. But I don't
know who she is"
You didn't meet her after the
show in front of the Broadhurst?"
Peterson asked.
mo"
"Why not?"
There was no one there"
"You don't recognize this writ
ing?"
mo. Never"
Peterson put the note back in
his pocket. He looked down at
Carol and his face was very seri-
Gus. Look, Grille. This Lee Gray
knew something that she wanted
pretty bad to tell you. Your Ife's
still in danger. But If we could
find this Lee Gray it mightn't be.
Think hard, Miss Blanton. Haven't
you got any ideas now who this Lee
Gray lisp"
Carol looked at him quietly. 'No,"
she said at east, slowly and distinct
ly, 1--WE never heard of her"
I tucked Carols arm under mine
and we took the elevator down from
Bowers Office and climbed into the
waiting cab. With weary sigh
Carol fell back against the leather
cushions and closed her eyes.
Carol, do you want to talk about
it?" I asked.
In a fiat. tired voice she said, =
| AA,atS narA -