The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-08-07
The Theater Dies In Flames

| Wilson nothing would happen to
it."
Damn the liquer set. I'm TAX
ing care of you. Get DR.. Warren,
somebody. Jeans tainted"
Jeans eyelids fluttered. Go on.
I'm all right"
In a daze Johnny found his way
across the stage once more. He
brought out the liquer set; his
coat pockets were full of tiny
glasses.
where's Jean?" he asked Earl
when the hquer set was packed
safely away.
"Dr. Warren took ner home.
Her hands were burned. Every
thing safe?"
Jean wanted it taken back to
the people who own 1t. Can you
help me with it?"
Sorry, old man, I'm busy"
Earl strolled off without concern.
Johnny stood and watched him.
Whose responsibility was this,
anyway? Certainly not Johnny
Regans, and only Jean Reynolds
by request. Carter Earl, as head
of the theater, should have offered
assistance.
80 it's up to me-" Johnny told
himself, "or the stuff spends the
night on the lawn where the Por-
| tugueSe lads can have go at it."
Since he couldn't expect any
help from the theater crowd, he'd
have to find some Cape Cod
cronies. With Rex Arnolds beach
Hello, Johnny. Well, here I
am, safe and sound" Molly, look
ing fresh and young again without
her makeup, came up with Andre
Masters. II sat over there on the
lawn and let the sparks fly up
ward"
II hear Miss Reynolds burned
her hands" Johnny nodded. Mas
tiers looked at the antiques piled
on the lawn and whistled softly
IAN antique dealer would give his
eyes for that stuff. Careful of
scavengers," he warned.
I'm getting it back to the own
ers tonight" Johnny said, and
shrilled out the gangs whistle for
Rex.
"Oh, come along, sweet" Molly
told him. Were going to the Inn.
All this stuff will be here when
you get back" When Johnny
shook his head, she continued
We'll, when you've finished your
homework, look us up
Johnny watched them go down
the street. They were black Silhou-
cites against the still smouldering
theater. He felt detached from them
as if they were characters in
movie. Rex Arnold, who came up a.
that moment, was more real and
important to him.
Gould we pile all this stuff in
you station wagon? Jean got it
together for the set, and now that
she's laid up, we'll have to get it
back"
Rex helped him pile Hitchcock
chairs on top of highboys and
fasten silver sugar bowls to the
knobs of tables.
We've sure missed you and
Jean this summer" he said. "You
earning out a living as a shop
keeper and Jean hanging around
the theater."
"I've missed you," Johnny told
him. He had missed them. His
Cape Codders. They were his
folk, all right. He laughed Bit
terly.
What about the apprentice?
Jean said you were lovey-dovey."
Johnny didn't answer. He Won
dered what Masters was saying to
Molly at the inn. They took the
seats out of Rexs station wagon
and piled in the furniture and
valuables.
Ready to go?" Rex asked, and
they threw the car into gear.
From the top of the hill they
looked down on the ruins of the
theater. The theater. What a part
1t had played in life at Cape
town! Johnny recalled how he
had sat in the balcony on hot
summer afternoons, munching
peanuts with a dozen other kids.
He remembered the first actress
who'd ever smiled at him.
Gosh. you're poor company"
Rex calculated. Silent as a
funeral"
This is funeral" Johnny told
him. THE Wharf Theater has
died. Doesn't it kind of get you?"
Rex said he guessed SO, but he
thought a drink would fix that up.
"All want is a bed" Johnny
retorted. But do want to drop
by the Meltons' to tell Jean not |
to worry"
DR.. Warren had just left the Mel
tons and Jean was supposed to be
asleep, Sue told him.
Tell her Johnny's here" he
said. its important"
And so he stood beside Jeans
bed holding one of her bandaged
hands.