Show LIFE AND DEATH by THAYER WALDO 0 by mccau syndicate avlo J LIE RE were three la in the little ti THERE office its overhead fixture cast a fl lal at white glare down upon them sharply illumining Illum ining faces that were so her ber and tense garrison sat before the desk a tele phone receiver to his ear waiting with biberg hovered close by watching his face similarly silent by the window stood vilma stat esque black an evening evelln wrap caught loosely about one der she stared through the smutted panes at a blank wall twenty feet beyond ees wide the voice of the man at the instrument suddenly sounded hello what no kol I 1 damn it I 1 dont want berlin this Is zenith pictures hollywood and were trying to put through a call to hotel graz in vienna for what oh ch I 1 how soon 11 11 well keep the line open and call me the moment theres a chance ile he cracked the earpiece earple ce home fibers leaned forward to ask thinly so what no good make connection the publicity man said it was little above a murmur service all tied up cant tell when well get a clear wire she wanted to give me derlin berlin but no use get any information there A pause his gaze went to the im moble figure across the room at last he queried vilmas positive hes in vienna sure the producer muttered how we know where hed be staying she got from him a cable yesterday just before hes bes taking the train in berlin garrison mumbled something darkly unintelligible and slumped back bach in the chair after an instant he pulled out cigarettes plucked one and passed biberg the pack when both had lights the publicity man growled damn strange quirk of fate or something ellch getting there just the day this revolution busts loose Ft Fi bergs head bobbed in glum assent yes and him an austrian too all ma ima thinks hes bes sure to be getting mixed up la in it such a business I 1 the best director we got best in the business phena gling around in civil wars and maybe getting all shot up oy 0 e I 1 garrison rose abruptly and commenced to stride the floor god almighty J LI 11 he gritted gritter grit ted Is that all you can think of what about him the man weve eve known and worked with remember theres bullets and blood and death over in those vienna streets and erichs right in the middle of it erichs there the woman who loes him Is here and were helpless that mean anything to you savagely the producer ground his cigarette under a heel and blurted why dont you shut up I 1 when im trying to forget things like that you have to be throwing them in my face I 1 the other man swung around forcing a smile 1 I know he said brusquely sorry its just sort of got me this waiting and not being able to do anything I 1 mean perhaps it if vilma here or if shed only say something ile he halted fixing an oblique brood ins ing look upon the woman tier her posture was unab unchanged anaed save for a closer wind of the cloak about her shapely figure garrison swore a sort soft guti guttural ural sound and flicked his tag fag end against the wall before him spread out on the desktop lay a paper from the buff rectangle a huge scare head bead screamed VIENNA RIOTING GROWS TOURISTS IN JEOPARDY for a long moment he stood glowering down at it scanning once again the columns of print below suddenly he spoke and for the first time his voice was raised harsh with baffled ad anger er liste we gotta do something anything 1 ill go 90 nuts just standing around here reading stuff like that and thinking about himi him I 1 lord it if hed only stayed in berlin one more day I 1 biberg waved a meaty hand hey wait a minute I 1 remember we aint absolutely sure yet but maybe he be did I 1 the pub publicity lacity man snapped his bis lingers crying youre right of course we arentt perhaps hes okay after all all ailt have missed the train or something and no with startling sharpness her voice rang out and the two men swung around simultaneously she bad turned a little and was facing them her expression fixedly som her that is IB futile talk she said you are simply trying to create illusions starting toward her garrison urged now dont look at it that way all ma ina yoji io know we really haven t above his 3 words 0 bells bern clamor 0 sounded the phone phona whirling he be dashed for the instrument snatched it up no other slightest gound bound was in that room as he feverishly barked yes es hello I 1 operator that clear wire yes my god yes yosl I 1 let me have them em quick I 1 vianna liobel graz graz nello hello hello you yon speak peak r inglish english good I 1 this is hollywood cal california I 1 for nia calling are you open and doing business well is a mr erich r registered eg there R RA A U T ai MA A N N erich franz tinann the director all right but please hu hurry rry I 1 a then a wordless waiting moment VII vilma ma had slowly croad crossed the room and stood now just before the desk restlessly her e eyes yes wandered over the news sheet the publicity man was a speaking again yes tes I 1 not there and been at all youre absolutely certain about this Wonder wonderful full thanks thanks a million the receiver clattered from his nerveless fingers as garrison leapt up shouting ties iles safe he be must be I 1 lie he 90 eol 1 now we can with a low moan of anguish vilma closed her eyes swayed a little and sank down upon the floor stunned the men stood rooted for a split second then sprang forward together biberg went down on one knee by the still form half raised her in his arms the matter happening here he babbled querulously why should she be passing out just when every things okay garrison erect gazed down at the pale and tragic mask framed by jet hair at last he be turned away seeking uncertainly tor for something ile he saw only a tan paper black with type vigorously the producer was massaging vilmas temples she stirred ah ashes coming coining out of it bowl now I 1 he be exclaimed still I 1 cant figure w what hat good godl god garrisons Garriso Ws voice was low surcharged the man behind him looked up swiftly for an instant there was nothing further then slowly the publicity man pivoted in one hand was the paper a finger of the other pointed to a heading in the middle columns aberg bent nearer squinted for focus and made out GERMAN TRAFFIC VICTIM identified man killed by taxi before berlin depot Is hollywood director |