Evening star., 1951-05-10
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

@aN w ~ S~N stN
VERY well, we'll get the others
down here. and some additional
people from the show. Did you
see the show, Reynolds?"
Bill nodded. From the balcony.
I could probably be more help,
Lieutenant, if had ever seen
Nina Hardwicke in a bright light.
She always chose dark corners.
But" he said, frowning with
thought, as If remembering way
back, I'm quite sure Nina's skin
was mutually dark, sort of olive,
and she didn't have freckles. /
never thought about the freckles
before. This girl looks like a real
red-head-Nina wasn't"
Wilson asked suddenly, did
you ever write Nina love letters.
Mr.. Reynolds? only ask because
a dozen other men did, and she
was using the letters for black
mail"
NO" Bill answered, and nerv-
Gus and jittery as she was, Tania
felt rush of gladness. Still it
was terrible to be in the same
room with him and not be able
to go into his arms. She longed
to be close to him, to feel his
strength.
But he stood there, gazing at
her as if she were a total stranger.
Nevertheless, he looked worried
and unhappy, and his eyes avoid
ed hers.
In less than an hour, another
hour of interminable waiting, halt
q dozen people Tania knew, in
cluding George, Anton, and Gloria.
were shepherded into the room by
detectives.
All of them seemed sleepy
and bewildered. Except, perhaps,
Gloria. Her eyes darted to Bill,
to Tania, to Wilson, then con-
centrated on the tips Of her shoes.
Yet her face betrayed no fear.
Tania thought.
Tania turned to Lieutenant
Wilson and said, "Let any of these
people ask me any questions they
wish to about the show, the songs
the dance numbers, or any event
that happened during the two
year run"
Wilson explained to the puzzled
gathering that this girl, this Nina
Hardwicke, claimed to be Tania
Lynn. If they would just CO.
operate and ask her questions?
Anton Ludovic, who had been
Jeremy's understudy, a thinner,
younger copy of Jeremy, said,
what did Jeremy keep on his
makeup table in his dressing
room?"
Copies Of Billboard and Va
riety. A white rabbits foot and
two good luck medals. Besides the
makeup. of course" Tania an
swered.
That's correct. 1t. Wilson,"
Anton said.
George NARROW, who had danced
the duet with her in the second
act of the show, said, "In rehear-
sal, why did we have so much
trouble with the last part Of our
dance routine?"
Because it was off beat, and we
had to count out loud" she said.
George grinned. Hi, Tania!
Boy, oh, boy. am I glad you're
alive and kicking!"
1t. Wilson frowned. He wasn't
convinced yet. Miss Gray?" he
asked Gloria. She tourned from
Bill, to whom she had been talk
ing in murmurs. Her pretty,
pouty little gamin's face was def
nitely not friendly. why did you
want to marry Jeremy Knight?"
she demanded.
Tania was surprised. Before
she answered she realized that
this was neither the time nor the
place to tell any one that she and
Jeremy had broken up, that she
had found out she didn't love him.
It was none of their business, and
even though Jeremy was gone, she
felt she owed him the loyalty of
her silence.
Il wanted to marry him because
loved him." she said slowly.
She thought, well, that's true
1t was only later I realized I
didn't
Wilson frowned at Gloria. 1T
hardly think that question has
any bearing on what we're getting
at, Miss Gray"
Gloria shrugged. There was a
gleam Of hostility In her mas
caraed dark eyes. "All right.
Let's see her do the dream dance
from the second act!"
Right here?" Tania said.
"Now?"
Right here" Gloria insisted.
Good idea," Wilson agreed. He
and two of the men moved the
table, chairs, and people to one