The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-01
THE STOLEN GUN CHAPTER XIII

T don't know what to do, she kried suddenly, They they lied to me"
 And then a smile broke out on ais lips. No
 "Yes. Yes. They made me all kinds of promises. and didn't keep A one of them. They wanted me ko work in factory, They said was only Pole, after all, but they hadn't talked that way when was home, and could still have gone over to the English. .'
 Sol"
 "I Gold them was an actress, Then they said that before I could act in the Berlin State Theater l would have to prove my loyalty. They made me come to Norway"
 But what do you want me to do about it?"
 She stopped, looking up at him with wide and pleading eyes. bPlease don't say no to me, thought since you were here, and were pretending to be high officer maybe you could talk to tn, e-p,@in and get him to send me ba ''- '
 Gently he put her hands away, got up and went to the window The clearing lay warm and still in midmorning sunlight. Here and there beneath the trees few red and yellow leaves slid sideways down like small ships. What a focl ' am" he thought, Here I stand talking to her, and God knows what's going on down in the village He looked back at the girl and was surprised to find how much the sight of her affect ed him.
 80 you are afraid" he said ''why?"
 T don't know"
 Have the soldiers been unkind to ycu?'
 "No."
 "Is it my coming that made you afraid?"
 "Oh. please stop asking me She came up behind him and claSped him about the shoulders pressing her cheek to the back oi his coat. I'm so lonely" she cried. T hate them. I can't stand being with them any longer You must help me"
 You will have to help your self At last he turned. He saw her still. that small girl riding ,r the park, in the beautiful Lazienki Gardens, with an officer beside her. T know your trouble" ht said. Tt is a bad conscience. Dc you want me to tell you the truth? You will never play in the State Theater in Berlin, and in youl heart you know it. Nobody needs you. There are many actresses with far more talent. The Ger mans you loved so much have made a fool of you"
 The tears started 10 her eyes
 4 pity woke in him for hel weakness and unhappiness. and 2 pain for those warm. dead dayl when Schoolmasters sat at theil desks. and girls rode in tht Laxienki Gardens.
 She mistook his silence. lifted her head slowly. and began tG smile with a new bitterness abour her mouth. T could do it so easily she said. "Only one word That's all I would need Oh. yes sou think 70 ucan treat me as you nleage. You think
 @What would you gain?"
 She saw that his eyes were mocking her.
 T could go down to the cap- tain" she said in louder voice @oh. my poor Englishman. My poor, crazy Englishman'
 ~xatta." His eyes grew hard ard narrow. and he strode forward t0 took her by the wrist. She cried out in surprise at the pain Of his grip. You fool" he said *.you could help us all instead of talking such chatter
 "You think so," she cried fierce H. ~But it's too late"
 ~You watned me to tell you what t0 do"
 she ssraightened up. Let me aD. don't need your advice"
 He dropped his hand, and she started toward the door.
 
 Ruck turned to the window. His a3&enkion was caught by the sight sak an old man climbing wearily up .zae path from town. Dressed metlc- xaoaklv in black, even to his flat crowned hat and boy tie, and with asss small beared neatly trimmed, he emzne sfriding slowly. with 2 sort Of nld- fashioned dignity, across the eiearsng. He carried a walking sticE crooked oyer his right arm.
 Isae soldiers must have seen him nssuuk the same time. for they started making sood~hum0Eed re- maaxks about him as soon as he