|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 32
"What is Manton up to?" Kennedy spoke to Millard. "Is it off with
the old and on with the new? Is Phelps to be cast aside like a
squeezed-out lemon, and Leigh taken on for a new citrus fruit?"
Millard smiled. He said nothing, but the knowing glance was
confirmation enough that in his opinion Kennedy had expressed the
state of affairs correctly.
Millard hastened to the side of Enid at once and we learned then
that they had a theater engagement together and that Millard had
the tickets in his pocket. Once more I realized it was no new or
recent acquaintanceship between these two. Again I wondered what
woman had been named in Stella Lamar's divorce suit, and again
dismissed the thought that it could be Enid.
Kennedy took his hat and handed me mine. "We must eat, Walter, as
well as the rest of them," he remarked, when Manton led the way
to the door.
I was loath to leave and I suppose I showed it. The truth was
that little Enid Faye had captivated me. It was hard to tear
myself away.
In the entrance I hesitated, wondering whether I should say good-
by to her. She seemed engrossed with Millard.
A second time she took me clean off my feet. While I stood there,
foolishly, she left Millard and rushed up, extending her little
hand and allowing it to rest for a moment clasped in mine.
"We didn't have a single opportunity to get acquainted, Mr.
Jameson," she complained, real regret in the soft cadences of her
voice. "Won't you phone me sometime? My name's in the book, or
I'll be at the studio--"
I was tongue-tied. My glance, shifting from hers because I was
suddenly afraid of myself, encountered the gaze of Millard from
behind. Now I detected the unmistakable fire of jealousy in the
eyes of the author. I presume I was never built to be a heavy
lover. Up and down my spine went a shiver of fear. I dropped
Enid's hand and turned away abruptly.
IX
WHITE-LIGHT SHADOWS
"What do you think of it?" I asked Kennedy, when we were half
through our meal at a tiny restaurant on upper Broadway.
"We're still fumbling in the dark," he replied.
"There's the towel--"
"Yes, and almost any one on Mackay's list of nine suspects could
have placed it in that washroom."
"Well--" I was determined to draw him out. My own impressions, I
must confess, were gloriously muddled. "Manton heads the list," I
suggested. "Everyone says she was mixed up with him."
"Manton may have philandered with her; undoubtedly he takes a
personal interest in all his stars." Kennedy, I saw, remembered
the promoter's close attentions to Enid Faye. "Nevertheless,
Walter, he is first and foremost and all the time the man of
business. His heart is in his dollars and Millard even suggests
that he is none too scrupulous."
"If he had an affair with Stella," I rejoined, "and she became
up-stage--the note you found suggested trouble, you know--then
Manton in a burst of passion--"
"No!" Kennedy stopped me. "Don't forget that this was a cold-
blooded, calculated crime. I'm not eliminating Manton yet, but
until we find some tangible evidence of trouble between Stella
and himself we can hardly assume he would kill the girl who's
made him perhaps a million dollars. Every motive in Manton's case
is a motive against the crime."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|