“Oh, I don’t think it’s anything as serious as that. But I’ll tell you frankly I don’t trust Lieutenant Cary. He’s a man who’ll bear watching, all right. I heard that just a year before the war broke out he was studying surgery in Vienna and Berlin.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER FOUR EMERGENCY FEEDING Kitty was glad the sun was shining brightly Monday morning when she ran to the window to look out. She felt eager and ready to tackle the toughest sort of job. She could face her friends with new assurance now, for she was soon to be a part of the great army of workers dedicated to restoring peace to a troubled world. For a while at least, while their gasoline allowance lasted, she was going back and forth in the launch, as that would save at least an hour each day in transportation time. Two other girls from the island were going to take the course with her and share those rides, so she felt justified in the use of gasoline. She had spent the early years of her life on the Gulf coast and was perfectly at home on the water. And how she loved it! Vera Parsons had decided to add the Canteen course to her other lines of service, and Sally Bright’s sister, Lana, was joining also. “I hope the course won’t be too dry,” mused Lana, when they were crossing the bay that first morning. “It won’t be if Miss Pearson’s in charge,” Vera assured her. “She could put pep into a snail.” “I wish I could begin work right now,” said Kitty. “I don’t see how I’ll have patience to wait to finish the courses.” “There’s nothing to keep you from helping right now,” Vera told her. “There’re lots of Canteen Aides.” “Canteen Aides?” “Girls who haven’t taken the courses but do volunteer work in emergencies.” “Oh, that’s great! I want to get into it as soon as possible. I’ve felt like a shirker these last weeks.” “I don’t see why you call yourself a shirker,” consoled Lana. “With a kid brother, a dad and a cottage to look after, I should think you’d have your hands full.” The nutrition classes were being held in the Power Company’s demonstration kitchen. The trio from Palmetto Island found about thirty women and girls gathered when they arrived. Miss Pearson, spotless in her attractive uniform, was already giving out mimeographed sheets for study. All the seats toward the back were taken, but Kitty and her friends found folding chairs near the demonstration table, where Miss Pearson had her materials spread out. Kitty thought how easy it was to slip into the old habit of making notes at lectures when she took a notebook and fountain pen from her purse. Miss Pearson had not been lecturing half an hour when Kitty realized how valuable the classes were going to be. She could use the information now and long after the war.