The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-27
Before The Blitzkrieg
by Rupert Grayson
by Rupert Grayson

ous-except, perhaps. about tribes,
as all women are"
"Humph" grunted Trent, sour
ly She's likely to get. some of
her curiosity-about trifles-satis-
fed here. D'you realize tina; she's
the only woman here-the only
woman amongst a gang of dagoes,
latins and wops who haven't seen
a woman for months. and who
will stick at nothing if they're
aroused? You shouldn't have
brought her"
Otto looked at him with steelly
eyes. Then he gave a little bow,
stifily from the waist.
81 am obliged to you. Captain
Trent But when l wish for your
criticisms l will ash for them. IN
til that time happens will remind
you that 1 am commander here,
and that l am ute capable of
holding that position. and of pro-
tecting the lady-against anyone"
This last was said with consider
able emphasis and significance.
DO you understand ?"
"Oh, all right--if you. take 1t
that way" Trent had shrugged and
turned away.
That night a small two-roomed
bungalow was assigned TO Coral
Merridew. and Otto put an armed
sentry at the door all night. He
himself slept in an adjoining bung-
allow. Coral had insisted on this,
because she said that it would not
be wise to give the workmen and
people any excuse to gossip. Otto
had agreed that she was right. and
approved of her foresight, which
he did not fail to point out to
Trent.
Next morning there were four
at breakfast in what amounted to
the officers mess" of the settle
ment-Coral, Otto. Trent, and an
assistant to the latter, young
Italian engineer named Tunesi.
Suddenly Coral said
81 say, who is that queer look
ing bird l saw in the distance this
morning-the dirty-looking, up
shaved fellow inside that wire
fence. Is he prisoner, or some
thing?"
Otto looked at her, but II did not
occur to him to wonder why she
had not mentioned it before, when
he had first joined her outside the
fence.
Something like that" he re-
piled. you see, there are certain
new secrets regarding airplanes
that we could make good use of.
These two men kno, them. and so
we have captured them and are
trying to extract the necessary in
formation from them. That is to
say. Captain Tren- Is so doing. but
so far he has not been successful.
His methods area sneer crept
into his voice-"a trife too hui
name, fear. But now that I am
here there will be a difference l
know some little nail tricks, for in
stance. that are very good for ex
tracing information"
His tone was the reverse of
pleasant, and Trent frowned, while
the young italian shuddered slight
ly. But Coral only laughed.
Don't be a damn fool. Otto"
she told him. You're old-fash-
Toned, my friend. There are whis-
kers growing on you. These men
are Englishmen. remember"-and
only she knew the difficulty she
had in keeping a note of admira-
ton out Of her voice, and introduce
ing one Of contempt instead-"and
therefore stubborn fools. You will |
never get anything out OF them by |
torture, or rough stuff of any kind. |
The thing TO do is to set me on to |
them-let 'em think I've gone all |
soft over EN-. I'll soon find out all
you want TO know. Remember
what I did with that fellow at
Otto? Besides, 1t will
give me something to do while
we're stuck here-therc don't seem
TO be many theaters or movie
houses about"
Trent laughed.
Il guess we don't need EN-, Miss
Nerridew-we reckon TO manufac-
lure our own drama here, good and
plenty. But I tell you what, Otto.
hats a good idea Of Miss Merri-
iews-these sort Of guys will fall
Tor a woman when nothing else
viii shift EN-. It's worth thinking
)ver."
Then maybe I will think II
'ver," observed Otto 81 but he didn't
eem In love with the idea.
II did not seem that Coral was
disposed to let time hang heavily
N her hands that day She dis
'layed a tireless and entirely intel
igent interest in all that went on
! the Factory. At the same time
he gave no impression OF a desire