Ruby Lorraine Radford

“ That’s a very long time.”
“I never saw such magnificent trees,” said Hazel. Her eyes turned here and there as if she could not take in enough of the beauty.
“And smell the fragrance of the sun on the pine needles,” said Kitty.
“A wise old Hindu told me once that man can gain renewed vitality in a pine grove quicker than anywhere else,” Mr. Carter told them.
“Then anybody ought to live forever here,” said Brad. ”

“ Maybe if I’d put him to bed myself I would have touched him and found he had a fever.”
“Don’t be absurd, Kitty,” said Hazel almost severely. “You couldn’t have prevented his picking up some germ. Stop blaming yourself for what can’t be helped.”
“I know. You’re only trying to make me feel better about it,” said Kitty, wiping her tears with a large handkerchief which Brad had thrust into her hands.
“That’s right. Dry your tears. You know men don’t like to see a woman cry,” Hazel reminded her.
Kitty smiled. “Brad’s been awful good—helping us out.” ”

“ Kitty admitted. “But Hazel, isn’t it wonderful to be able to help people at a time like this?”
“There’s nothing in life quite so wonderful. You have the spirit of a real Canteen worker, Kitty. It’s a privilege to feed men’s bodies when they’re hungry, but it’s still more wonderful to give comfort to their souls and anxious minds as I saw you doing several times today.”
Kitty had had no greater sense of pride when she donned her cap and gown at graduation than she felt the day she was entitled to wear her Canteen uniform the first time. ”

“ But she made bold to ask one further question.
“Do you know where they haul the garbage, Dad?”
He led her to the window and pointed across the marshes. “See that smoke on the horizon.”
“Yonder—way south?”
“That’s it. That’s where they burn it.”
“Why so far away?”
“We couldn’t stand the stench if it was too close. Even at that distance a southwest wind will bring the odor into my window. I’ll surely be thankful when they use the incinerator again.”
Kitty’s mind was clicking like a teletype machine as she left the hospital. ”

“ The mention of cigarette ashes made Kitty think of the cigar ash falling on the sailor’s shoe in the bus. Then with a feeling of shock she recalled that the sailor had come aboard the bus in the oyster cannery district. Could there possibly be any connection between the two fires? She knew that gasoline or kerosene was often used by saboteurs in setting fires. Perhaps the main motive had not been the destruction of the cannery and shacks, but the shipyards and government docks beyond. ”

“ He had the look of a man whose dealings with law-breakers had soured him on the world.
“I must confess I didn’t do any managing,” Kitty admitted ruefully. “I was sitting here waiting for Dad when in came Lieutenant Cary.”
“Waiting in the dark?” her father asked.
“I turned off the light to watch the storm—see what I could see outside,” Kitty floundered.
“So—he didn’t realize anyone was in here?” asked the officer.
Kitty’s excited breath caught in her throat a moment before she could explain, “He went straight to Dad’s desk with a flashlight, and picked up those order sheets.” ”

“ Sally went back to the kitchen to end their teasing, and Kitty asked, “Is the nutrition course very hard?”
“Oh, no. Miss Pearson makes it very interesting. You learn all about food needs in emergencies and food values for all times,” explained Mrs. Evans.
“I guess we could all learn a lot about that.”
“Indeed we could! Part of our work, too, is giving instructions and demonstrations to people. Good health and sane living are so dependent on proper diet.”
“More so than most people will admit,” said Judy. “You’ll learn about that in nutrition class.” ”

“ Fortunately the wind was out of the east and carried smoke away from them, so Kitty had a clear view of the dump. She shivered to see buzzards circling above the smoking pile of refuse. What a fitting place, she thought, for spies to meet for their diabolical planning! Had some foreign agent met Punaro here this morning to take away that box of supplies she had noticed on the barge? ”

“ The boys had already been shrimping a couple of hours in the shallows of this inlet. When the station wagon turned a sharp bend in the beach the girls saw a curl of smoke rising beyond a large sand dune that shielded the light of the campfire from possible watchers at sea.
Vera had to keep the car to a narrow strip of beach between the rolling dry dunes and the breakers. When the boys saw them pull up behind the dune they came trotting over to help unload.
“We’ve got the nicest mess of shrimp you ever saw,” boasted Ned Miller proudly.
“How long have you been here?” asked Kitty. ”

“ Kitty answered, and she felt her interest and anticipation in the work increasing.
“The most exciting part of the work comes at the time of an emergency,” explained Mrs. Evans. “I helped once during a flood out in Mississippi. That was when I first went into Canteen work.”
“When we read about such things in the papers they seem so unreal and far away,” said Kitty, suddenly feeling a great sense of responsibility in her new undertaking. She realized now that a Canteen worker must have the courage and endurance of a true soldier if she was to fulfill her obligations. ”

