The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-16
ESCAPE CHAPTER XXVI
MARY WORTH'S FAMILY

SAANA AGN sAAANA
 Long before 1t was time, men were at their pests. They huddled in their coats and waited, rifles ready A wind had sprung up during the night and driven a pack of low clouds in from the sea,
 Sverre and Osterholm crouched in the brush behind the hotel and heard the guard march past them on his last round. Then, from the far side of the building came his untitled call. Who goesg"
 And the answer, Relief for the guard"
 They flashed their light once twice. and then the reply came from the back doorway. Bent low, they scurried across the open space and into the hall.
 Gerd was beside them, breath ing heavily, They heard her close the door. "Al clear?" Sverre whispered.
 No" came the answer in low, panicky voice. T tried to get out to warn you, but we're too closely guarded"
 "WnyP" The farmer clutched at her arm.
 "The 30 men you've stationed back of the hotel they won't get out. The captain smelled rat, He wirelessed, Two hundred SOL dters came in last night over the south bridge"
 osterholm felt the blood drain out of him. Where are theyg"
 Half a mile back, Camped tn the woods"
 where's Gunnare"
 "rsown below here, Knut, what do we doe"
 "Just what we've planned. Take us to the cellar"
 This way" Gerd whispered, They tiptoed after her down the hall, and watched while with in finite patience and slowness she took hold of a knob, turned 1t, and pulled open the door, Down at the foot of the flight of stairs one dim light was showing, A guard stood silent leaning on his rife, hals turned away from them,
 They were on top of him before he knew what had happened, Sverre with a clap down onto h.s shoulders, the ? farmer hobhling after and wrenchiag his gun away. They bound and gagsed him, then raced over and turned the key in the wine cellar door 1t had all been don so quietly not even the prisoners heard a sound,
 "Gunnar, Kaare, Nils Quick"
 6unnar walked out and Kaare hohhled after him, They held their arms up against the light, and helped Nils Brategaard between them, for he was too weak to stand. Their faces were black with dirt and a siS-day beard, The shoemaker's jaw and the side of his head were still grgny with crusted blood,
 We got out the back" said oS- terholm. Here, I'll help you He stopped and lifted the sick man onto his shoulder, and then with out a word more made for the stairs.
 Have you guns for uss" asked 0unnar.
 "Yes, Itn break in a few min utes,"
 "Hurry," oesd whispered down at them,
 osterholm nodded, and still car xying the sick man, dashed out end across to the trees, He made it barely in time, When the path was clear again the shoemaker followed, hobhling across the snow and after him Gunnar>
 One of the soldiers must have heard the men moving in the brush, for he called, ''Whos theree" and when no answer came, 1irea into tho darkness
 Gerd had one moment more to make up her mind, but then she saw the soldier coming toward the door, blocking her way out She ran back along the hall to her room, Men were already tWMhling down the stairs from the upper landing,
 Among the trees, osterholm gathered them around him, m take Bratcgaard down that way he said hreathlesSN, and pointed toward the left, ~YoN, GNanar> Kaare. down to the right, and get into town from the road Sperre. net back to the men on the heights IF they try to come in toward the hotel theyn he trapped between Che garrison and the 200 Tel them to break and get through to Kierlof on the north road"
 The boy nodded and was gone, They heard troops running about ln the inn. A light In the hallway vas turned on, Meet you at Nal ken,s store" Gunnar called and Chen he and the shoemaker slsd otf Into the dark.
 Osterholm llfted the sick man again. T can make it. Knut," BrateRaard kept saying, n can make 1t. Let me down" The farmer paid no attention. .
 
 Just aS he was starting. 1t came what he had been waiting for. and the cold ran down his back. Loud and clear ia the night cir. Ike some mnnstrUus clock beating the hour, zhM church bell oaaaA e0zllnR. soon@-