CHAPTER TWENTY REWARDS
Mr. Carter’s orders for Kitty to put all worries out of her mind and sleep, were easier given than followed. She knew that very well as she entered Hazel’s room. She thought a hot bath would do her more good than anything else. There were plenty of fresh towels on the rack in the bathroom, and Kitty was sure her friend would want her to make herself at home. She was just rubbing down after a relaxing soak, when she heard someone come in.
“That you, Hazel?” she called.
“Yes. Your dad told me you were here. I came as soon as I could get away.”
“Could you lend me some pajamas? I helped myself to a bath.”
“You’re more than welcome, darling. I’ll get you something to sleep in.”
A moment later a pair of flowered pajamas were thrust inside the bathroom door. When Kitty came out arrayed in the sleeping garments two sizes too large for her, Hazel had the cover already turned down on the bed.
“You hop right in, and I’ll tuck you up for the night.”
“You’re an angel to let me rest here.”
“It’s a privilege. The hospital will be jammed tonight.”
“I won’t feel easy till Billy and Jane are safely in. Where do you suppose they’ll sleep?”
“Your father is having a cot put in his own room for Billy. Jane will sleep in the maids’ quarters. They’re putting up cots in the recreation room and library for other people. Everyone on the island has been ordered to take refuge in the larger buildings. They say none of the cottages will be safe by morning.”
“There’ll be lots for the Canteen workers to do after this.”
“So you’d better stretch out there and get some sleep. But first drink this warm milk I brought you. Your father said you’d had no supper.”
Kitty’s heart swelled with gratitude. “You’re a dear, Hazel. I love you very much.”
Hazel suddenly put down the cup of milk and sat on the side of the bed, catching Kitty’s hands in hers. “And I love you very much, too, darling. It’ll be wonderful to have a daughter like you.”
Surprised, Kitty asked, “You mean—you really mean—?”
“Yes. I mean your father and I have planned to marry as soon as we could clear up this trouble.”
“Oh, Hazel, I am delighted!”
“He had only a moment just now to whisper that the worst is over, and that you helped bring it about.”
Kitty’s eyes were shining. “There’s so much to talk about I don’t think I can sleep. If I could only know Brad’s going to be all right I’d be too happy for words.”
“But you must sleep, dear. Your father said you’ve been through awful things and must rest. Here, drink this milk and go to sleep. I’ll come in as soon as you wake up and tell you how Brad is.”
Kitty drank the milk while Hazel stood beside her bed. As she handed her the cup she said softly, “It’ll seem almost like having my own mother again, Hazel, to have you.”
Quick tears welled in her friend’s eyes. “Nothing you could have said would make me feel more welcome, Kitten.” With a quick movement Hazel brushed the tears aside and said, “Now I must hurry back to my ward. I’ll see you in the morning.”
As Kitty settled down on the pillow she had no idea she could sleep. Even if her mind had not been so full of things to think about the howling wind was enough to keep anyone awake. She had not realized how utterly weary she was until she sank into that soft bed. The bath and the warm milk seemed to have magic effect, for almost at once she felt drowsy and soon slept.
“Oh, Hazel,” Kitty Said, “I’m Delighted!”
When she roused the shades were drawn, but she could see it was day. The wind was still blowing, but not with such fury as when she had gone to sleep. She glanced at the bedside clock and was shocked to see it was eleven-thirty. Hazel should have long since had her turn in the bed. When she sat up she saw her two suitcases on the floor, all stuck over with labels from her college days. Dear old Dad, he thought of everything. At least she would now have something to wear if their cottage had blown down during the night.
Her first thought on waking had been of Brad. How had he fared through the night? She found her yellow and blue plaid skirt and a blue sweater among the things her father had brought. She had dressed and was just brushing her hair when she heard someone at the door and turned to see Hazel.
“I feel terrible that I slept so late!” Kitty exclaimed.
“I’m delighted you could sleep. I put just a bit of sleeping powder in that milk last night. I was sure you’d need it.”
“Oh, you did! Guess I wouldn’t have slept without it. My mind was in such a turmoil. How’s Brad?”
“Much better. He wants to see you as soon as you wake. Room eighteen, third floor.”
“Oh, I’m so relieved.” Kitty gave a final flip to her hair, and turned to Hazel. “You look fresh as ever. Where did you sleep?”
“Oh, I had a good rest in Elsie’s room while she was on duty.” She sat down near the window. “Your dad and I had a long talk over our breakfast. He told me everything. You’ve been a wonder, Kitty.”
“But I won’t feel easy till Punaro and Beeson are captured. Did they arrest Punaro last night?”
Hazel shook her head. “No, he didn’t come in.”
“Seems no doubt he was the one who shot Brad.”
“The FBI have gone out now in a powerful motorboat. The wind is down enough for them to take a chance. They’re afraid to wait too long for fear the pair will get away.”
“Did the storm do much damage on the island?”
“I hate to tell you how much, dear. You can get a view of the destruction from Brad’s room.”
Kitty was instantly alert. “Then we’ll need every Canteen worker on the island. I must try to get in touch with Mrs. Evans. I suppose all the wires are down.”
“Oh, yes. But Mrs. Evans and her family slept in the recreation hall. She asked me to tell you to report to the USO as soon as possible.”
“Glad to know it weathered the blow.”