“ You look as fresh as if you hadn’t had your household to look after all day.”
“I must admit I haven’t had any idle moments,” Kitty confessed.
While Hazel was in the bathroom Kitty glanced around the room that had been made so homelike with many individual touches. On the dresser she noticed a picture of a handsome man, evidently slightly older than Hazel. Her heart sank with misgivings. Perhaps Hazel was already engaged to someone. For a moment she felt a pang of jealousy and resentment. But she simply couldn’t believe Hazel would lead her father on if she were in love with someone else. ”

“ Kitty tumbled back into the boat, while Brad released their line, so they could push off. He was not a moment too soon, for the dogs dashed along the dock and hung over the edge, their fierce jaws dripping as they barked furiously.
“What a reception!” exclaimed Kitty. “It really looks as though Uncle Mose won’t get his smoking tobacco today.”
“No launch tied up here. I suppose Beeson is away, and this is the guard he has set.”
“Would an honest man be so careful that nobody comes prowling around?”
“I doubt it.”
“Sally and Lana Bright have lived in this low country all their lives. ”

“ And you still think I can do it and not neglect my duty to Billy?”
“Of course, my dear. We have many mothers with several children, who manage to keep up their quota of Canteen hours every year and not neglect their homes. In fact they’re better mothers and homemakers for having taken the courses.”
“I’ve got to hug somebody—you!” exclaimed Kitty, impulsively throwing her arms around Miss Pearson. “It’s so wonderful to find something I can really do to help.” ”

“ Kitty’s father had said many times that she had been born with the salt of the sea in her veins, like all the Carters. Two generations of naval officers had been preceded by a great-grandfather who was captain of his own sailing vessel, so Kitty had only been following the family tradition when she aspired toward the WAVES. But she decided that afternoon as she headed back toward Palmetto Island that serving the Canteen was the perfect substitute under the circumstances. ”

“ Kitty could not hide her surprise. Chess had become intimately associated in her mind with Cary and his partners.
Hazel laughed. “In my old age I’ve suddenly decided to become a chess fan.”
“It does seem to be quite a fad around here,” admitted Kitty. ”

“ She would not be going merely for her own pleasure, but to help the boys forget they were homesick and lonely and still had a big job ahead of them.
“You know they won’t allow just any sort of girl to go to these dances,” Vera told her. “Only those of the highest caliber. They’re not always easy to find, especially on an island as small as Palmetto. We need all the nice girls we can get to help us out.”
So Kitty had attended the dance last Tuesday, and enjoyed it immensely. It was then she had noticed, though only casually, the Snack Bar which the Canteen operated. ”

“ Miss Pearson glanced her way and waved.
“I think she’s going to be nice to work with,” said Kitty happily. “I can hardly wait till Monday to begin my training.”
“Can I ride in the station wagon with you when you’re a Canteen worker?” Billy wanted to know.
“If they’ll let you.”
At the corner where they had to turn toward the docks, the taxi was held up by traffic. A crowded Palmetto Island bus in front of them was loading passengers. A dozen or more people couldn’t get on at all. Among them Kitty noticed Lieutenant Cary, one of the physicians from their own hospital. ”

“ I was just wondering what’s to be done about all these people. Where will they sleep tonight? What will they do till more homes can be built?”
“And well you may, my dear,” said Mrs. Evans kindly. “The town is packed to capacity with war workers. In spite of that many homes have already made room for some of these people. The Red Cross will provide tents for others until permanent shelter can be found. In the meantime they are dependent on the Canteen Corps for food.”
Kitty’s eyes were starry as she looked at her leader. “It’s wonderful work, isn’t it, Mrs. Evans?” ”

“ Evans was still talking to Ned when she joined them.
“The Harpers have a young baby,” she said almost bluntly.
He glanced at her quickly, and his sensitive face flushed. “Maybe you think it’s silly of me,” he apologized. “But it’s an awful feeling to be three thousand miles away from your wife and baby.”
“You’re not silly at all! I’d be thrilled to pieces to go to see the Harpers’ baby with you. They’re friends of Hazel Dawson. You know Ensign Dawson up at the hospital?”
“Sure. She’s always ready to help somebody.” ”

“ Though she had done much volunteer work at the bar she felt somewhat elated tonight over being a full-fledged Canteen worker.
She was in an expansive mood and said as she and Judy were slicing bread for sandwiches, “Let’s make ’em extra large, with plenty of stuffing just to celebrate our graduation.”
“You might make that special dressing you were telling me about,” Judy suggested.
“May I, Mrs. Evans?” Kitty asked.
“Of course. The boys always enjoy something different.”
Kitty had learned to make a tart creole sauce for sandwich filling from their cook in New Orleans, so she prepared a bowlful. ”

