The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-28
BEGIN HERE TO-DAY.


 LANE BARRETT, IS, and love. ly, blunders into a difficult situa. tfOn when $ man at q speakeasy dinner is shot during a quarrel. The policeman in charge, SHANE McDERMID, helps her out of the affair. CASS BARRETT, Lanes nOhtcr, gets an offer to play sum- her stock on Long Island and takes Liane with her. There Liane meets CLIVE CLEESPAUGH, son Of the theaetr's patroness. ELSIE WINTER, the ingcnue, strives for Gives attentions. Liane has fallen in love with a handsome man who calls her by name one night. Later she meets him at a party given by MURIEL LADD, debu- tante who shares box office duties with her. His name is VAN RO- BARD. Cass begs Liane not to have anything more to do with him, without explaining why.
 MRS CLEESPAUGH invites Lane to stay with her in the autumn. CHUCK DESMOND, de- bonair reporter who comes to see Murfel Jadd, takes Liane out to dinner. One night Muriel's mother believing Muriel and Desmond have elOped, dispatches RObard after them. Liane accOmpanies him. He displays tenderness for her one night when she bravely stands off robbers at the theater Elsie tells Liane there Is gossip about Robard and Mrs Ladd. Li- ane is heartbroken. She asks her mother questions about Cass' sis ter, LUISA, who died long ago, but Cass Is evasive. Liane goes to stay at the Cleespaughs and is sympathetic with Give whose mother Is s~tyrannicaI. Van Robard comes to visit unexpectedly and Iiane finds the old enchantment stealing over her.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XII.
 Liane looked up, then away. All her ardent young soul was in that glance.
 You don't like me-" the man accused, velvet toned. You run away whenever l come near. Why? We were such friends last sum- mer."
 Liane moved restlessly under his intent scrutiny.
 Friends? But we're that still, suroly?"
 "f don't know" Van Robard's words were measured. "I-don't --quite-know."
 "Why not?" fluttered Liane K cited pleasurably at this bit of sparring. You've done nothing said nothing"
 She coulud not go on. Her voice trembled and broke at memory of the disappointment she had suf- fered when he had gone away without a word or look, after the night he had left her on the steps.
 Instantly the man was at her side, all concern. My sweet" he cried in that deep, troubling voice. My dear. I've made you cry. And that's a thing l never meant to dol"
 GO away" Liane begged, de- spairingly. Go away! Someone may come and find me making a foGl of myself"
 Not a step" said the man stub bornly. until I've discovered what I've done. Here" He thrust q big, soft linen handkerchief into her trembling fingers.
 Hastily, frenZiedly the girl wiped away the tell-tale tears. Scarcely had she repaired the casual rav- ages and powdered her pretty nose before Mrs Cleespaugh's majestic tread was heard on the stairs. Liane jumped up, disregarding Ro- bard's restraining hand. She took up the poker and began to chatter it noisily, disturbing the logs.
 Let me do that" demanded a uuiet voice. Liane yielded up the poker and fled into the shelter of the dining room where she made q. brave show of last minute con- sultation with the waitress.
 When Give came in five minutes later he found a composed a<l quiet trio before the fire. Vam hands in pockets, lounged careless Iy and at ease. Mrs Cleespaugh was busy with her petit point. Give glanced keenly at the young girl who sat half in the shadow. When dinner was announced. Van offered his arm tremendously to the old lady who approved of for mality.
 Liane followed with Give. She felt grateful to him for his mere presence. As if lie sensed the strain she was under he exerted himself to be entertaining. He asked Van a thousand questions about his ponies and the Burlingame team. Even Gives majestic mother found herself talked down for once in lifetime.
 Liane sat, pale and smiling, scarcely touching her food. She glanced, now and again, at the dark man across the way, so hand some and sinister looking in his poster black and white. CllVc seemed astonishingly young com pared to Robard although there was probably not ten years diff ference In their ages.
 "When do you leave Tor the east?" Van asked him presently.
 Give flashed quick. annoyed glance at his mother who bridled and answered for him.
 Such nonsense I think it is!' she said briskly. "Why can't Give hotter around here? There's plen- ty to do on the estate. But no, ne must dash off to this tea planting place. or rubber, or whaever 1t may be. I should like to see him in Wall street as his father was before him." she finished with majesty, but he doesn't see things my way"
 'It's Surabaya, to be exact, and the business is rubber" Give re- turned affably to Robard. He ig- nored his mothers protest.
 "McAlister who was at school with me has place there. Hes Britisher, you know. Very good fellow, very enthusiastic. I'd like 10 try it, anyhow. Sounds interest ing" T,
 Van nodded. "I hate finance r.1i... .....x,blod halninn hlmAelf 10