Kitty was still thinking of her conversation with Brad when she went in to help Jane with breakfast the next morning. What could they do about it, even if they had positive proof that the Punaro boy had visited the oyster cannery on the night of the fire? He could claim he had gone there to see friends, and they would have accomplished nothing by their prying. She hoped Brad wouldn’t get in any trouble about it. “How did you like your Canteen work?” her father asked at breakfast. “Oh, fine!” she exclaimed, her thoughts returning to the real work of the previous evening. “It’s really loads of fun. I’m going to be on duty every other night.” “You’ll be doing more than your quota of hours, won’t you?” “Oh, I don’t mind that. This is no time to stick to quotas, you know.” “You spoke a truth then, Kitten,” her father said proudly. “We have so few workers over here on the island each of us will have to do double duty. It’s going to be loads of fun.” “I’m so pleased you’ve found your place in the war program. I was sure you would.” Kitty glanced at her father gratefully as she handed him the hot muffins Jane had brought in. “No, thanks. I have plenty.” “But, Dad, you always eat two. And you haven’t eaten half your eggs. That’s very unpatriotic with eggs so high.” He laughed. “I’m beginning to see the effects of your nutrition course already.” “I’ll admit it’s made me food conscious, and I was already point conscious.” “I must hand it to you women for having a streak of genius with handling rationing points.” “I’m ashamed to admit it, Dad, but I find myself figuring up point values first and almost forgetting what a thing is going to cost.” “I’ve had a few worries myself over supplies,” he said, and Kitty saw the furrow deepen between his brows. “How’s that, Dad?” she asked eagerly, hoping he would open up about what was on his mind. “Oh, you have problems enough without being burdened with mine,” he said. Kitty ate the last half of her muffin with some orange-blossom honey, then she sat looking thoughtfully at her father. She had been so absorbed in her own activities lately she had paid scant heed to his failing appetite. Now she realized he had eaten very little for several days. “Dad, don’t you think you’d better take a tonic or something?” she said finally. “Your appetite is just about gone.” He tried to laugh off her anxiety. “Oh, I’ll pick up in a day or so. I’ve been rather preoccupied with things at the office.” His admission gave her a start. “Anything wrong?” “Nothing that can’t be adjusted in time, I hope.” “You couldn’t tell me about it?” “No sense in burdening you with my problems. Kitty. You have enough on your shoulders now.” “Maybe I could help. Sometimes problems clear up after talking them over with others. Every time I’ve ever brought my troubles to you they seem to vanish in thin air.”