The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-14

Cass answered and stood there shaking as a boy in uniform hand ed her note. It read:
 Dear Mother: Please come at once to 24th street. I need you. Liane." Cass thought her heart would burst before she reached the sub- way station. Five steps down, turn, seven steps more. An, there was train just pounding in! Somehow she got the nickel into the slot, somehow she crowded through the turnstile. And now she was pray ing-ah, God, help me to get there! Help me tQ get there in time! All the dreadful things she had ever heard of, all the tragic newspaper stories of tragic happen ings involving young girls, came into her poor, tortured mind. The other passengers saw only a young-old woman in plain blue dress, a woman who twisted her handkerchief until it tore. Now Cass was in the street, run ming, running. "Oh, God, why does my heart pound so! My little grill" It was shabby brownstone house in front of which she presently stood, a house as like as possible to others in that row. There had been, she could see, some confu- sion, now being cleared away. A small knot of loiterers. In boys mouth, the word ambulance" Her knees sagged. She said, tim orously, to the officer at the door: I'm Mrs Barrett. l had mes sage from my daughter. to come to this address"
 A worn face studied her kneely, somehow kindly. Yell find her back there," said this officer, point ing his big thumb toward the in- terior of the house. Cass went in. She had never been in such a place. Cass thought it drab and horrible, with it's smell of cooking and dusty carpet, it's dingy walls and dejected Nottingham curtains. No thrills here, surely! But Liane where was Liane?
 The woman caught glimpse of a familiar red hat in the gloom of the back room. She staggered for ward. "Liane, child!" she cried. She had the girl in her arms, Sob ping.
 Cass strengthened up. She said to the young policeman standing so sternly near by: "I am her mother. What has happened 2" Molly Cronin she ignored. Shane McDermid eyed her stern ly. "Plenty's happened! These two were in here tonight with a coup la tough boys from downtown. One of the guys pulled a rod an his partners in Bellevue with slug in his chest. Whether he'll live or not I don't know but, alive or dead, it's bad business"
 Cass' hand went to her breast automatically in the gesture of ter TOT she had so often used on the stage.
 What's kid like this" the po- licemen continued, belligerently, "doin' out with these gorillas?" "Im sure 1 never dreamed" Cass.' voice was angry too now. 'Liane, how could you ever do such thing?"
 She whirled on the man of the law. a new thought terrifying her. She's not-she's not under arrest? What are you going to do with her?"
 Hold her." said the young man stolidly. Then, more mercifully, he added, Hold her for witness. l can and will unless you explain to my satisfaction, ma tam, why a slip of a child like this one is let run the streets at night"
 "Oh, l can, officer, l can!" Cass panted. "Liane is never allowed to go out without me and she's a good girl. She really is! Why. she's only out of St Ann's, up at Peekskill, these two weeks!"
 "St Ann's, eh?" unused Shane McDermid, softening. He looked at Liane again. Cass continued, q know she didn't know what she was getting into! It's only that she's been working so hard-at Willabaugh's. you know. on her feet all day. poor child. and no fun afterward. And then it's been so hot. Everybody does foolish things when it's hot" She was frankly pleading now. "She has so few friends In the city and I suppose she wanted a bit of excitement for once. You know how young girls