“Yes, indeed!” Kitty was out of bed with a bound, and soon had on her clothes. “Anything develop while I was away yesterday?” she asked. “Very satisfactory development. They got Beeson all right.” “How about Uncle Mose?” “He was quite safe in his cabin, so they left him there.” “That’s a relief! What about Punaro?” “He wasn’t on Terrapin Island, or Mangrove either. There’s a possibility his boat went down in the storm, when he tried to return here—or perhaps get to Terrapin Island. They found the rifle.” “The rifle!” exclaimed Kitty. “The one that shot the slug into Brad. It was in a cache on Mangrove Island along with several boxes of medicine and hospital supplies. The stuff all bore Punaro’s fingerprints.” “The gun, too?” Hazel nodded. “The whole set-up seems quite clear now,” she continued. “The Germans have evidently been coming in as far as Mangrove Island in their rubber boat. There they change to different clothes and an old bateau kept hidden in the mangroves, in case they meet anyone on their way to Terrapin.” “The same boat the boys found in the mangroves, I suppose.” “No doubt it was. They found enormous supplies of canned goods and other foods stored at Beeson’s place.” “Makes me shiver now that I really know what chances we took,” said Kitty, when they were ready to go down. “And well you may shiver, my child. It’s a miracle you came through it with a whole skin.” “Poor Brad didn’t.” “Oh, Brad’ll be all right. He’s going to have breakfast with us.” “Not really!” A few minutes later they found her father, Brad and Billy waiting for them in the dining-room. “What a wonderful family reunion!” exclaimed Kitty. When they had been served Chief Carter leaned across the table and skid to his daughter, “Kitten, I have a nice surprise for you.” “Oh, Dad, I don’t know if I can stand any more. First we nip this saboteur business in the bud, then I hear that you and Hazel are going to be married, and—and Brad talks deliriously about building us a summer home in the pines on Terrapin Island.” “Now it’s our turn to be surprised, isn’t it, Hazel?” exclaimed her father. “Well, not exactly. My eyes have been open for quite a while.” “But now you talk of another surprise,” said Kitty. “And this includes you both,” said Chief Carter, suddenly growing serious again. “Captain Rogers has just told me that you both will be given service awards, for special help to your country.” “Oh, Dad, not really!” “I didn’t do anything but get shot!” exclaimed Brad, but Kitty could see a slight color rising in his pale cheeks. “You did so! I couldn’t have done anything without you.” “Well, we won’t have any argument over that. You’re both entitled to recognition,” stated Chief Carter. “Oh, Dad, I’m so thrilled! I’ve wanted so to help, but I never dreamed it would turn out like this.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WHITMAN AUTHORIZED EDITIONS