Evening star., 1927-12-10

~ WOou. IL Ilhu SOt very udIh III
~ the konigswald; the small clear
4 Xing farmed by Josef Muller was
ringed with trees which looked
black long before sunset and tonight
there, was no visible sun. The wind
had been rising all day; the trees
groahed and strained against it.
Anton went on chopping steadily; he
was so strong that he never got tired.
Anna Blum had set him to chop
wood and he would go on chopping
until she came out and said, Ma,
Anton, that is enough. Come in."
Down in the village they said "As
strong as Anton Blum" where in
other villages they might have said
"As strong as an OK" To a naughty
child one said, Take care, or Anton
Blum will carry you off," and to
dull scholar, You're as stupid as
Anton Blum"
No one knew what Anton thought
of 1t all. He lived with Anna Blum,
who was his aunt md Josef Muller,
who was Annals brother. He knew
that.
Anna was his aunt, and Josef was
her brother. Anna was also a widow.
The words aunt and widow belonged to
Anna; and the word brother belonged
to Josef. Anton did not get further
than that. Since he had been wound
ed in the head, nine or ten years ago,
he did not speak. From Josef he
would take no orders. And he never
went down into the village, because
the children threw stones at him.
But what Anna Blum told him to do,
he did.
Anna Blum came out into the yard,
a square-built woman, very clean.
A11f0
and Anton stopped chopping and
dropped his hatchet beside the pile
of logs.
II must go down into the village"
she said. 'I must see Nina"
Come then, Anton. l have a
basket to be carried
He got up at once, stretched him.
self, and crossed the kitchen with an
awkward, shutting walk. Anna patted
his shoulder, and they went out to-
gether.
BY the time that Anna Blum had
paid her visit to Nina and admired
Mina's baby, the threatened storm
had broken. Out upon the Cologne
road the rain ran like q river and the
wind came in such gusts that Anna
was glad enough of Anton's arm.
Anton, fortunately, did not mind
tilO sui III. IHe SuuuSH IldTG OIL tnc
lightning pleased him, and the crash
ing thunder that followed pleased
him, too. If he had been alone, he
would have waved his arms and
shouted, but he knew that he must
hold Tante Anna steady and on no
account drop the basket which she
had given him to carry.
AS they struggled against the wind,
the wet road shone white for a mo.
ment in the glare of two powerful
headlights. and a car went by them
heading for Cologne. Anna Blum
clutched her old cloak about her, and
felt the rain drive in her face.
What night" she thought. and
remembered another night of staring
lightning and rending storm.
1t was just as they came to the foot.
path which led from the main road
to Josefs clearing that the lights
of car showed again, coming up
this time from the darkness that hid
Cologne. There was so much noise
that the car seemed to be sliding to-
ward them without any sound. Sud
denly it stopped and man called
out "Hullov'
Anna moved toward the car and
said What is it?"
A man next to the driver leaned
out.
Can you direct me to Josef Mul.
ler's farm?'
"Josef Muller?"
The men in the car were English
officers. The little light on the dash.
board showed. the uniform coats and
the faces. One bent over the wheel,
young handsome; the other, the older
man and dark, was the one who had
spoken.
What is it?" said Anna calmly.
There's a tree down across the
road. We were told we could get help
to shift 1t at Josef Muller's."
1t was at this time that Anton
shuffied into the glare of the head
lights. They puzzled him because they
were so bright, and yet when he went
close to them they did not warm him.
Who's that?" said Maj. Manning
sharply.
my nephew, Anton Blum"
I'VE want help to shift the tree; my
friend and can't quite manage alone.
Your nephew looks strong. Will he
give us hand?"
Hes the strongest man in the
konigswald. But'-she hesitated-
''he is dumb"
Young Dugdale laughed.
wen, we don't want him to make
speeches" he said.
Anna took no notice of him. She
leaned on the door and spoke to the
older man:
He is as strong as an OK: but he
is not like other people. 1 do not
know if he will go with you."
Anton had left the headlights and
come close up to them, drawn by the
sound of the voices.
ASK him." said Maj. Manning.
There was lull in the extreme vio-
lence Of the wind. Mai Manning's
words sounded unnaturally loud.
Anna let go of the door, took Anton
by the arm, and began to talk to him.
There is a tree across the road.
Inc carriage connot go on because
OF the tree. 1t would be fine play to