Evening star., 1937-11-07
THIS WEEK
Son
Cossisssd ho~ poos five

And your father. Remember.
Stellen's lips suddenly were white.
Yes Of course" he said curtly
"Your fathers name is Frederick
Stellen." Bert reflected. isn't it."
He chuckled to himself i've always
called you Hank Henry. isn't it?"
Certainly"
Bert knocked out his pipe and rose.
stuffing it into his pocket Stellen rose
beside him. Bert said easily: Hans
and Fritz. once. maybe? When did
your father come to the United States
from Germany. Major?"
The room was very still. Major
Stellen's eyes were cleaning. flicker
ing. His hands rested on the edge of
the table, as though for support.
Then as he stood erect. he hooked one
thumb through his belt. Near his
holster. But he did not speak.
Bert said in a low tone: Alice
married you. ! suppose she loves you.
This will be tough on her. I wish l
didn't know"
Major Stellen whispered: What
are you talking about. you blasted
foOA?''
You're staff, of course" Bert re-
flected. you might know zero. even
thirty-six hours ahead"
The other said: "Are you crazy?"
Alice will hate to know" Bert said.
half to himself. 1T might - kill her.
But l shall have to report our conver-
sation to the Colonel"
The Major laughed; he demanded:
What conversation? came to bid
my old friend good-by His mind
seemed unsettled by his disgrace. He
began to rave. 4" He smiled. Come.
Bert. I'll take you to the Colonel my
SELF
Bert nodded. That's true. He
wouldn't believe me- He'd believe
you against me of course"
The Major smiled. Exactly. So"
it's between you and me,
Hank" Bert decided. After a mo-
ment he said: 1--WE always liked you.
Even when Alice May. And he
said: Il can see your side of this, too.
If Germany's your country. You're
brave man, Hank! Do the brave
thing now. You can't get away with
this. l won't let you. But you can
make it easier for Alice May"
What are you trying to say"
"If We 60 to the Colonel. even if he
thinks I'm lying. he'll check back on
you. And certainly he won't let this
message through. You're done. old
man. Go your own way"
Major Stellen met the others eyes.
you mean this, Bert?" He touched
the holster, loosed the flap.
'Yes. Go clean For Alice May"
And he did not interfere while
Major Stellen drew the pistol. Then
the Major said: You're right Bert.
It's between you and me-" He raised
the weapon 80 - it has to be you,
old man. I'm sorry. Your disgrace was
too much for you. You could not face
it. You snatched my gun. and :"
Bert's fist was on the way. Major
Stellen pulled the trigger. But the ac-
ton clicked - harmlessly. Officers in
billet sometimes carried their arms
with an empty barrel. full clip.
Before firing, it was necessary to work
the slide. Major Stellen had omitted
this precaution; his mistake gave
Bert an opportunity.
But Bert also made mistake. He
misjudged his distance. His blow
brushed the others chin without land
ing solidly. And Major Stellen. stum-
bling backward. was tugging at the
slide. Bert leaped. grappled, caught
at the others hands with both his
hands. They came to body grips. the
gun between them. And it was now
ready to fire.
The little one-story farmhouse had
in this quarter flagstone floor; their
movements raised no great alarm.
Major Stellen's orderly. returning in