“Tired?” she asked sympathetically. Somehow she felt strangely drawn to this older woman. She judged Ensign Dawson to be somewhere in her thirties. Evidently she had already seen real action. On her coat she wore the yellow ribbon for South Pacific service, and two stars indicating she had been in two major engagements. Her eyes held the shadowed, yet kindly light of one who eased much suffering. “Not too tired,” she replied to Kitty’s question as she forced a smile to her lips. She studied the girl’s face thoughtfully a moment before she added, “So you’re Kitty Carter.” “They say I look like Dad.” “You do. I had no trouble recognizing you. Wherever your dad is he always keeps your picture and Billy’s on his desk.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: _“Then You Are Miss Dawson,” Kitty Said_] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ “So you’ve served with him before?” “We worked together several months in the Pacific, and were in the same hospital at Annapolis.” “I didn’t visit Dad when he was at Annapolis. You see ever since the war began I’ve been cramming, winter and summer, to get my degree. I wanted to get through as soon as I could and join the WAVES.” “Yes. Your father told the you had to change your plans.” Hazel sent an understanding glance toward Billy, sitting on Brad’s lap. “But I’m going to be able to help after all,” said Kitty eagerly. “Really? Then you’ve made arrangements for the boy?” “Oh no. I can help and still keep our little home. I’m going into Canteen work.” “That’s splendid!” “I might never have thought of it if I hadn’t met Brad Mason today.” “Oh, you only met today.” Brad grinned boyishly. “I thought it was important to get acquainted with her, even if I did have to use Billy as a go-between.” “Billy as a go-between!” exclaimed Kitty, shocked. “Do you mean you made that sailboat for him with an ulterior motive?” “I’ll have to plead guilty!” But Brad’s hearty laugh betrayed no sense of guilt. “When I saw you sitting on that bench looking so pensive I said to myself, ‘Now there’s a pretty girl who needs cheering.’” “And we women have the idea it’s the service men who need cheering,” said Hazel. Kitty laughed in spite of her chagrin. “Well. I’ll have to hand it to you for being a cheerer-upper,” she admitted. “How did he stir up your interest in Canteen work?” asked Hazel, entering gayly into their banter. Kitty gave a sprightly account of their meeting, and ended by saying. “And before I knew what had happened I had practically joined the Canteen Corps and invited Brad to ride home with us.” “But you can bet she wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t been coming along. I know Kitty’s kind. She’s a stickler for form.” “Oh, not really!” “Just the same it’ll do you no end of good being a Canteen worker,” Brad persisted.