Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-08-30

OF course they had gone anyway, she
told herself, but she lit the lamp and
carrying it with her went up the stairs.
Hallway up she caught the sound of
muffled sobs.
They came from Rudolphs room. and
for a second Miranda hesitated. Frieda
would be comforting him, she thought:
it would just bring an alien disturbing
element for her to intrude on them.
But somehow, she kept right on go
ing toward those pathetic, Strangled
sounds. She threw open the door and
the lamp in her hand brought the room
to life.
Crouched in far corner, Rudolph's
tear-stre2ked face stared at her above
the hands that he dragged down from
his eyes. Through the connecting door
to Friedas room, Miranda could see
that her bed was empty.
Rudolph"
Miranda set the lamp on the bu-
reau and ran over to him. Rudolph,
what's the matter? Where's Frieda?"
Before she knew it. she had him in
her arms, feeling a wild sense of ella
ton as he chung to her.
She is to, the Gestapo gone." he
sobbed. To the Gastapo."
close There's no Gestapo here! Did
she send you up to bed first? Perhaps
she is watching the fireflies and has
forgotten how late it is" She kissed
the top of his head I'll find her"
No. nor Instead of being soothed
he burst into fresh frenzy. She said
I must not let you from the house!
must you in care take. Over the noun
tain has she gone"
over the mountain!" Miranda
echoed. holding him so she could look
into his terror-stricken eyes. Rudolph,
tell me at once! Where has Frieda
gomez"
You talked against the rulers, and
now the Gestapo has come-this after
noon they march past the house-that
frau will have told them-the Granny
told her to keep still, but Frleda says
she will not-always, they tell. The
Gestapo will come to take you away
always, it is in the night that they
mandant-she will tell him you did not
say those things she asked the way
over the mountains-but,, perhaps. she
will not come back" a fresh burst OF
sobs drowned out the faltering words.
A great light broke on Miranda,
bringing with it a rush of tenderness
that warmed her heart even through
her distracted worry.
She must go AFTER tlreua at OIlCe! IL
was three miles or more to the Ma
tional Guard camp. by the rough trail
over the hills. The child would be sure
to lose her Way-thank Heaven the Ma
tional Guard was there and would help
search.
Rudolph" She knelt beside him. her
arms around him, her cheeks flushed,
her blue eyes soft and deep, COMPEL
ing him to believe her. IN this coun-
try, soldiers are not the Gestapo. They
will not hurt us, they will help me find
Frieda.'
"Frieda does not know about this
country" Miranda said firmly. Il do.
There is nothing to be afraid of. You
must get In bed and wait quietly until
Frieda and I come back"
Miranda picked him up and carried
him over to the bed. She was pulling
the blanket over him when the sound
of a car stopping at the gate sent her
flying from the room.
Another second and she was out the
front door running down the path to
meet Frieda and a tall man in uniform.
"Frieda!" Something in her voice that
had never been there before sent Frieda
straight into her arms.
Miranda held her close, murmuring
broken little terms Of endearment that
had not passed her lips for twenty
wears, Before she could bring out any
thing really articulate, Rudolph came
plunging out OF the house.
"Oh, Frieda, get him back before he
catches cold!" Miranda gave Frieda a
last hug and let her go.