“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?” “Indeed it is!” “If this fire was the work of saboteurs, it only makes us dedicate ourselves all the more devotedly to bringing peace and harmony in the end.” “Sometimes the most loyal person can let carelessness make him the worst sort of saboteur,” said Mrs. Evans significantly. Kitty thought she had more reason than anyone else for doubting that that fire had been started by a careless patriot. She had thought at first that she would keep quiet about the little incident on the bus last night, but now she made up her mind to take Brad Mason into her confidence. Brad might be in a position to make some investigations that she could not about the sailor. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER FIVE THE SNACK BAR Nutrition classes were suspended for the duration of the emergency. “You’ll learn more through actual experience now,” Miss Pearson told them, “than I could teach you in many lessons.” Kitty spent as much time as possible during the next three days helping to feed the homeless cannery workers and their families. Tuesday evening she was much too weary to go to the regular USO party, and so she had no opportunity to see Brad till the following Saturday. By that time her excitement over the fire had cooled, and she was afraid he would think her silly to accuse the strange sailor of having anything to do with it. A score of times she had heard her father say, “When in doubt say nothing.” So she wisely followed his advice. There was so much work to be done in the closing days of the nutrition class that she had no time to think of anything else. The course had opened up to her a whole new world of practical interest. “I can’t believe we’ve learned so much in two weeks,” she said to Lana and Vera. “I’m surely glad Miss Pearson taught us every day, instead of once a week as they do in some places,” said Vera. “I’ll say,” agreed Lana. “It’s much better to do it in two weeks instead of ten.” “And it’s been so much fun, too,” said Kitty. “Only think of the places we’ve visited—packing plants, canneries, bakeries, restaurant kitchens. It’s so interesting to learn about all the food industries around this part of the country.” “I’ve got a whole notebook full of recipes, and ideas about food I can put to good use when my Jim comes back from Italy,” said Vera. “Huh,” laughed Kitty, “I don’t have to wait for anybody to come back.”