The Ely miner., 1943-12-30
CHAPTER TX


of them as soon as they sat down.
miguel" she said suddenly.
How strong is the Falange
here?"
He glanced at her calmly.
''It's been disbanded. Why do you
ask?"
Il was just wondering. Was your
father a member of it?"
Most of the Spanish people here
were"
Were your"
"I'm not Spanish-I'm Puerto Ri
can," he said with smile. What
would you like to eat? You'd better
get used to Spanish food gradually.
What about some chicken soup and
an omelette? I don't want you to
have stomach ache-or to get fat"
Anne could not tell when she first
became aware of the woman in the
black dress on the other side Of the
street.
She was standing in front Of shop
window, looking at them through the
open arcade. Her eyes met Anne's
now, and held them so intently that
there was no possibility of being un-
aware of her any longer. 1t was
not a hostile interest exactly, but it
was not friendly in any sense. And
most of the glances she'd met on
the street had been very friendly
indeed-heart-warmingly so, as a
matter of fact. It seemed to be
quality of the people.
"The people Of Puerto Rico are
extremely loyal to the United
States," Miguel was saying. "Inde-
pendence isn't burning issue, not
now. Statehood, or some kind of do
minion status"
Miguel" She interrupted him
abruptly. WHO is that girl across
the street?"
She realized at the same time
that she didn't want to know, and
that it was too late. He was turning
around. Her heart died slowly. Why
couldn't she have been a woman of
the world? Or Latin the Latin
women went on the theory that what
they didn't know didn't hurt them.
Miguel was looking at the girl now.
Anne thought she saw him start
little, and a faint flush darken his
cheek. The girl looked at him, but
did net speak or make any gesture
of recognition. The only thing Anne
seemed to see in her face that was
different was a sort of sullen def
ance that changed instantly as if
she was little frightened, before
she turned and went off down the
street.
Miguel turned back. Anne reached
down to pick up her napkin, not to
have to see his face. She didn't
want to have to know. 1t had all
been so lovely she didn't want it
spoiled.
"could I have some more coffee,
do yeu think?" she said, trying to
sound ordinarily casual.
Miguel was looking down at his
plate. He was disturbed and an
CRY. She couldn't tell which was
dominant. There was pale line
around his compressed lips, and his
eyes were fixed and hard, and wor-
ried. He didn't seem to hear her
speak. Then he looked at her
abruptly.
'Tm sorry if you were an
noyed," he said. The anger melted
out of his face, and something very
gentle and protective came into it
as his eyes met hers.
''Oh, but wasn't. I just :"
She hesitated. She wanted to say
that she was the one to be sorry
she'd been naive and stupid. But
she didn't dare. She was on such
strange and unfamiliar ground that
the best thing to do was ignore it.
Pete Wilcox sat in the office of
the Assistant Chief of Staff, G 2, at
the General Headquarters of the
Puerte Rican Department. He won-
dered what the shades of the cowled
monks who had read their breviaries
and told their beads along the cool
interior galleries would think if they
knew. 1t didn't look much like a
monastery now, with the clerical
force trooping out and the staff Off
GERS and uniformed soldiers closing
up fer the day. He looked at the
clock. He was waiting for Colonel
Fletcher to get back from a meet
ing with the local representative of
the F. B. I.
He hadn't talked to Anne all day.
She was out the three times he'd
called. The message in front of him,
that she'd meet him at the Granada
at seven, was cold comfort, but it
was comfort all the same. He
couldn't get her out of his head.
He lit cigarette and opened the
paper folder stamped SECRET"
There were two new items to 60
In it. One was brought in at
noon by taxi-driver, the other lat
er by a ragged urchin who sold
papers and lottery tickets. The
whole thing was good collection
for less than three days, Pete
thought grimly. If it weren't for
Anne. Her face was there in the
folder, looking up at him, wide-eyed
and wilful and very precious.
I'm going bats" he thought. He
picked up the two sheets of cheap
tablet paper. He was sick of all the
spying ferrets, Sinking around, re-
porting every move people made.
Pete lit cigarette. He heard Colo
mel F7etcher's quick firm tread COM
ing along the gallery. He put the
cigarette down and started to get
up.
''Sit down." Colonel Fletcher said.
''Or bring that stuff and come in
my office."
He hung up his sun helmet and
put his swagger stick on the chair.
What about couple of weeks