CHAPTER SEVEN   THE TANGLED WEB

A wild March gale was howling over the island the following evening. Though rain poured in torrents Kitty found a score of marines and sailors already in the USO hall when she arrived at the Snack Bar. On such nights she always thought of the boys across the water, who were fighting in all sorts of weather. The Snack Bar and the cozy atmosphere of the big hall made her wish they could all share this comfort.

Nell Cruger, the USO hostess, was worried when she remarked to Kitty, “Vera just phoned from out at Thompsons’ place that she’s stuck in the mud but will get here as soon as she can. We haven’t half enough girls to keep the boys entertained till then.”

“Oh, depend on Vera to get out of any sort of tight spot,” replied Kitty confidently. “She’ll be along after a while with a station wagon full of girls.”

Kitty had her own Canteen duties to look after and was quite busy for half an hour before she realized that Vera had not yet arrived. Only one carful of girls had come in, and although they were doing their best to make the boys have a pleasant evening, there was still not nearly enough girls. Kitty decided the Canteen girls would have to do double duty by helping the USO hostess.

She was about to tell Mrs. Evans she would go outside into the hall to be some boy’s partner for a dance when she noticed a lonesome-looking fellow at her own Snack Bar. She had served him a cup of coffee when he first came in and had made overtures of friendship which had been indifferently received. He still sat on the end stool, looking dejectedly into space, half his coffee still in the cup.

“Anything else you’d like?” she asked.

“No, thanks,” he replied, without changing his position or looking toward her.

She went back to the kitchen a moment later to get some more cream, and Sally, elbow deep in suds, said, “Poor boy, he’s been sitting there in a fog for the last half hour. Guess he’s got something rather bothersome on his mind.”

“He looks like a new one in the service,” commented Kitty.

Later as she wiped the counter clean she noticed the sailor’s fresh, fair complexion not yet tanned by the southern sun. There was something about him that made her think of Billy. Her own little brother might look like that when he was grown up. In twenty years she hoped there wouldn’t be another war to catch him in its snares. If it had to happen she knew she would thank any Canteen worker who would cheer him.

She pushed a neatly wrapped sandwich toward the sailor. “These sandwiches are really good,” she said encouragingly. “Wouldn’t you like to try one?”

Then he turned slightly and looked at her for the first time. “I couldn’t swallow a bite,” he said.

His gentle gray eyes were as pathetic as a frightened lamb’s. Kitty couldn’t bear it. She darted back to the kitchen to tell Mrs. Evans about him.

“He’s been sitting there utterly dejected for the last half hour.”

“He’s Ned Miller,” explained Sally. “I’ve noticed him several times lately—seems awfully depressed.”

“He doesn’t even know they’re dancing and playing games out there in the hall,” Kitty said.

“I’ll see if I can draw him out,” Mrs. Evans volunteered.

She strolled from the kitchen and pretended to be busy at the counter. In a casual manner she addressed Ned, “Wouldn’t you like to dance a bit?”

“No, thanks, I don’t want to dance.” His tone was flat from lack of interest.

“They’re scarce of girls tonight, but we’re not so busy either. I could spare one of the Canteen girls to play a game of checkers with you, if you like.”

“No, thanks.”

Just inside the kitchen door Kitty and Sally listened to Mrs. Evans’s overtures of friendship.

Finally she spoke in a motherly tone. “Son, you’re worried about something. Isn’t there anything I can do for you?”

Then the pleading gray eyes looked up at the motherly face and this time they were swimming in tears. For a moment he seemed to be appraising her. Finding the sympathy of her heart reflected in her eyes he finally blurted, “I—I want to hold a baby.”

Kitty, watching beside Sally in the background fairly held her breath at this unexpected retort.

“A baby?” repeated Mrs. Evans.

Ned dug into his pocket and brought out a yellow sheet of paper. The girls saw it was a telegram as he handed it to her.

“Our baby came yesterday. They’re—they’re in California. I—I’ve been so scared for her the last week I haven’t had good sense. I can’t believe it’s all over and she’s all right.”

“Oh that’s wonderful!” exclaimed Mrs. Evans. “And a boy, too. Eight pounds.”

He grew more confidential at her warmth and understanding.

“If—if I could only hold a baby once to see how it feels. I’ve never held a baby. Maybe I can believe I’m a father when I know how a baby feels.”

Hot tears blinded Kitty’s eyes, and her throat tightened. How tragic it was to be three thousand miles away from your firstborn, with no real hope of ever seeing him before you were sent across!

“Sally, I’m going to find a baby for him to hold if there’s a young baby on this island!” Kitty whispered.

Sally wiggled her button nose as she, too, blinked back the tears. “Say, but that’s tough! Where’ll you find a young one, Kit? I don’t know where there’s a young baby.”

“I’ll find one. You’ll see,” said Kitty and dashed out to the telephone.

In two minutes she had Hazel Dawson on the phone. Surely she would know if any of the wives of the service men up at the hospital had young babies.

Hazel was rather surprised at Kitty’s unusual request, but after a little thought said, “Mrs. Harper’s baby is about ten days old. She came back from the hospital in town yesterday, I believe.”

“Do you think you could possibly arrange for me to bring Ned Miller up to see it?” asked Kitty.

“I’m sure they’d be glad to have him visit them,” Hazel said kindly. “Suppose you come past the hospital tomorrow at four-thirty when I get off duty and I’ll go with you.”

“Oh, you’re an angel! If you could only see this pathetic boy, you’d do anything in the world to make him a little happier.”

Kitty tried not to seem too excited over her success when she went back behind the bar. Mrs. 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.”

“The Harpers’ baby is a few days older than yours, but then they’d feel the same.”

“You’re so kind to go to all that trouble for me.”

