Page:Storm Over Paris.pdf/254

must compose yourself, Gertrude. Lately it's been impossible to talk to you-you get so excited. What I want to tell you is that I'm not going to the factory any more."

Gertrude breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God that's all,"

"There's something else," Anna went on. "I'm leaving Paris and I'm taking the children with me."

"What do you mean!" Gertrude got to her feet.

"Sit down and I'll tell you everything." Anna moved her chair closer to Gertrude's. "The Germans, my dear cousin, are much much closer than you imagine." She talked in a low, cold manner, like one whose mind was on other matters. "And this time we can't rely on the courage of our army-because the betrayal comes from within."

"Betrayal from within?" echoed Gertrude mystified.

"Haven't you heard of the Fifth column?" Anna asked.

"Oh, I see! How terrible." She swayed dizzily; her face blanched, as if the blood had been drained out of it.

"I, I'm sorry I frightened you," Anna stammered, mopping her brow with a napkin. "What was I saying?"

"You said you were leaving Paris with the children."

"Oh, yes," declared Anna. "You must realize I don't intend to stay here and manufacture ammunition for the Germans to grab. That would be terrible, Gertrude terrible. Tons and tons of reserve supplies are piled up-and they've never been moved from the warehouses. The brave French soldiers are fighting with sticks or with their bare hands, while millions of rifles are here behind the lines.

"Betrayal, betrayal from within," she moaned.

Gertrude saw Anna's distress and the tears came to her eyes.

"How do you know all this, Anna?" she asked.

"From the people who are well informed."