The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-20
N SERIAL STORY THE EDGE OF D JESS KccpyRlohr. se4a N ERY WELL LlAM WOODS ,,sA .rnv.cu .se.

down to town in his rickety wagon
 with the tired horse, and evening
 when he got back. they went over tI his farm for their foodstocks ans the village gossip,
 One night he told them he haC got word that his son, Trvgve, wa in a German prison in Oslo.
 What did he do?" asked Karen Tt must be terribly exciting"
 "It is" Fru Mortensen inter. rupted dryly.
 What did he doP" the farmei repeated, "Ha, you know Trygvt always the brave thing. The electric lines you know outside the city, They are very important 1t seems, and he cut them so the Germans could have no lights"
 But Karen was hardly paying attention. Her eyes had wandered of to Mortensen's skis, propped inside Q small closet, "Trygve used to wear those, didn't hep she said, pointing them out.
 "Ja, the little black ones. They were too small for him, though Was 1t not a brave thing he did Broken Karen9"
 "oh, yes" she said. "oh. yes. It must have been very dangerous" !" She kept looking at tho skis, thinking them the prettiest pair she had ever seen.
 Then Mortensen said something totally unexpected. "Trygve liked you q great deal Broken Karen He would like 1t if you used them teh skis. They are Q good size for you"
 "oh, no" But Karen went over eagerly and brought them out "oh, no," she said again, flushing, and ran her hand down the smooth grain, wanting them, but not dar- ing to say SO.
 When the two girls went home with him later, across the patch Of woodland where the bright moonlight seeped down between the branches, Mortensen was in high good humor,
 When the two girls had gone into the cottage, and Karen had put her new skis away, crawled into her long woolen nightgown, and was plating her hair, Margit said shyiy, You know why he gave you the skis9"
 Karen turned, wide-eyed. No" She had never thought of 1t,
 Because Trygve was in love with you"
 Tn love with meP" asked Karen, delighted. She ttimbled under the covers and lay with her hands be- hind her head. No, I never knew, I wish he'd told me" she added sorrewfully, and sighed. T wish almost anybody told me-"
 Then she blew out the light and Margit undressed in the dark and slipped silently in beside her.
 The summer went by very fast, The idea grew in Karen that she wanted to go to Stockholm when autumn came. "Oh. Margit," she cried, T feel SO shut in. There's nobody to talk to, and TrollnesS is such little town. and smells so Of fish"
 It was two days later. when they were both driving up some COWS that had stFayed into the lower pasture, that they saw tho soldier. All they could make out at first was the gray green Of his uniform as he came walking slowly up around the bend oil the road from town. He was the first they had seen all summer.
 The girls ran to each other, The blood washed out Of their cheeks Then they went up quickly toward the hut, Karen ran back out to pick up c scarf she had been wearing over her head, then hur- Fied in again They boited the door and waited,
 Several minutes went by and nothing happened. Then they heard steps outside, A loud voice called in, Don't Do afraid, I want drink of water"
 Karen peeped out the window. He was standing in front of the door. Q lanky, bold-looking trooper with Q long angular face and waving brown hair, "do away she cried, Tor we'll shoot you. We have q gun"
 Before you do that he ans- wered, "teli me where the spring is."
 She took another look ct his proud laughing face, then ducked back to barley with Marglt, In moment (he heard them whisper Ing together), she came back and reached c tin drinking cup out to him.
 "You1l Ind water down below the trees"
 Thank you, Fraulein Karen" He strode off, swinging the cup at his side.
 "Walt," she cried after him. Wat" she turned. "Marg!t. did you hear2 He knows my name"
 A few minutes later when he got back. walking slowly up the hill, they had opened the door and were standing in front like aheep- lsa schoolgirls with their hands behind their backs.
 Karen was staring at him with wide open eyes. He handed her Inc cup. Their fingers touched.
 Are you from townl" she asked with a catch h her voice. "How