The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-14

a stubborn wrinkle between her eyes. She put on a thin dark dress that had a vaguely out-of-date air and a last years straw hat. Then she drew a cover of chintz over the sewing machine and drew the shades nearly to the sill in an effort to thwart the inroads of the re- lentless afternoon sun. After that she went down into the baking street.
 Cass tried to look as if carrying that mammoth box were great joke which she, a whimsical lady, had decided to take on for the aft ernoon. In the subway she man. euvered it so that it just missed the knees of the perspiring fat man who stood in front of her, swaying as the train shot around bends. The subway was fairly cool these first hot days before the heat had had time to work its way down un- der ground and settle for the sea- son. How fresh that girl across the way looked In her pale dress and summer shoes! Something like Liane should be wearing, instead of Molly Cronin's kind castoffs.
 
 Summer is the time, Cass unused, when one needs money more than ever. In winter it is possible to keep warm somehow. And cheap food is appetizing then. It is when days are hot and nights stifling that one wants crisp, alluring fooo to eat. One wants to dine on a roof, high up, with a view of the river. Oh! sighed Cass, for the millionth time in her life, how diff ficult it is to be poor! Awful, that's what it was. She pined for small luxuries, such as linen sheets, changed every day, for English CO., logne to rub on her burning skin, for sheer stockings and thin, fine underthings. All this she desired not so much for herself as for Liane.
 After the darkness and chill of the underground the heat of the asphalt was again 8 shocking real ity. She traversed the few steps to the stage door feeling actually giddy. I'm not going to he able to stand many more seasons of this" Cass thought prophetically My hearts not what it used tc be-" She felt chill of fear. Her heart And then, what about Liane?
 Liane with all the world before her. Liane, large-eyed, trusting and IS. Cass Barrett knew that world well enough to feel that a young girl should not be required to fight it alone.
 Nevertheless, she entered the stage door with a smile on her lips. It was the smile of the good troup- CT. Besides, worry made one look old. That was the one thing Cass could not afford to do.
 Rehearsal had not yet started. She was glad to be early and have time to catch her breath in the dusty coolness.
 "Got your costume finished 2" chirped Elsie Minter, the ingenue. who stood in the wings greedily making away with an ice cream cone. Cass nodded. She opened the box, shook out the yellow folds. Why, it's lovely" Elsie ad mired. You got the-I don't feeling!"
 Cass smiled back at her. She liked Elsie. The little thing seemed friendly. There were so many cliques in the New Art. So much jealousy. You never knew who your friends were, but Elsie ap- peared to be genuine.
 Cass had been with the New Art for three seasons now. It was not exciting, a sort of stock company really. But 1t was safe and sure. It meant bread and butter for nine months of year. She was grateful for that. She hoped she would be asked to come back next season, but--well. she didn't know.
 Vernon O'Day Wells, the actor manager, whose pet the New Art Theater was, thin, saturnine and iron gray, entered followed by his coterie. AS always there was a small stir at his entrance. Mods, bows, sycophantic smiles. The re- hearsal began.
 Good Lord, Elsie!" he was i'm ploring q few moments later. Get a little fire into that, will you? You're courtesan, remember, a Florentine woman. You're jealous You're madly, insanely jealous! You've got blood in your veins, not milk. Let's have a little fire, a lit- tie real feeling. That's all I ask"
 Cass reflected sardonically that 1t was not hard to believe Vernon had once directed movies. The manner was unmistakable. Cass had been in pictures herself once for a brief pace.
 Now that,ll be all for today" Wells boomed presently. "As you all know, we're closing next week. Haven't quite shaped up plans for next season. but we'll talk that over later" He waved his hand in a signal of dismissal. Cass looked fearfully across at the others. They were all talking, laughing animat- edly. Perhaps they had already been asked to sign up for next year.
 Miss Barrett. just minute--!" She turned to see Wells secretary beckoning her. 'Vernon would like to see you upstairs for a min- ute"
 Casse heart beat thickly, pound luk 6O IL dlIlOoI buLOSdeCu ucI. 0uO was being let down. then?
 Vernon Wells waited just out side the door of his office. He was talking to 8 woman Cass had nev- CT seen before. A big, high-hosomed woman wearing an old style white embroidered dress.
 "Ah, Miss Barrett! Mrs Clees- paugh was anxious to talk to you,'' Vernon was saying. Cass fumbled for a chair. Those stairs had made her giddy again. The old faintness was coming to overwhelm her.
 Feeling the heat" she managed to humble. If only she could keep from making a fool of herself be- fore these people. Who was this Mrs Cleespaugh, with her jewell studded handbag ana the rbdic- ulous emerald brooch on her pre- posterous bosom?
 ''Mr Wells has been helping us with our little theater group out at Willow Stream" the lady began