* * * * *
The tears welled in Julie's eyes again. "I nearly ruined you. I
badgered you into it, and you let me do it, you dope. I feel awful. I
feel like a fraud, too. I'm not a star. I'm just an ex-chorus girl with
delusions of grandeur."
"Nonsense," Marc said. "You _are_ a star. The paper says so. It's
nothing to cry over, darling. Retiring like this, after a one night
triumph, you'll be a Broadway legend. And on top of all that, you've
steered me into one of the best investments I've ever made."
Julie blinked. Apparently she hadn't thought of it quite that way. A
thoughtful smile played over her lips. "It does kind of add up that
way, doesn't it?" she murmured. "Everything did turn out pretty well,
didn't it?"
"Sure it did. So let's have no more of this crying. Why don't you put
on your best clothes and go out and bask in your own glory, just for
the thrill?"
Julie gazed up at him, and there were stars in her eyes. "You're so
wonderful," she sighed. "You make everything seem so right. I wish I'd
wakened you when I came in last night so we could have talked it over
then. It would have saved me so much misery. But it was so late, and I
felt so awful, I just didn't have the courage."
"Oh, that's all right," Marc said quickly. "Probably it was all for
the...."
Suddenly he stiffened.
His gaze had wandered absently to the outspread newspaper on the
floor, and a caption was shrieking up at him; "Marc Pillsworth and
Unidentified Woman Jailed on Suspicion of Robbery!"
Marc's hand reached down and caught the paper in a strangle hold.
Obviously, Julie hadn't bothered to look any further than the
theatrical section, so, for the time being, he was still safe. He
stuffed the paper under his coat and turned back to her. His throat was
dry.
"Maybe you hadn't better go out after all," he said in a rush. "Maybe
you'd better just stay right here, where you are. Don't get out of
bed."
"What?"
"I was ... was thinking," Marc gasped. "You ... you must be awfully
worn out after all those rehearsals and last night's per ... and
everything. Maybe you should just stay here and rest for a few
days. You know, complete rest ... no telephone calls and ... uh ...
newspapers. Nothing to upset you."
Julie gazed at him questioningly for a moment, then she smiled. "Maybe
you're right, dear," she said. "I do feel pretty tired at that." She
reached out and patted his hand fondly. "You're so thoughtful. You do
worry about me, don't you?"
Marc nodded uneasily, and gazed quickly out the window. He was feeling
a little guilty.
But not very.