Evening star., 1941-08-03
CHAPTER VII.

| CHAPlEH VII
"No," said Detective peterson
TROY doesn't know anything ABOUT
1t at all. And that's about as 1ar
as I've got on this case. Troy was
talking to the checkroom eirl all
during the second act intermisslon
I checked on him as soon as l saw
him in your apartment this morn
ing"
Jeff's mouth fell open. Checked
upon me? Why?"
Because" Peterson said, you
look like the type that Woulo poison
girl"
jeff stared at him speechless and
then at the rest of us 1or reas-
surance. We couldn't help laughing
and it felt good to laugh.
At the wall mirror jeff inspected
his face minutely, as though he had
never noticed it before. He rubbed
his chin. It's because need a
shave. I always look like the killer
type when I need shave" His
confidence in himself seemed to
have been restored
Peterson" Bowers said, what is
this Lee Gray business about?"
The detective smoothed open the
paper that he still held in his hand.
1--WE found this note in Carol Blan-
tons purse. 1t seems to be a warm
ing 1t says: Meet me in front
of the Broadhurst. I have got to
see you right after the play. can't
tell you in note what this means.
It's signed Lee Gray. This Lee Gray
might have known what was in store
for Miss Blanton and this note
might be meant for a warning. And
then again 1t mightnt be. But I
think 1t is"
Il said sweetly: wouldn't 1t be a
good idea to ask Carol who Lee Gray
Is? After all, it was sent to her.
she's the one who's likely to know"
I'm going to ask her, Miss Rogers.
Just as soon as she's able to answer" 4"
The Author Arrives.
We all turned at the creaking of
the door. The man who stood there
seemed to me the tallest man I'd
ever seen. His parents, I thought
namely, must have been Basil Rath-
bone and a skyscraper. Perhaps it
was partly because he was thin and
long-necked and held his head so
unbelievably high that he seemed
so towering. He had brown hair
and heavy-lidded eyes that were
speckled colored, like tweed, and his
mouth was thin and unpleasant.
heard Clint Bowers say, Its
Mr.. Morris, isn't it?" and I felt a
nervous little tingle that was quickly
followed by surge of disappoint-
ment.
So this was our author. This was
England's pet playwright. I hadn't
expected him to look like that. He
smiled with an obviously forced po-
likeness as Bowers introduced us all
to him. The smile didn't make him
any prettier. Bowers ushered him
into a chair and held out a chrom-
ium cigarette box. Taking a cigar
cite, Morris glanced at the brand
and pointedly replaced it. His eyes
roved the room and stopped at the
detective.
Mr.. Peterson!" Somehow he
manager, even when he sat, to give
the impression of looking down on
the people standing around him.
Peterson of the police. 1t was you
who shattered my ears with a tele-
phone call at 10 this morning."
Peterson nodded. Thanks for
getting here"
| i was coming regardless of your
request. It's a coincidence, I assure
you. Now what is this about some
one being poisoned? Some one be-
sides the entire audience, mean?'
We sat in startled silence. Phoebe
turned sharply, her eyes blazing, to
stare at him. Even Peterson was
stopped by the colossal rudeness of
this man who sat smiling, appar-
emily oblivious of the shrapnel he
had burst at us.
In voice not quite level, Bowers
said, Carol Blanton was poisoned
last night on the stage. There was
morphine in the glass she drank
from"
"Blanton?" Which one was that?"
THE little girl who played Dina"
The Great Man.
A shade of something that might
have been annoyance swept over
his face That's really too bad.
She seemed to have some idea Of
what my play was about"
Peterson had had enough of that.
He stood in front of Morris and,
with both hands In his pockets,
seemed to point a shaking finger in
his face. "Who is Lee Gray?"
Morris lit cigarette that he ex-
tracted from his pocket and smiled
through cloud of smoke. II see.
The direct method. Well, Lee Gray,
is that the name? Sorry, Mr.. Peter
son, I've never heard of her"
We could hear Phoebe catch her
breath. "Of her! OF her, did you
say? Is Lee Gray -"
Peterson was eying Morris Gu
riously. "Yes. It's a woman. The
handwriting is definitely feminine.
How did you know, Mr.. Morris, that
Lee Gray was a woman?"
Morris was annoyed. 81 choose my
pronouns at random, Mr.. Peterson.
The name Lee is very common fe-
male name in England. So common
that I shouldn't think of knowing
any one by that name"
"Is this your first visit to Amer
ica?"
Are there people who come here
twice?"
From the way the detective looked
at him then could tell he wouldn't
be inviting him out for Sunday din
ner. Daggers were beginning to
shuttle between them. I'D like YOU
to stay in New York until we get
this business Strengthened out, Nor
ris."
Sorry. have other plans"
What other plans?"
Morris stood up. II will not be
asked rude questions by stupid DO