hots order. Guess who the big boy in
Italy is."

"Couldn't make a stab," Stan said.

"Rommel himself. He's to keep us from breaching the continent. Remember
how Herr Goebbels has been shouting that the Allies could never break
into the European fortress? Well Rommel is going to see that we don't
crack through." Allison laughed softly.

"Sure, an' we'll give 'em the same pastin' we gave him in Africa,"
O'Malley growled.

An hour passed and O'Malley was not called in. Supper of bread and thin
soup arrived and with it came the Gestapo officer. He seated himself on
a stool outside the bars and talked while the boys ate. O'Malley looked
at the food, then turned to the officer.

"'Tis not fit for a hog, this food."

"That's why you are getting it," the officer said and laughed loudly.

"We are entitled to decent rations," Stan said.

"What does it matter about the rations? I have just talked by radio to
headquarters. Unless you give us the information we want, you will be
shot. I have the order with me." He leered at the boys triumphantly.

"Pleasant sort of folks, you Nazis," Allison drawled.

"I will attend to the execution myself, tomorrow morning. You will have
tonight to think things over." He got to his feet and kicked aside the
stool.

Stan finished his tin of soup and stood up. He walked to the barred
door. The guard swung around and made a menacing motion with his rifle.
Stan grinned at him and stepped back. He was convinced the Gestapo
officer had told the guards to shoot on the least provocation, he could
read it in the man's eyes.

"Be careful," he said as he seated himself again. "The guards have been
told to get rid of us if they can find any excuse."

"I'd as soon be shot by a guard as a firing squad," Allison said.

"We might get the fellow up near the bars and get his keys," Stan said.

"Good idea," O'Malley agreed. "But how?"

"We'll get over near the door and start to whisper with our backs to
him. See if we can tease him up close," Stan suggested.

They moved over near the grating and began whispering. The guard stood
watching them. He was a full ten feet from the door and did not move.
His expressionless, beefy face showed not a flicker of interest. Finally
the boys gave it up.

"He has about as much curiosity as a turtle," Stan said sourly.

"Sure, an' they may put on a guard with a brain," O'Malley said
hopefully.

They sat down and tried to think up another scheme. At midnight