Evening star., 1942-07-04

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The colonel said, Good morning" "
Then with a circular gesture of his
hand. This is my staff, Mr.. Corell "
Fine boys" said CoreL. They
did good job. Well, tried to pre-
pare for them well"
Hunter looked down at his board
and he took out an inking-pen and
dipped it and began to ink in his
drawing.
Lanser said, you did very well.
! wish you hadn't killed those six
men. though. I wish their soldiers
hadn't come back"
Corell spread his hands and said
comfortably, six men is small loss
for town of this size, with a coal
mine. too"
Lanser said sternly, 81 am not
averse to killing people if that fin
ishes it. But sometimes it is better
not to-"
Corell had been studying the Off
GERS. He looked sideways at the
lieutenants, and he said, Gould
we-perhaps-talk alone, Colonel?"
Eyes, if you wish. 1t Prackle and
1t, Tonder. will you go to your room,
please?" And the colonel said to
Corell, Maj Hunter is working
He doesn't hear anything when he's
working" Hunter looked up from
his board and smiled quietly and
looked down again.
The young lieutenants left the
room, and when they were gone
Lanser said, well, here We are.
Won't you sit DOWN."
Thank you, SIR" and Corell sat
down behind the table.
Lanser looked at the bandage on
Corells head. He said bluntly, Have
they tried to kill you already?"
A Stone Which Fell.
Corell felt the bandage with his
fingers. "This2 Oh. this was stone
that fell from cliff in the hills
this morning."
you're sure it wasn't thrown?"
What do you mean7" Corell
asked. These aren't fierce people.
They haven't had a war for a hun
dred years. They've forgotten about
fighting"
We'll, you've lived among Them
said the colonel. You ought to
know" He stepped close to Corell.
But If you are safe these people are
different from any in the world. I've
helped to occupy countries before. 1
was in Belgium 20 years ago and in
France" He shook his head a little
as though to clear it, and he said
gruff1y, You did good job. We
should thank you. I mentioned your
work in my report"
Thank you, SIR" said Corell. Il
did my best"
I.anser said, a little YEARLY, well
sir, now what shall we do? Would
you like to 60 back to the capital?
We can put you on a coal barge If
you're in a hurry, or on destroyer
If you want to wait"
Corell said, "But I don't want to
20 back. I'll stay here"
Lanser studied this for a moment
and he said, You know. I haven't a
great many men. I can't give you
very adequate bodyguard
But I don't need a bodyguard. I
kell you these aren't violent people" 4"
Lanser looked at the bandage for
moment. Hunter glanced up from
his board ana remarked, You'd
better start wearing helmet" He
looked down at his work again.
Now Corell moved forward in his
chair. II wanted particularly to talk
to you, colonel I thought I might
help with the civil administration. !"
CoreIl Would Be Mayor.
Janser turned on his heel and
walked to the window and looked
out and then he swung around and
said quietly, What have you in
mind?"
We'll, you must have civil au-
thority you can trust. I thought
perhaps that Mayor Orden might
step down now and-well, If I were
to take over his office, it and the
military would work very nicely
together"
Lanser's eyes seemed to grow large
and bright. He came close to Corell,
and he spoke sharply. Have you
mentioned this in your report?"
Corel said, We'll, yes, naturally
In my analysis"
Lanser interrupted. Have you
talked to any of the town people
since we arrived-outside of the
Mayor. that is?"
We'll, no. You see, they are still
bit startled. They didn't expect
it." He chuckled. mo sir, they
didn't expect it,"
But Lanser pressed his point. 80
you don't really know what's going
on In their minds?"
why, they're startled" said
Corell "They're-well, they're al
most dreaming"
You don't know what they think
of you2" Lanser asked
Il have many friends here. I
know everyone"
Did any one buy anything in your
store this morning."
We'll. of course, business is at a
standstill," Corell answered. mo
ones buying anything"
Lanser relaxed suddenly. He went
to chair and sat down and crossed
his legs. He said quietly, yours is
a difficult and brave branch of the
service. 1t should be greatly re-
Warded."
Thank you, sir"
You will have their hatred in
time" said the colonel.
Il can stand that, sir. They are