The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-20

was why there was no one to an- swer Ladd's call. She buried her face in her pillow. She never wanted to go out again. She want ed to stay quietly at home, pro- tected from a world in which there were night clubs, racketeers, suicides and managing editors.
 She must get up. She must get up. The words beat on her brain. Idly she studied her room, the white walls, the pink taffeta cur- tains, the delicate ivory furniture.
 The apartment consisted of the two lower floors of brownstone front in the East 40s. A door at the side led to the kitchen. In the rear was the dining room and of that the little garden. A small, winding black iron stairway curved up to the big living room on the second floor. Like the hall, the ceilings were high and the walls white plaster. The hand, some dark pieces of old mahogany which she had inherited from her grandmother, showed well against this background. There were crirn- son velvet curtains at the win- dows and the carpet was also red.
 This evening fire fiickered cheerfully in the old-fashioned black iron grate, casting pleasant shadows on the shelves of books which formed wainscotting around the room. A door at the rear led to the bedroom.
 Signing, Mary sat up, slid to the edge of the bed and slipped her bare feet into mules.
 Twenty minutes later she was hailing a taxi. Mine hundred and two Fifth avenue" she called to the driver.
 Her dark suit was trim and her hat saucy. There was nothing about her appearance to suggest i that she had been up all night.
 Janice French's family lived in one of those white stone mansions people stare at from Fifth Avenue bus tops. It was a big, impressive looking home that took up more than half the block and had heavy cream lace curtains at the front windows. Its entrance was digni- fled and stately, with an enormous black wrought-iron and glass mar quee ove rthe main door and white marble steps leading to 8 second and more private entrance.
 Mary's heart beat faster as she rang the bell. A footman came suspiciously down the marble steps, cautiously unlocked the outer door and looked at her inquir- ingly.
 T would like to see MT. and Mrs. French" she said.
 "Very sorry, Miss, but they're not seeing anyone"
 She opened her bag. "Will you give them this note"
 In 8 moment she had taken out pencil and paper and scrubbed, T was the one who identified Jan- ice. May I talk to you?' Folding the paper she handed it to the man with dollar bill.
 HID ldCC SOI IOCllCd. VOuld yOu care to wait in the vestibule while I deliver it, Miss? The nights cold one"
 Five minutes later she was fol- lowing him up the marble stairs As she entered the immense draw ing room a man slowly rose from sofa near the fire.
 q am Janice's father" he said
 He was thin, of more than mid- dle height with a parchment-like skin and gentle brown eyes. His white hair was parted in the cen- ter. He wore his dinner jacket with distinction.
 My wife is too prostrated to see anyone" he explained. But nat urally when I read your note I was anxious to learn all I could about poor Janice"
 His voice broke slightly as he uttered his daughters name and then shot up hysterically. How did you come to be the one to identify her?"
 Mary was silent. If she told him that she was on the Gazette he would refuse to say anything. But she did not have the heart to de- ceive him. The situation was too tragic.
 T write for the Gazette" she said slowly. T knew your daugh- ter. saw her at the Dove prac- tically every night"
 What do you want of me?" His voice had grown desperate.
 Mary hesitated. Ladd had once said that it was this very lack of assertiveness which made her good reporter.
 T want to get at the real story of Janice's life, MT. French" she pleaded. Why did she have that apartment on East roth street?"
 Janice lived here, he protest ed.
 Edward, who is this young lady?" A large woman wearing |, black appeared at the door.
 She's from the Gazette, my dear"
 "What?"
 "Mis Franklin, this is my wife | Mrs. French"
 Janice'S mother reminded yol of those Roman matrons you some
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