Evening star., 1932-03-31
INSTALLMENT XVII.

"a k1Lo IdCC HICF ICtl6C 1Ai6 COhCtC-
4 4 ed. In two strides he turned
the key and flung the door open
What do you want?" he shouted
| breathlessly into the darkness, with his
two fists ready for the gendarmes who
came to arrest Anikuschka.
Outside in the darkness stood a small
| figure. 1t was MatZ, who, true to hi:
orders, had kept watch on the doorway
OF the cabin There was another figure
too-a tall, slender one in cloak
smoking q cigarette, with head turned
aside The red gleam glowed and paled
again as if it was being vigorously
pulled There was no one else. No de-
tectives, no arrest, no police. Martin
passed his fingers through his tousled
hair.
May" he said in a suffocated
voice.
mo. You're wrong this time It's
Carla," came the reply from the dark
ness.
"Oh. Carla-" said Martin.
Behind him in the hut Anika was
stirring stealthily. Curses on the
woman. Martin stood outside the door
and asked in confusion, And what =.
I mean there is - What can do
for you, Fraulein Carla?"
May turned back at once when she
heard there was q lady with you -
Carla replied after two pulls at her
cigarette.
What do you mean? Why do you
say a lady with me? I don't under
stand"
We'll, We were anxious about you,
Martin, and so We came to look for
you. Herr He'll is asleep. Matz said,
There's a lady with him And May
said, oh. God and turned and went
away"
That's So" said Matz, expecting some
recognition for having performed his
duty Martin was frantic. His empty
stomach made him giddy. His only
Aloud he said to Matz: Right Clear
out you young rhinoceros." Carla took
out fiashlight and turned the ray of
light on Martins dismayed and despair
ing face. 'Well?" she asked with q
flicker of pity.
Il must tell May the whole truth" he
stammered after moment.
mo doubt" replied Carla
Martin seized Carla by the shoulders
with both hands. DO you know who
it is who was with me?" he asked, get
ting angry.
I've some idea. It might be that
woman who has turned all the men S
heads in Frauensee. The woman who
has relieved Tat of twelve hundred schil-
lings The woman they're keeping a
watch for at the station
"1s the station being watched?"
screamed Anika-the real Annerl Poz-
waurek-and she darted out of the hut
She had put on her clothes mean
while, and now, in her disheveled white
frock, she faced Carla in the uncom-
promising light of the flashlight.
Are they still keeping a watch on
the station? It's all up with me. You've
only to denounce me. Fraulein Carla.
But they shant get me. I'll walk into
the lake ! shant let them arrest me, :"
Anika walled, holding her tightly
clasped hands up to her face.
What concern is 1t of mine? Why
should denounce you? Anyway, you'll
find the lake cold and you can't swim, -
said Carla, thoroughly contemptuous.
Martin thrust Anika back into the
hut with one hand and putting the
other under Carla's arm drew her away
in spite of her resistance.
Come with me moment Carla." he
said vehemently Il must explain it all
to you. And then you will tell May
all about 1t
SdTld anu MdTIlu NdlkcQ 10 ana ltO
between the huts for long while, for
nearly half an hour; Martin talked and
Carla listened. She heard of a world
in which men starved and girls sold
themselves for two pairs of silk stock
ings. She heard of rooms in back
yards, of stoves without fuel, Of rent
that can't be paid, of folly and COM
radeship, of sharing the last groschen.
All this and more Martin brought out
In q confused torrent, but the earnest
ness with which he spoke and the emo
ton that made his arm tTemble enabled
her to understand him at last. All he
said came back to the same thing
Anika had been his first girl; she WASH t
to blame and man who would refuse
to help her would be a miserable cad.
1t was dark. the rain pattered on the
iron roofs. There was magic in the
deep, impenetrable darkness. Carla had
to bring herself back to reality by
lighting cigarette, and to do this she
came to a halt Martin waited for her
and seized hold of her hands.
There, I've told you everything.
Now you know all about me Tell May.
And help me-" he said beseechingly,
looking into her face, which was lighted
up by the tiny red glow of her cigarette.
Her expression was grave and reso-
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