“I’ll pick you up in our car tomorrow at four-thirty. I’m going over to get Miss Dawson anyhow. She said she’d go with us and make arrangements with the Harpers.”

“I just can’t thank you enough.” A smile actually brightened Ned’s face as he spoke.

While Kitty was still talking to him Vera came in with half a dozen girls. After she turned them loose in the hall she went behind the Snack Bar looking rather excited. Kitty suggested that one of the new arrivals dance with Ned, and when they had gone she said to Vera, “Hear you had quite a time.”

“You’re Not Silly at All,” Kitty Told Him

“I’ll say.”

“Were you alone when you got stuck?” asked Sally.

“Sure! You never get stuck when there’s anyone along to help.”

“Where were you?” asked Kitty.

“On that lonely stretch of road leading to the Thompson place. I went out there to get Nancy. Rain had made the sand all gooey this side of Waco bridge, and I got stuck fast.”

“In that dark, swampy road?” asked Sally.

“It would be there,” said Vera in disgust. “I worked till nearly dark trying to get out, then I started on foot toward Thompsons’. I was just about to cross the bridge over Waco Creek when I heard oars up the stream.”

“I’d have been scared stiff there by myself,” said Sally with a shiver.

“I was too mad over being stuck to feel scared,” Vera stated. “I yelled for that boatman to come and help me out—told him I was stuck.”

“Well?” said Kitty, sensing there was something very peculiar to come. “He did help you, of course.”

“Not that sneak! The minute I yelled for help those oars stopped and I never heard another sound.”

“Why, he couldn’t help but know it was a woman calling!” Kitty exclaimed.

“Sure, he knew it was a woman in trouble.”

“I can’t understand that,” said Sally. “I’ve lived round here all my life, and all the natives, white and colored, will go to no end of trouble to help a person out of a tight spot, ’specially women.”

“I figured he was no native, and up to some skulduggery,” said Vera. “I went on down the road and got Nancy Thompson’s brother, and we searched that creek with flashlights as far as we could go.”

“And found nothing?” asked Kitty.

“That sneak had cleared out while I was gone. If you ask me there’s plenty happening on this island that’s not printed in the papers.”

Secretly Kitty agreed with her. The incident made her only more determined not to relax her vigilance about certain peculiar people she was watching.

The next afternoon Kitty was waiting outside Hazel’s door at the hospital promptly at four-thirty. She soon heard the soft, but brisk step of her friend coming down the hall.

“Come in, while I freshen up a bit,” Hazel invited.

Kitty had never been in her new friend’s room, and felt a little flutter of excitement as she went inside. Hazel proffered the only rocker invitingly.

“You sit there and rest a minute dear, while I powder my nose and brush my hair. 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.

“Who’s the gorgeous-looking man?” she asked frankly when Hazel returned to the room.

“That’s my brother.”

“Oh, yes, of course—your brother, Willard, I’ve heard you speak about.”

“But how did you know his name? I—I never mention him here.”

“The day I met you in the launch Lieutenant Cary spoke of him.”

“Oh-h!” Hazel’s tone became a degree cooler. “He used to be stationed here,” she added after a moment.

“So Dad said. He was sent here in his place, I understand.”

“I hope we don’t live to regret his asking for this post.”

“You—you mean Dad asked for this appointment?”

“Oh, beg pardon. I thought you knew that.”

“No, I didn’t. I knew nothing about it till Dad wrote me he was coming to Palmetto Island, and it would be a grand place for me and Billy to live.”

Why had both her father and Hazel asked to come here after the trouble Hazel’s brother had had? To cover her confused thoughts Kitty took the picture from the dresser and studied the face frankly. Now she could see a resemblance to Hazel. In that strong chin, firm mouth and the wide frank eyes she could find no evidence of one whose conduct might merit his being relegated to some obscure Naval station.

As she and Hazel went out to meet Ned Miller in the lobby below she was more convinced than ever that there was something mysterious going on, in which her father was deeply involved.

Hazel proved herself an understanding pal that afternoon. She made it seem the most natural thing in the world that Ned should want to see a tiny baby. Kitty thought she had never seen anyone so frightened and so awkward as Ned when he first took that little blanketed form in his arms. But with every passing minute his stiffness and embarrassment grew less. Before their brief call was over he had promised to carve the baby a wooden bowl and spoon for his first eating.

“I like to carve things,” he said. “I made one for my own youngster two months ago.”

He seemed to expand to new importance as he spoke. When Kitty and Ned left together Hazel stayed on for a longer visit with her friends. As they drove away Kitty remarked, “I didn’t notice till this afternoon that you’re one of the boys who work in the galley.”

“I like it pretty well there,” admitted Ned. “I like doing things with my hands. Glad they didn’t put me where I have to work at a desk or anything like that.”

“And it helps a lot when you like the people you work with,” said Kitty, not without an ulterior motive.

“My boss is fine—good natured as they make ’em.”

“Krome you mean? Chief Steward Krome?”

“Only one trouble about him—he snores like a steam engine. You punch him and wake him up, and he goes right back at it again.”

“Isn’t there a thin, dark fellow named Punaro down in the galley?”

“Yeah! He collects waste from over the hospital and does things like that. Looks after the kitchen garbage too.”

“I saw him over at the USO the other night playing chess with Lieutenant Cary.”

Ned sent her an odd look and said, “You did?” After an interval he added diffidently, “I’m not the kind to talk about people, Miss Kitty, but if you were my sister I wouldn’t want you to be letting him take you home from Canteen, or anything like that—not Punaro!”

“Thanks for the hint, Ned.” She wanted to ask him more but didn’t know how without betraying those she felt she had no reason to suspect. They parted in the lobby as Kitty turned off toward her father’s office. But she thought how odd it was—that at almost every contact she made, the tangled web of clues she was picking up became more bewildering.