New Britain herald., 1927-02-04

her pocket!
 T wonder who gave her that new part Of hers" Robbie unused. starting down the stairs to the kitchen to get her supper. T wonder if Roy Schultz did, or Gus MacCloud-I wonder"
 Behind the closed door at the end of the downstairs hall she could hear Mrs. Mangan banging pans and kettle covers as she got supper.
 She went to the telephone and gave the number of Gus MacClouds house, very softly. A mans voice answered her. It sounded as if it might be the voice of Guss Japanese servant.
 "Mr. MacCloud gone out. Not home till pretty late. think" 1t said. What name I tell him?"
 "No name" Robbie said, and hung up the receiver. | As she did 1t, the door of the | kitchen opened and Mrs. Mangan ] came out looking just as dowdy and down-at- -the-heel as always. But a smile that was lovely and young I lighted up her wrinkled' face when she saw Robbie.
 Well, it's our dearie home again!" said Mrs. Mangan, as If she and Robbie had been close friends for years And it's nice to hear your voice, and to see you again. I'm just ,, throwing together bite of supper. You come along and we'll have 1t to- gether. There's no one but us at home tonight"
 She put her arm around Robbie and they went into the kitchen that looked like a kitchen in a picture book.
 Didn't I hear you calling Mir. MacCloud just now?" she asked in a sort of absent minded way she had.
 'Yes, you did"
 Didn't you know he just came here for Miss Mont?" Mrs. Mangan asked. Her back was to Robbie now, as she leaned over the table, cutting up tomatoes for salad. "No."
 q saw him from parlor window Mrs. Mangan answered. Twill you have French dressing on your salad or bit of mayonnaise?" Either" Robbie scarcely knew what she said. She was wondering why Monica had said she was going out to dinner with someone named Ted Piper" Why had Monica lied 10 her? And how come that Monica and Gus MacCloud were such great friends, all at once?
 She could remember the day. less than a month ago, when Monica had tartly told her what snob Mac Cloud was, and how he had forgotten such old friends as herself and Stel- la Delroy. now that he'd become an assistant director.
 Feeling sick and miserable, she went to bed early. At nine or nine thirty she bear Stella come in and shut the door of her room. But she did not call out to her.
 At two o'clock when Monica tip toed into the room and undressed without turning on the light, she was sound asleep.
 "Why don't you come out to the studio with me?" Monica asked her the next morning. I've got to go. to get fitted for some clothes-and I've got such drag out there now that l can take you in with me-"
 So Robbie went. She went because she wanted to see Angus MacCloud. She didn't care whether she got a chance to speak to him or not, ex- actly. But she just wanted to look at him. It had been long time since she had seen his blue eyes, his rough red-blond hair, and his quick smile. She felt as If she were aching. just with wanting to lay eyes on him again.
 I'm silly thing" she said cross ly to herself, but she went.
 She waited for Monica in a bare little dressing room off the ward robe room. It was the dressing room where Robbie. herself, had tried on the she'll pink ballet dancers dress a few weeks before and she remem- bered how wildly happy she had felt, turning in front of the mirror. There had been no love affair with Gus MacCloud then, to make her miser- able and full of childish longing to cry.
 She had been sitting there for ten or fifteen minutes when the door suddenly burst open, and Monica ! stood in the opening. Her eyes were wild and she danced up and down in the short Sis Hopkins" apron she wore.
 Robbie! Fire! Fire!"she scream ed at the top of her voice. LOOK" There was smoke pouring from every window of the building next door the low white frame building where the extras-dressing rooms were. Monica seized her by the hand, and together they rushed out of the dressing room and down the stairs to the wide driveway in front of the building.
 Someone had turned hose on 1t, and someone else was throwing clothes and suitcases out of the windows.
 How did it start?" Monica shrlek- ed to a couple Of electricians- "juicers," as she called them-who were standing nearby. She was still jumping up and down like a me- chanical toy. in her excitement.
 Then all at once she stopped and stood stock still as two men came out of the smoking building, carry ing limp figure in a blue checked dress.
 Robbie caught glimpse of white face, a mop of red hair, and blackened arm hanging from the