The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-25
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-O4 MABEL MCEuIOTT


I of. To Molly he said meaningly,
III be seem youl"
WHEN Molly, shamefaced, had
VVtaken leave Of them, Cass, very
tired now, turned toward the the
alter with her daughter. Lame
Jagged along, casting occasional
frightened glnaces at her mothers
white. set face.
Mother, I'm terribly sorry"
she began. Cass turned to her
Don't say another word" she
commanded. in breaking voice
ITS my fault, utterly mine. A
child like you, in this town! It's
unthinkable. You ought to be pet
ted and coddled and protected, in
stead Of being thrown to the wolves
this way. My baby!"
1t was better than any sermon.
Lanes back Strengthened. She
said: You're not to say such things,
mother. I'm old enough to stand on
my own feet. It's not your fault. I
feel a beast to have let you in for
this"
Cass looked at clock in a shop
they were passing. "Heavens!" she
said, in a spent voice. Its only
1880. feel as if I had been through
hours Of worry and even now I
shall be in time to play. Thank
goodness, I'm not on in the first
scene"
And that was all. Lame squeezed
her arm. Mother, you're sweet"
she said in a very small voice.
I'll sit out on the fire escape"
she said to Cass, when the latter
rushed in to change after the first
act. "It's terribly hot out front,
and I've seen this at least ten times
this season."
She wanted to be alone in the
dark and the GOODNESS to review the
events of this dramatic evening. It
didn't seem possible that she, Lame
Barrett, could have been involved in
such a horrible adventure. Her heart
O1CliDlCu 10 GIllIlk OF IL.
She perched on the iron balcony
outside the dressing room her moth
er shared with Elsie. The noises
OF the street in front came to her
with muted quality, A fire siren
screamed and tore through the
night. Somewhere in the flats across
the way baby howled.
TaXis rushed through the dark
ness, their brakes screaming as thev
drew up at the cross streets. Troll
ley cars Changed and elevated trains
ratified cheerfully along. It was
not exactly sylvan quiet, but it
seemed peace incarnate to the trou-
bled young girl
She thought: II wonder whv thew
call it the bright face of danger
10 me danger is anything but
bright" And she shivered, remem-
bering.
When the performance was over.
Lame Numbered down the stairs
looking for Wr. Wells. There was a
message for him, the callboy said
~ SSNt-1AA Y NC 4OUIlQ.
AT the door Of his Office she stood
slim and defenseless in the halt
light. A tall man unwound himself
from Vernon's chair. care YOU look
ing for some one?" he asked pleas
antly.
For Mr.. Wells"
Their glances met, locked For
a split second, Lame knew a mo-
ment of pure panic, a dizziness
There was something impelIing in
those dark, deep-set eyes, something
almost hypnotic.
He's not about. I'll have to look
further, "faltered the girl.
The stranger took a step forward
Wait here and I'll find him" he
said in that strangely compelling
voice. And there was laughter in it,
DO wait, LANE" he said
She fled, murmuring excuses. If
this curious f1uttering she felt were
love, Lame reflected, then it was q
strange thing. Because this man
knew her name, and she never had
seen him before in her life!
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