European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 29, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Main Jodge was one of a Row of Iden tical Cabins All of which opened in modern ranch style from a Long Cov ered walk. As he stopped by it Keith experienced a Shock of Surprise the lights were turned on in his rooms. Snapping off headlights and ignition be sat a moment in the half dark. Someone was waiting for him and he believed he knew who. Very politely or otherwise Routier  ask him to leave. Very politely he would have to apologize and that failing. With abrupt decisive movements Keith came to life. He opened the car door and stepped out into the  was when All the lights went out not Only in his rooms but  Keith. He Wash out Long just Long enough to hit the oiled Road beside the car with his face. His head had a Lump on it that throbbed and he guessed what had hit him and  he turned his head curiously. The Light was still on in his  few minutes later Keith stood in the. Doorway of his Cabin with his tie slightly off Center and a smudge on his left Cheek. And then for a moment rethought his recent bump on the head was giving him hallucinations for there she was the blonde he unconsciously had thought so Young and in Noe it. She was sitting on the divan in his own Cabin until she leaped up looking frightened. He guessed he did look  said hello with a Lack of Welcome and leaned Down to Brush dust from his trouser leg. Or. Keith the girl caught a rounded lower lip Between White Teeth. Or. Keith what happened tripped he said shortly. Straightening he managed Awan smile As he looked direct. By at her but there was a glinting his deep set Gray  the Sweet innocent Little blonde just tripped he repeated. I m not looking pretty enough to enter Tain company. Will you excuse me while i clean up i la be right  the girl still stood in the Middle of the living room when he reappeared a Short time later minus coat and tie. He leaned in the doorway of the bedroom wiping his hands on a Small White  was on the Way to my Cabin when i saw your Light the girl began to explain in a voice one note too High and too pleasant. I thought i d drop in and say thank you for what you did for me tonight. When you did t answer my Knock i just happened to try the door and.  was unlocked and the Light on Keith asked sharply and his hands be came  turning away from her his gaze raked the bedroom for signs of rifling. If someone had been there looking through his things it might mean. And then he kicked himself mentally for being a Gullible Fob. Someone was there. The girl. It must have been he look out who had tried to prevent Keith from walking in on her. But Why he turned Back to the living room rolling shirt sleeves Down. A smile lifted Only one Corner of his  think the High Elevation s got me he said pleasantly. I Don t remember leaving the Light on and the door open but right now i m glad i did she looked a Little disturbed at  was edging toward the door and Keith followed her. I just wanted to say thank you she repeated. Now the girl had one hand on thedoor  put his Palm against the door " you re riot going so soon miss Stevens it s  but i d like to talk to you about what s happened tonight Keith pro tested and taking her led her gently but firmly Back to the Green plaid divan. There s plenty of excite ment around Here in t there he sat Down beside her taking cruel Delight in her nervousness As he looked under a newspaper and two Magazine sin search of a fresh pack of Cigar ets on the Coffee table. He found it. ,. I want to ask you How Benson is he said. I had to leave for Rifenb before i found out " he s All right the girl sat on the Edge of the divan weekend May 29, 1948 with her hands clasped in her Lap and Keith could t see 1iereyes because she kept them on. The Cigar ets he was  m sorry i had to Knock him out said  am  but the evening was t a Complete failure he ventured. Now we re acquainted you and  it might have happened More pleas Antly the girl said. Do you intend to stay on at the sky yes said Keith in a voice that was much sharper than he had intended. Then he had a look at a different Alana Stevens a Brief look that baffled but interested him. In her level Clear gaze there was the look of a woman not a girl. There was searching seriousness without a Trace of the Young frightened stare or Gay forced brightness. The she turned her head and said stiffly i Hope the remainder of your vacation Ismore pleasant than tonight and Keith found himself disappointed in her  Shook his head with mock relish. Until now i Haven t lived All in on evening i Rescue a Beautiful blonde Knock out a villain and get knocked out myself i a glad i came to Lake in the  was surprised at the Gap that came from the girl. It did t sound faked at ?" Alana said As though the. Word choked her. Knocked out Keith looked at her searchingly. You never could Tell about women. There was a Clear clean look in her Blue eyes that he might have liked did Cal Only resent Bill s interest in the blonde or did he fear him for some other reason yes he said coldly. I was knocked  you said you tripped after i was hit said Keith. Iwasyn t Clear out but somebody thought i was. Of course you would t have an idea who it might have been it was an accusation not a question and Keith spoke it with his eyes on his hands. No the girl  mind said Keith wearily As though he dismissed the matter. Cani buy you a drink he stood up slowly As he spoke. Nothing fancy like the dining room  thank you not  Alan stood up also. Keith raised one Eyebrow. Maybe should  if you re old enough to have  la be Twenty two next november Alana said before she realized he was making fun of her. That s a Relief said Bill. Then m sure you d like a  his faintly mocking tone touched off a Flash of anger in her eyes. I d love a Nightcap she said with too much enthusiasm and sat Down again. Keith rummaged in his suitcase  bottle. And from the bathroom he. Brought two water glasses one of the wiped carefully with a Towel. He set. The glasses on the Coffee table an poured generous drinks placing one in Alana s  pleasant vacation said Keith. But Alana Stevens did t drink. She stared into the Amber liquid and said faintly ill need