The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-23
Ss SERIAL STORY THE ED CE CT DARK JESS s eopYRlaAr
 aBY WILLIAM WOODS ss. .sRy,cs. ,se.

Especially in view of this Russian affair it excites the populatior I can hardly be expected, Herr Major I am soldier . ."
 Of course" The stranger looked Konig up and down. But what has been your procedure here? Administration propaganda"
 The captain started talking quickly and nervously. He began with the blackouts. He mentioned the strict curfew. the collection of taxes, the precautionary patrols and searches, and ended with the story of the confiscation that morning of all boats in the harbor
 Buck was gazing out the porch window. When the captain was done, Very good" he said. "Now I shall want a list of those whom you consider troublemakers in the village"
 Konig said that one Gunnar Brogge. a fisherman (who had achieved some notoriety the pre- vious winter by the singlehanded rescue of crew from the rocks), was undoubtedly the most danger ous. He mentioned that he sus- pected Gerd Biarnesen of snug gling out army food.
 T shall want definite informa- ton about these people"
 Of course, Herr Major" He felt uncomfortable under Bucks eyes. Nothing. will escape this one,' he thought.
 During the next few days, you will delegate whatever men 1 need for my investigations.
 At your orders, Herr Major"
 And of course. you will discuss with no one the purpose of my visit here. It is not even necessary that you mention it in your report to headquarters. I shall take care of all such details
 Naturally. Herr Major"
 But if there is non-co-opera- tion. We shall teacn them a lesson they will not soon forget"
 There was such a fierce f1nality to this that even the captain felt a touch of fear. The major re- turned Konig's salute, wheeled, and strode out into the other room, the captain at his heels.
 T want room,' he said to Gerd Bjarnesen.
 Without word she handed him the register. Konig was standing on the threshold. He looked at his watch, then up at the soldiers, standing rigidly at attention. Cor poral." he thundered suddenly.
 The corporal detached himself from the group and saluted smartly.
 Two men to increase the guard at the dock"
 "zu Befehl, Herr Kapitan"
 The corporal did an about-face. "Gotz," he snapped. "Krahl."
 March roared the captain. He stood with his hands on his hips, watching the men go out.
 Gerd Bjarresen was back in her alcove. The black uniformed off, cer picked up the pen she handed him and signed the register with a few quick strokes. Wilhelm Gott- fried Ruck. Berlin
 Corporal Paul Hermann. middle aged, and with a plump spider belly. was pulling on his long winter underwear before going to bed. It was going to be chill night, and he was not willing to catch his death at three in the morning. Karl Fischer stood at the window of their small bedroom, looking down into town.
 There was something about the beauty of what he saw that re- minded him of Gottingen. The moonlight over road and forest. village and sea, not only glided them. throwing a shining veil, half light, half shadow. but it made the whole clear autumn landscape glow as if with self-contained brightness. as if the inanimate trees and streets might at any mo- ment come alive.
 And all this could be ours" he said suddenly aloud. The corporal lowered his eyes and did not answer.
 Karl turned away from the wtn- dow and began pacing up and down, hands behind his back. Paul" he said after a while. sometimes I can hardly under stand you. You talk ."
 "Ja. ia, I talk" said the corporal. T know. and you're a young boy with your ears wet."sHe scratched his sandy hair and crawled into bed.
 They are beginning to whisper about you. It's not good sense"
 Let them whisper" said the T know what know. Ja. and I know what I talk too" He sat up with the blankets around him. DO you think I was born yesterday? Thirty years ago I dug he good Bavarian earth before my of you were born. Cows and ,otatoes We had. And fought in he last war. and lived through ,he hungar. Got married and be- anne a baker and had a son. and rood Germans all of Us. And now lou tell me talk. Let them say what they please. What they ,lease." he repeated. and pumped pillow. T don't give that" He