Kitty couldn’t go anywhere until she saw for herself how Brad was. The nurse was just propping him up for his dinner as Kitty entered.
“Surely is grand to see you eating, Brad!” she said happily when she went in.
Though his left arm was bound against his body he could feed himself with his right hand.
“That transfusion put the kick right back into me,” Brad said. “Sorry I was such a nuisance last night.”
“Don’t be silly!”
She followed the nurse to the door and closed it tightly. “Brad, the whole thing came to a climax last night. Feel able to hear about it?”
“Sorry you don’t get the privilege, Kit, but Chief Carter and Captain Rogers were in here a couple of hours ago. They told me everything. You’ve really been super through it all.”
“I’m glad they talked with you. Hazel told me they’ve gone out to Terrapin Island now to get Beeson and Punaro. Sure hope no harm comes to Uncle Mose before they get there.”
“Hope so, too. We can use the old darky when we build our summer cottage in the pine thicket.”
“Our summer cottage in the pine thicket!” exclaimed Kitty and laughed suddenly. “Oh, Brad, what a dreamer you are! They must have you sort of doped still.”
But he was entirely himself as he looked at her seriously. “Really, Kit, wouldn’t you like that?”
“I think I would, Brad,” she replied just as seriously. “But we’ve an awful lot to do first.”
“Oh, of course. We’ve got to finish this big job!”
“And I can’t stay here long now. There’s work to be done down yonder.”
She moved toward the window as she spoke. A few blocks away she could see where the storm had struck with full force. It looked as though a giant mowing machine might have laid everything level in its path.
“Oh, our cottage is ruined!” she burst forth.
“Sorry, Kit. Your dad told me about it.”
How happy they had been there, she thought. But, of course, they had owned neither the house nor the furniture, so their loss was nothing to compare with that of many others near by. And they would be needing her services right now. There were many hungry mouths to feed and she must hurry off to her Canteen work. This was no time to dream of a bright future or stop to talk over a troubled past.
A few minutes later she ate a hasty lunch with her father and Billy before she put on her Canteen uniform to report for duty at the USO. The wind was still too high for them to feed the homeless outdoors, so the hall was turned into an emergency dining-room. Kitty worked hard all day and until the last dish was washed that night. It was almost twelve o’clock when she finally returned to the hospital to get a few hours’ sleep in Hazel’s bed.
She was roused next morning by Hazel standing by her bed. “I’m going to have breakfast with your father. Wouldn’t you like to come along?”
“Yes, indeed!” Kitty was out of bed with a bound, and soon had on her clothes. “Anything develop while I was away yesterday?” she asked.
“Very satisfactory development. They got Beeson all right.”
“How about Uncle Mose?”
“He was quite safe in his cabin, so they left him there.”
“That’s a relief! What about Punaro?”
“He wasn’t on Terrapin Island, or Mangrove either. There’s a possibility his boat went down in the storm, when he tried to return here—or perhaps get to Terrapin Island. They found the rifle.”
“The rifle!” exclaimed Kitty.
“The one that shot the slug into Brad. It was in a cache on Mangrove Island along with several boxes of medicine and hospital supplies. The stuff all bore Punaro’s fingerprints.”
“The gun, too?”
Hazel nodded. “The whole set-up seems quite clear now,” she continued. “The Germans have evidently been coming in as far as Mangrove Island in their rubber boat. There they change to different clothes and an old bateau kept hidden in the mangroves, in case they meet anyone on their way to Terrapin.”
“The same boat the boys found in the mangroves, I suppose.”
“No doubt it was. They found enormous supplies of canned goods and other foods stored at Beeson’s place.”
“Makes me shiver now that I really know what chances we took,” said Kitty, when they were ready to go down.
“And well you may shiver, my child. It’s a miracle you came through it with a whole skin.”
“Poor Brad didn’t.”
“Oh, Brad’ll be all right. He’s going to have breakfast with us.”
“Not really!”
A few minutes later they found her father, Brad and Billy waiting for them in the dining-room.
“What a wonderful family reunion!” exclaimed Kitty.
When they had been served Chief Carter leaned across the table and skid to his daughter, “Kitten, I have a nice surprise for you.”
“Oh, Dad, I don’t know if I can stand any more. First we nip this saboteur business in the bud, then I hear that you and Hazel are going to be married, and—and Brad talks deliriously about building us a summer home in the pines on Terrapin Island.”
“Now it’s our turn to be surprised, isn’t it, Hazel?” exclaimed her father.
“Well, not exactly. My eyes have been open for quite a while.”
“But now you talk of another surprise,” said Kitty.
“And this includes you both,” said Chief Carter, suddenly growing serious again. “Captain Rogers has just told me that you both will be given service awards, for special help to your country.”
“Oh, Dad, not really!”
“I didn’t do anything but get shot!” exclaimed Brad, but Kitty could see a slight color rising in his pale cheeks.
“You did so! I couldn’t have done anything without you.”
“Well, we won’t have any argument over that. You’re both entitled to recognition,” stated Chief Carter.
“Oh, Dad, I’m so thrilled! I’ve wanted so to help, but I never dreamed it would turn out like this.”
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Transcriber’s Note
Punctuation has been normalized. Variations in hyphenation have been retained as they were in the original publication. The following changes have been made:
She realized now that a {Canten changed to Canteen} worker {Page 40}
pounding the door with her {firsts changed to fists} {Page 216}
