The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-17
BEGIN HERE TO-DAY

Vs men friends. The men 0uar. rei and ono is shot. Lane fran- ucally sends a note to her mother. OASS BARRETT, asking her to come at once. Cass goes and que to her pleading SHANE Me- DERMID, the young policeman in charge, releases Ldane.
 Cass is rather faded actress employed in 8 stock company. she and Ldane got to the theater and later that evening the girl encounters a, handsome stranger who calls her by name. A few days later Cass and Ldane leave the hOte city for Willow Stream. l.. l., where Cass has an engage mcnt in Q summer stock company. sponsored by the wealthy MRS CLEESPAUGH. ELSIE MINTER Ingenue, introduces IAane to CLlVE CLEESPAUGH who seems attracted to Elsie. h8ne is em- pioyed to share box office duties with MURIEL LADD, society girl. Shane McDermid comes tO teii lAane that the man wounded in the gun fight will live. Ihane is greatly relieved.
 Muriel IAdd invites Tiane to her
 
 goes and is excited to see there the mysterious stranger. His name Is VAN ROBARD and he proves strangely fascinating.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER ".
 Meantime Cass was engaged in an interview with the great Mrs Cleespaugh. Cass had been rest ing after helping Liane with the important business of dressing. She was summoned from her room by Mustered Mrs Smithers.
 "Mix Cleespaugh's downstairs asking for you" whispered the Andlady, round-eyed, at the door.
 Outside the twilight of late June was deeping. The scent of flow CTS which had burgeoned in the full heat of the day came up from the little garden--the sweet, brac- ing odor of the evergreen trees which banked Mrs Smithers' front veranda. Cass, feeling Ianquid and vaguely surprised, smoothed her hair and went down to the 'parlor," where on q horsehair sofa with crocheted "tidies' spread over its arms waited the impos- ing, the redoubtable dowager. Mrs Cleespaugh.
 She was gracious this evening, more gracious than Cass had ever known her to be in their brief and casual encounters
 So nice of you to come down. stairs" said Mrs Cleespaugh in that clipped, assured voice Cass had come to associate with the New York society woman. Such women she had previously found immensely formidable. This was especially true when they were about the age of the woman be- fore her-old enough to dare to be frumpy. rich enough to be rude as a queen, arrogant and indiffer- ent to the feelings of lesser mor- tals. Cass found 1t difficult now, as always, to believe that such a woman had actually suffered the common ills, had borne children, known heartbreak and wept and 'ndured. It scarcely seemed credi- ble. Now Mrs Cleespaugh, in & gracious mood, was more believ- able as a human being than usual.
 You will be wondering what l | came to see you about no doubt" the great lady began, having lis- tened to Cass' murmured protesta- tions of pleasure at tho visit. Its about your daughter"
 About Liane?" Lines of worry deepened between Cass fine eyes els 1t - nothing's the matter, hope!"
 "No, no. Quite the contrary, in- ~p- teresting child. So artistic. I've been watching her all this week. She's marvellous with the patrons It night. She really plays hostess at the theater, shows them to their seats. So enterprisng. Really charming"
 Mrs Cleespaugh beamed.
 "One can't help being attracted by her boise, her manner. Such a quiet. well-bred child. Quite re- 1reshing."
 Cass sat back, relieved and look ing gratified. As yet she did not know what this was all about but now that Liane had been approved she did not particularly care.
 You've had bit of a hard time raising her. I have no doubt" Mrs Cleespaugh went on. Hard lines and all that sort of thing" She put up & protesting hand at Cass' flush. Don't mind me, my dear" she said. I'm an old woman. I say what I please and I have eyes in my head. It's no easy matter for a. woman alone to bring up a pretty child like that in New York. You've done, may I say & marvellous job of it. That's Clive's word-'job'. And now to get down to the heart of the mat ter. I wondered If you would be interested in a plan I have for h. ane. I wondered if you woulud let her come 10 mo next winter. Live with me, I mean. She's sweet and intelligent but utterly unpre- pared for the world. You weren't" (she paused here) you weren't thinking of the stage for herr"
 Cass sighed sharply, bitterly. "I certainly hope she has no such idea" she said in a flat voice. 'I would discourage it.
 You people in the profession! cried the great lady, liftipg. her hand and letting 1t fall. Strange how you love your work yet al- ways warn youngsters away from it"'
 Cass' eyes had a faraway look. 'It's a hard life," she said, "and a thankless one. You can eat your heart out and starve unless luck Is with you. No, you're quite right. I should warn Liane away from 1t. l want her to be normal and hap- py. to have a roof over her head. a home. I don't want her to live in . succession of dreary, furnished places, to struggle year after year for enough to feed and clothe her self. Unless a girl has exceptional talent 1t is the most difficult road of all to choose"
 "Yes, yes. Quite so. thought you'd feel that way" Mrs Clees-