The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-11

All this seemed the veriest fab brio of a dream. The room, the shimmering fabrics, the music, the scent of rare perfumes. Most un- real of all seemed Liane herself, an insubstantial figure in pale rose gossamer, treading the measure with a prince of the blood. "In half a minute" she thought, "I'll wake up to find myself on the fold ing bed in the apartment, reach ing for the alarm clock and dash ing to get breakfast" His Highness said, "Mademoiselle waltzes as if on air.
 Liane smiled up at him. Ut is my partner who dances we'll" she returned.
 She thought, I'm Cinderella. What if the clock strikes 12? They danced into a little covert hangings. Rest ?" her escort asked. "One grows fatigued?"
 Not at all," Liane assured him. But already he was drawing out a little gilt chair, offering her a cigaret.
 "Mademoiselle does not wish ? But how refreshing!' He mar veled at her. "Ah, this is pleasant" l They were a little withdrawn from the ballroom. The music came to them faintly muted. Liane thought of Give whose blue eyes would search the dancers for her I in vain.
 The Prince lifted a curtain which concealed a little door. "This leads to the balcony" he said softly. Let us find ourselves some air. l perish here."
 The little winding stair indeed led to tiny gallery with French windows. "Ah, you are cold" mourned the prince, noting that Liane shivered. Permit me. go to get a cloak"
 Liane by this time was begin ming to find His Highness just a shade too notional but she hardly knew how to extrlcate herself from the situation. "I'll wait," she agreed.
 The Prince hurried off. He was not gone more than three minutes at the most. When he returned the staircase was empty. The little gilt chair had been overturned. One of the gardenias which the gir had worn on her shoulder lay crumpled, a shred of flesh coloret chiffon clinging to it..
 At the very foot of the statr' lay the most tell-tale clue of ali a tiny silver slipper.
 The Prince hurried to the Clees' paugh box.
 "Mademoiselle-" he gasped, his eyes searching the group. "She has gone! Of surety violence has been done"
 Give said, What's that?" sharp ly, angrily.
 His Highness, Hugo of slavaria gesticulated wildly. "Of certain ty. as I said, Mademoiselle has vanished! Only her slipper remains where I left her at the foot of the stairs"
 Give swore once, roundly and fiercely, and began to run. lr his train followed quickly the kPrince, Chuck Desmond and hall a dozen other young men. Tressa who had been sitting at Mrs Clees- paugh's side tried to soothe thai agitated lady.
 "It's nothing" she said in hei cool, amused tone. "No doubt shes flirting with someone on the ter race. These men get excited over nothing at all"
 Mrs Cleespaugh bridled angrily q fear you are not thinking wha you say, Tressa," she admonished
 Tressa bit her lip. Sorry, was just trying to cheer you," sht said lightly. "Clive will find her Don't worry"
 Little groups began to gather at the end of the ballroom. Int orchestra leader lifted an authori tative baton and great crashing of jazz ensued. Most of the dan cers, thus assured, joined in th' fox trot.
 Meantime Give, after a frantic Questioning of sleepy footmaI or two. elicited the Information the ranks of few moments be } fore driving (the man though west. He was not positive of thu direction.
 And it's g. dry, clear night Not a chance of ruts or tracks, muttered Give. The Princes ca was being brought around: Witf
 two men on the box, 1t was an I'm posing vehicle of slate gray ant chromium plate. His Hignnes sprang within, beckoning Chucl Desmond to follow.
 You chaps go along,' Chv, said. I'm driving my own car. He felt he could not bear to b' shut up with this stupid younl man who had left Liane alon and unguarded at the mercy O the unseen enemy.
 Give sprang into his own ca and wheeled it around. Picking up speed 1t soon passed the bil
 Though where I'm going ex actly I don't know" the youni man admitted to himself, settini his jaws ominously. "Only well there may be few necks broker tonight in this business" At the first gas station he drev up with an unholy screech o brakes.
 "see anything of a dark blu
 sedan with Jersey plates?" h. wanted to know. The club at tendant noted that much abou the ghost car. The man in jeans shook hi head slowly. Been inside,' h head slowly. Been inside" h returned. "'S late. was catcl ing a nap. You in trouble? 2" Chuck said shortly. "We'r after some fellows. Heard the went this way"
 (To Be COntinued)
 RARE CACTUS BLOOMS AT