But Ned was already hurrying back toward the stairs. They were about to follow when Brad said, “Come, while we’re down here I’ll show you the dock.” Not wanting to be rude enough to tell him it didn’t interest her in the least, Kitty followed Brad toward the double doors that stood wide open at the end of the cement passage. There was only a shaded light outside. Her first impression was a confused one of several barges huddled against the dock piled high with boxes, crates, kegs and all manner of freight. Then suddenly she saw a man at one of the barges. Her pulse quickened when she noted it was filled with refuse. The man had his back to them, pushing something onto the barge. It seemed to be a large box, but Kitty had only a glimpse for the man threw a strip of old sail over it and turned sharply at the sound of their footsteps. As he came toward them there was indignation in his very stride. “What do you want here?” he growled. As he spoke and came nearer the glow from the hallway, Kitty recognized Punaro, who less than an hour ago had been playing chess in the USO hall with Lieutenant Cary. “We’re looking for Krome,” said Brad with aggravating nonchalance. “He’s not down here,” stated Punaro. “You’ll find him up in the recreation room playing chess with Dr. Cary.” “Thanks. Thanks a lot,” Brad said, and Kitty wondered why his thanks was so profuse. When they went down the hall they found Ned returning from above. “Chief said if I’d bring his recipe book he’d find the thing you want and let you copy it,” Ned explained. “He’s just about to checkmate Lieutenant Cary and can’t leave his game right now.” When Ned went into Krome’s quarters Kitty whispered to Brad, “Did you notice anything queer out there?” “Plenty.” “Punaro throwing a strip of sail over a box on the barge?” “You’d make a grand detective, Kitty!” “And I noticed more, but we’d better wait till we get outside to talk.” Lieutenant Cary sent them an unwelcome look when they went upstairs, but Krome was quite good-natured about the interruption. He handed Kitty his own pen and a bit of notepaper on which to write the recipe. He chuckled and advised her to spice it up sharply for the boys. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: _“What Do You Want Here?” Punaro Asked Them_] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ When at last they were outside in the cool moonlight Kitty slipped her arm through Brad’s and whispered, “There’s something mighty queer going on.” “You’re telling me!” “I wouldn’t trust that Punaro one minute! I’ll bet you a hundred dollars he’s sneaking something out of the hospital on that barge.” “What and where to, it now becomes our job to find out.” “Did you notice anything queer about his knowing instantly where Krome was?” “I’ll say. It looks to me as though Cary got Krome tied up in that chess game while Punaro does what he pleases in the galley.”