Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-07-17
The ParaChutiSt Mszo de- By IA Roche
Copyright: 1912 By News Syndicate Co. In
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO


1t was all so unreal. She was like
one in a dream. She moved. feeling
. strange rigidness in her movements,
as though she were an automaton
back toward the hedge. At the OPEN
ing. she said:
You must go through first"
He pushed his way through the
thorny opening, then turned and held
back the branches for her. She looked
into his eyes. Could she trust him?
Well, he was an enemy! This was
war! She said:
"No-you go on ahead
He smiled again but obediently took
three PAGES ahead, then halted.
DO you want me to go on holding
up my hands?" he asked
Surely they were playing some in
sane game! But she pulled herself to-
gether into unyielding determination.
No. you needn't hold up your hands.
Just keep walking on ahead to the
house.
They walked on across the smooth
lawn. The low, creeper-clad house
looked as though it had sprung from
the heath.
1T is well camouflaged." he said,
1--WE did not see it. We thought we
had chosen good spot"
Il wish it had been anywhere but
here" she cried.
He said, in a conversational tone,
"Ah, but you will be quite heroinei
Your picture will be in all the papers
Lady Captures German Parachutist
Singlehanded-You will be very proud
of yourself-no?"
Don't say such terrible things!
Nothing-nothing could make me give
you up but"
Your duty. I know, we shall make
no scene about it. Your servants will
guard me while you send for the
police"
He did not realize that she was
alone! That made her feel more sure
OF herself. At the door Of the house
he moved aside as though to allow
her to enter first. Then he gave a
little laugh and went ahead of her
into the dim hall Inside the house
there was complete silence. She Won
dered if he could hear the beating
of her heart. A dreadful apprehension
took possession of her In little while
she would see him carried off as a
prisoner! To what end? And less than
an hour ago she had been thinking
OF those lovely, those tenderly roman
tic days in Sicily. Oh, she was not
strong enough for this! But she must
steel herself to it.
1T is charming house." he said,
looking about him. What is your
husbands name? Is he an officer?"
His name is Joe. No, he's not in
the army. But he's doing war work
You see, he was badly wounded in
the last war. He's past 49,"
80? I am 26.''
II know. You had a birthday in
Taormina."
Instantly she wished she had not
said that. 1t was the last thing on
earth she should have said. It brought
back the sweetness of those days to
disintegrate the cruel hardness of this
moment.
KarIs face lighted boyishly. Can I
ever forget that birthday! We had a
picnic lunch on the mountainside! Oh,
what a day! There was little goat
with long silvery hair that came near
us. And, because it was my birthday,
you made little wreath of flowers
for me and placed it on my head. Do
you remember"
Shall I ever forget! And you
couldn't keep the wreath on straight.
1t kept falling over one eye. You
looked like tipsy young god! And
when we left we hung the wreath
about the goats neck. Do you remem-
ber?"
They laughed together.
Then she saw tears in his eyes. She
felt q dreadful construction in her
throat What was he saying?
How different everything would
have been, Jane, if you and /"
Don't! You mustn't say that!"
mo. I must not say that Today
I am your prisoner, but in different
way I have been that these four years.
Let me say just this one thing! 1t
was because of you did not marry.
All other women were-what is the