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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER EIGHT WHAT’S IN A TITLE? When Kitty told Hazel about the shortage of girls at the USO on that stormy night her friend said, “Stop by for me next time you go to Canteen. My evenings are rather lonely. I’ll be glad to help entertain the boys.” “I’ll have to get a card for you, but that won’t be any trouble,” said Kitty. However, Hazel’s remark about her lonely evenings left Kitty somewhat at sea. Her father was away from home several evenings a week, and she had thought he was spending them with Hazel. Now she felt she had been mistaken. Next time Kitty was on duty at the Snack Bar she went over to the hospital for Hazel, and together they walked the five blocks to the USO hall. As they walked along the main street in the twilight they caught glimpses of the docks, with their dimmed boat lights at each street intersection. “I love living here, don’t you?” said Kitty. “Under different circumstances it would be quite an interesting post.” “Under different circumstances?” Kitty’s tone implied her puzzlement. “I’m in rather an awkward spot, you know. My brother had a very unpleasant time here—was blamed for something of which he was innocent.” “Oh, I’m sorry.” “Naturally I still feel the cloud hanging over me. I’ll never be quite happy till my brother is cleared.” “Is there anything I can do? I wish I could help.” “I’m afraid there’s nothing anyone can do outside the service.” Kitty wanted to ask for more details, but the tone of Hazel’s last remark suggested that the subject was closed. In fact she felt very much surprised that her friend had been as frank as she had about the matter. At the USO hall they separated for a while, Hazel to help amuse the boys while Kitty went into the Canteen quarters. When she slipped off her coat and put on her apron, she went out to the bar to find Ned Miller waiting for her. He seemed as bright as a sunny day after a long rainy spell. “Miss Kitty, you’ll never guess what’s happened!” he exclaimed. “Your wife and baby aren’t flying to Palmetto Island already?” “Oh, no, nothing so marvelous as that, but surprising enough.” “Then spill the news, Ned, and don’t keep me in suspense,” she encouraged.