The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-20

ping and pounding in her throat. Do tell me-" she pleaded. T can't sleep tonight until I know" She turned her face to him in the darkness, like a flower all fra- grance and delight. The man stared back at her full moment before he replied. When he spoke his voice was roughened with feeling, T thought" he began haltingly, that you were the rarest thing had seen in many a moon. I thought you looked like something infinitely desirable, infinitely to be loved. thought all sorts of strange, old fashioned, knightly thoughts. Like wanting to own a glove you had worn or a rose you had thrown away. l thought--but why go on? The night wanes and an anxious parent waits you above"
 Those are the loveIiest words anyone has ever said to me-" said Liane. Forgotten now was her promise. There was strange sweet magic in this mans voice, in his touch, in the way he looked at her. Some alchemy she did not understand worked in her brain.
 "Go now" the man said, almost roughly. And bless you"
 He ran down the steps. Liane heard the sound of his motor car purring outside the gate before she could bring herself to creep upstairs. A white figure stood at the door of Elsie's room.
 Ssh" murmured Elsie. You're in luck because I did a little plain and fancy lying for you. Said Mu- riel had headache and you'd had to take her home and would stay the night with her. Cass went to bed and to sleep instanter. Lucky for you"
 Thanks a lot" Liane whispered. "Ill tell you all about it tomor- row. What shall I do? I hate go- ing in now and waking her up."
 Bunk on the couch in my room," Elsie suggested hospitably. Then you can give me the low down now before we go to sleep"
 And so the mighty Van brought you home, Sir Galahad himself." mumured Elsie when Liane had finished. How touching for him to be out chasing Mrs Ladd's little girl"
 Why do you say that?" Liane demanded.
 why, he's that way about Adele Ladd. Everyone in town knows that" said Elsie scornfuly. That boy knows his way about, l can tell you"
 q don't believe it," said Liane. q simply don't believe it."
 Elsie examined her face in the dim light cast by one small bulb.
 Well, kid, you don't need to take 1t from me. You can read the tabloids," she said, with a yawn.
 "She's old enough to be his mother" Liane pouted.
 Not quite" returned Elsie. Matter of ten years or so between them That's nothing"
 Don't go falling for that baby" Elsie advised, clambering into bed. Hes the lawyers delight. Been respondent three times In five years. That's Handsome for you"
 Liane feigned sleep. A sickness and misery tugged at her heart. If Van Robard were bad then the world was bad. She couldn't en- dure the thought.
 NO one cOulU lOOk ds van Hlu and be really bad. The nuns had taught her that character is mir rored in the face. Van didn't look wicked or depraved. How could what Elsie said be true?
 Liane tossed and turned. The moonlight was torture.
 She reviewed every word which had passed between Adele Ladd and the man who searched whole heartedly for Muriel. Her fevered fancy admitted that Adele seemed to have the right to order Van around. Why?
 Anguished, Liane imagined Ad- ele Ladd laughing at her. What was 1t she would say to Van when next she saw him? Oh. something like, Who's your shabby little friend? She's not much help in a crisis.'
 Clenching her hands, tears on her cheeks, at last Liane slept.
 (TO Be COntinued)