“ Kitty thought how wonderful it was to live where she could occasionally drop in on her father at his work. He had not finished the letters when the door was opened wide and to her amazement young Punaro stepped in and picked up her father’s half-filled wastebasket. He didn’t see her till he turned to go back to the hall, where he had left the large canvas-sided container which he rolled along the halls to collect trash. ”

“ She looked puzzled and distressed. “That’s true,” she had to admit. “Just because some Bayshore Bakery bread was found on that sub, and because we saw a nailed-up box on a trash barge doesn’t prove anything about ‘who dunnit.’”
“And just because there’s an easy way to climb this pine that has a seat at the top doesn’t prove that anybody on this island is a spy.”
“Of course boys have been building seats in trees for hundreds of years. Maybe it was old Uncle Mose’s young ‘Massa’ when he was last here.” ”

“ I didn’t even think about being nervous—that is, not till Billy told me about seeing the man through our glasses.”
They were silent while they finished their supper, then Kitty said, “Brad, I’ve always heard—that spies come ashore from the subs in rubber boats.”
“So they do.”
“But didn’t Jimmy say the one they saw was an old bateau?”
“So it was. Maybe that’s the boat that comes out to meet the enemy boats. We’ve already caught several of the native fishermen round here in the pay of enemy spies. No doubt there’re still plenty of others free and active.” ”

“ You’re never going to climb such a high tree again.”
While Billy picked up his imaginary gun once more and played at shooting them, Kitty’s mind was in turmoil. Finding this tree lookout was certainly a sequel to what Uncle Mose had told them. It seemed quite obvious that the man who had leased Terrapin Island wanted to be sure that this end of the estate was kept entirely private, even to the extent of moving an ignorant old negro from his life-long home.
“Can you see very far?” she asked, when Brad reached the top.
“Plenty. The highest lookout that could be found in the entire marshes.” ”

“ After one bite of the sandwich Brad’s eyes bulged. “Oh boy! This tastes like something from Toni’s swanky joint in New Orleans.”
Kitty laughed in delight. “Our old cook used to work at Toni’s. She gave me lots of his secrets.”
Jimmy Barnes sat beside Brad taking huge bites of a sandwich. He enthusiastically added his praise to Brad’s. “Boy, but this is really seasoned up like home cooking.”
“About the best seasoning they give us up at the hospital is the shrimp creole.” ”

“ Knowing from experience that money could often make a person forget unpleasant things Mr. Carter took out his billfold. “Guess you’d like a little change for the trip to town.”
Kitty laughed. “You’ve never known me to refuse money, have you, Dad?”
“Not yet.” He handed her a bill. “You might get Billy that ball and mitt he’s been begging for. It’ll soon be warm enough for him to play outdoors all day. Maybe the ball will keep him from climbing so many trees.”
Kitty smiled. “He’s a regular monkey when it comes to trees. ”

“ Mr. Mason says you don’t have to live away from home.”
“Of course, they’ll be delighted to have you, my dear. Come over to the station wagon, and I’ll give you some leaflets telling about our work.”
“Wait a minute till I get Billy. He’ll be sure to fall in the pond if I go out of sight.”
“You go ’long. I’ll look after Billy,” volunteered Brad. “I like that boy. He’s enough like my oldest sister’s kid to be his twin.”
As they turned toward the station wagon that had brought over the Canteen supplies, Kitty began to have misgivings. ”

“ These Canteen girls sure have a genius for making sandwiches.”
“Oh, no, don’t bother, please. I’m not hungry.”
“I’ve a kid sister who’s learned lots about good food since she’s been a Canteen worker.”
“Kid sister?” repeated Kitty, puzzled.
He laughed. “Well, she’s not such a kid after all, I guess. Junior in college.”
“How can she be a Canteen worker and go to college, too?”
“Oh, she has plenty of extra time to get in her Canteen quota of hours. A girl can do Canteen work anywhere she happens to be living.” ”

“ Kitty said, encouraging Mrs. Janice to talk.
“The night watchman said he saw a stranger in dark clothes hurrying past the factory not ten minutes before he discovered the fire.” Then she added in a lower tone, “A sailor, too, he claims.”
Could it be possible that the boy she had seen on the bus had done this awful thing? But Kitty tried not to show her suspicions as she said, “But people must constantly pass by the cannery.”
“That’s so, of course, but you know how it is. You hear all sorts o’ talk. People round here were mighty careful ’bout fire, knowing how shoddy our houses were.” ”