a  Bill Keith s hand closed Over the to of the Glass pulling it away from her. I should have known you would t Tike it straight. Sorry As though hypnotized the girl watched him set the Glass Down on the Coffee table. Still his fingers touched Only the rim of  the sides where her fingerprints would be their glances met each Sharp wit understanding. Then Alana lifting her shoulders said thank you just the same but if you Don t mind i will have a cig Aret she leaned Forward to reach for the pack on the Coffee table and Bill catch ing on moved too late. Alana s hand before it. Was snatched by the wrist struck the Glass sharply. For one breathless moment the  what Bill Keith was like with any one unlucky enough to be his  the expression was gone. How awkward of me Alana murmured trying to disregard the pressure-of4iis lingers. Keith released her. He said i sorry and Don t worry about the Glass it in t our heirloom  fragments that had been the water Glass Lay in a puddle of  Keith leaned Forward lifted the pack of Cigar ets out of spreading wet Ness and h As he did so Alana stood up again. He watched her. She was t even going to try to make a Graceful exit this time. He let her work with the night Latch and when she had open edit the strained silence Between them was a palpable thing. So i Don t get any explanation at All Keith asked in a cold voice explanation she looked Over her shoulder and Keith closed the distance Between them with Quick strides. To begin with he said this door was t open before you came tonight was it who sent you to look around Alana Stevens the girl s Short laugh thin and High pitched bordered on hysteria. I just stopped in to say i did t lose my Job because of what happened she insisted. I just wanted to be Friendly i wonder said Keith under his  girl read his intention too late to escape. His  went around her and his kiss came Down hard against her lips. In helpless outrage she pushed against him but when Keith released her it was his own idea. He let her go slowly looking Down at her with an expression of sobered  could have been wrong about the door head fitted you re  everything cried Alana Stevenss she jerked open the door beside Herand ran out Bill Keith turned around slowly and walked across the room. So his initial Effort toward solving the mystery of Rick s death had netted him exactly Zero. Even his attempt to get firmly established with the girl had been a dismal failure. Her presence in this Cabin puzzled him but she could get a key  Routier had Given her one. They could both wonder about his sudden vigorous display of interest in. Her arid decide to learn what his business  easy Way to find out was to Send a blonde. Was t he trying a Sim Ilar method to Check on Routier Keith stopped pacing and stood motionless. Something was wrong. Even if she did resist having her fingerprints taken the girl did t fit the picture. That was when he quit thinking of Alana Stevens As the  it had taken him five minutes to realize he wanted to apologize for the kiss and he was Halfway out the door before he re called he did t know where to find her. After she left Bill Keith a Cabin Alana Stevens fled Down the roofed walk to her own door. Once inside he Cabin she turned on the Light and stood blinking tears angrily. But there was resoluteness about her movements As she undressed for bed and whisked old Cream  in front of a Mirror. There was resoluteness too inner movements As she reached for a Small clock that pointed to two a.m., setts alarm for six and climbed into bed. Before the alarm on the dressing table rang she was up again dressing in Gray jodhpurs boots and Blue sued jacket. Not Long after she was out in the Crisp coolness of the Mountain morning. Walking Down the oiled Road to the state Highway she crossed it an entered a dirt Road which was the. Only break in the dense stand of Pine  varnished Wood sign beside the Road announced. Lake in the sky stable horses rented hour or Day in the Clearing near Lake in the sky stables sunday Jones the Man Ager tossed Hay Over a Corral Fence and then leaned on the Pitchfork to watch Alana come toward him slim an Graceful in her Natty outfit."mornin1, miss Stevens he Yelle heartily before she had reached him. Alana smiled the first composed natural smile she had shown in Many hours. Good morning sunday.". The girl sat on a Bale of Hay outside the stable door while sunday Dis appeared to return leading Jill a Small sturdy Black horse. He helped the girl to mount and then stood close to the Stirrup to say in a lowered voice How s things up where you re Goin miss Stevens not very Good. I m worried. An not Only about that but something happened at the  Alana Steven Shook her head sharply worriedly. A new guest was asking questions about me too sunday. A Man named William Keith. I can t help thinking. He maybe a  the old mans eyes narrowed. Zouain t Doin nothing wrong miss  lifted her Chin. No. But Why is. He so interested in me sundays Blue eyes twinkled. Yera pretty girl " the White head bobbed with Vigo Rand the girl smiled Down As she turned her horse toward the  the first Bend a narrower Trail would Lead away to the left Jill the Little Black Mare had made the trip almost every morning for two wee Sand she walked eagerly As though she anticipated  Stevens let her hands rest on the Pommel of the Saddle and looked around her with Wistful eyes at the wildflowers scattered among the Pines then upward in the direction of noisy unseen Birds and chipmunks. When her gaze lowered again Seesaw Bill Keith coming Down the  dirt Road from the Highway. He lifted his hand in a Brief Salute and called Good morning i saw you leave your Cabin a while ago he said quietly. I. Wanted to talk with you  Alana did t answer and Keith faltered into the painful pause almost irritably i m not used to making apolo Gies miss Stevens apologies at last the girl s face seemed to have found the expression it  smiled a soft forgiving smile. If you mean about last night we a forget it ?" she said. And immediately she was serious with  Accident. Do you. Feel All right. Fine said Keith. I m glad said Alana lightly Gath ering the reins from Jill s neck. And now if you Don t mind i la have to go continued on Page 22 17