Philo Vance

We're of the theater now, Markham.

And tradition, it seems, insists that the show must go on.

Well, so must we.

This is District Attorney Markham.

The backstage murder case began when Doris Daynell, stage star, received a note threatening her life if she played her role the following night.

The threat came after the theater office had been robbed of $4,000 in small bills.

Vance appeared at the theater after Betty Wheeler, Miss Daynell's understudy, had been murdered and met Peters, company manager, and Oscar Hartley, director of the show.

He has yet to meet Jack Aldridge, Miss Daynell's fiancé and leading man.

I've just had a report that Peters, the company manager, is in his office with Doris Daynell.

Well, if you think that'll help, go ahead, Sergeant Heath.

Maybe that won't be necessary, Heath.

Hello, Markham.

Oh, hello, Vance.

Heath and I were just sitting here in the dressing room trying to reason out this Wheeler murder.

That's not a bad way of solving a murder, Markham.

Heath, what's the status of this room?

What's been done to it since the murder?

Nothing yet.

Fingerprint man went over it, found nothing.

I'm thinking of taking it apart.