CHAPTER TWENTY
REWARDS
Mr. Carter’s orders for Kitty to put all worries out of her mind andsleep, were easier given than followed. She knew that very well as sheentered Hazel’s room. She thought a hot bath would do her more goodthan anything else. There were plenty of fresh towels on the rack inthe bathroom, and Kitty was sure her friend would want her to makeherself at home. She was just rubbing down after a relaxing soak, whenshe heard someone come in.
“That you, Hazel?” she called.
“Yes. Your dad told me you were here. I came as soon as I could getaway.”
“Could you lend me some pajamas? I helped myself to a bath.”
“You’re more than welcome, darling. I’ll get you something to sleep in.”
A moment later a pair of flowered pajamas were thrust inside thebathroom door. When Kitty came out arrayed in the sleeping garments twosizes too large for her, Hazel had the cover already turned down on thebed.
“You hop right in, and I’ll tuck you up for the night.”
“You’re an angel to let me rest here.”
“It’s a privilege. The hospital will be jammed tonight.”
“I won’t feel easy till Billy and Jane are safely in. Where do yousuppose they’ll sleep?”
“Your father is having a cot put in his own room for Billy. Jane willsleep in the maids’ quarters. They’re putting up cots in the recreationroom and library for other people. Everyone on the island has beenordered to take refuge in the larger buildings. They say none of thecottages will be safe by morning.”
“There’ll be lots for the Canteen workers to do after this.”
“So you’d better stretch out there and get some sleep. But first drinkthis warm milk I brought you. Your father said you’d had no supper.”
Kitty’s heart swelled with gratitude. “You’re a dear, Hazel. I love youvery much.”
Hazel suddenly put down the cup of milk and sat on the side of the bed,catching Kitty’s hands in hers. “And I love you very much, too,darling. It’ll be wonderful to have a daughter like you.”
Surprised, Kitty asked, “You mean—you really mean—?”
“Yes. I mean your father and I have planned to marry as soon as wecould clear up this trouble.”
“Oh, Hazel, I _am_ delighted!”
“He had only a moment just now to whisper that the worst is over, andthat you helped bring it about.”
Kitty’s eyes were shining. “There’s so much to talk about I don’t thinkI can sleep. If I could only know Brad’s going to be all right I’d betoo happy for words.”
“But you must sleep, dear. Your father said you’ve been through awfulthings and must rest. Here, drink this milk and go to sleep. I’ll comein as soon as you wake up and tell you how Brad is.”
Kitty drank the milk while Hazel stood beside her bed. As she handedher the cup she said softly, “It’ll seem almost like having my ownmother again, Hazel, to have you.”
Quick tears welled in her friend’s eyes. “Nothing you could have saidwould make me feel more welcome, Kitten.” With a quick movement Hazelbrushed the tears aside and said, “Now I must hurry back to my ward.I’ll see you in the morning.”
As Kitty settled down on the pillow she had no idea she could sleep.Even if her mind had not been so full of things to think about thehowling wind was enough to keep anyone awake. She had not realized howutterly weary she was until she sank into that soft bed. The bath andthe warm milk seemed to have magic effect, for almost at once she feltdrowsy and soon slept.
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_“Oh, Hazel,” Kitty Said, “I’m Delighted!”_]
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When she roused the shades were drawn, but she could see it was day.The wind was still blowing, but not with such fury as when she had goneto sleep. She glanced at the bedside clock and was shocked to see itwas eleven-thirty. Hazel should have long since had her turn in thebed. When she sat up she saw her two suitcases on the floor, all stuckover with labels from her college days. Dear old Dad, he thought ofeverything. At least she would now have something to wear if theircottage had blown down during the night.
Her first thought on waking had been of Brad. How had he fared throughthe night? She found her yellow and blue plaid skirt and a blue sweateramong the things her father had brought. She had dressed and was justbrushing her hair when she heard someone at the door and turned to seeHazel.
“I feel terrible that I slept so late!” Kitty exclaimed.
“I’m delighted you could sleep. I put just a bit of sleeping powder inthat milk last night. I was sure you’d need it.”
“Oh, you did! Guess I wouldn’t have slept without it. My mind was insuch a turmoil. How’s Brad?”
“Much better. He wants to see you as soon as you wake. Room eighteen,third floor.”
“Oh, I’m so relieved.” Kitty gave a final flip to her hair, and turnedto Hazel. “You look fresh as ever. Where did you sleep?”
“Oh, I had a good rest in Elsie’s room while she was on duty.” She satdown near the window. “Your dad and I had a long talk over ourbreakfast. He told me everything. You’ve been a wonder, Kitty.”
“But I won’t feel easy till Punaro and Beeson are captured. Did theyarrest Punaro last night?”
Hazel shook her head. “No, he didn’t come in.”
“Seems no doubt he was the one who shot Brad.”
“The FBI have gone out now in a powerful motorboat. The wind is downenough for them to take a chance. They’re afraid to wait too long forfear the pair will get away.”
“Did the storm do much damage on the island?”
“I hate to tell you how much, dear. You can get a view of thedestruction from Brad’s room.”
Kitty was instantly alert. “Then we’ll need every Canteen worker on theisland. I must try to get in touch with Mrs. Evans. I suppose all thewires are down.”
“Oh, yes. But Mrs. Evans and her family slept in the recreation hall.She asked me to tell you to report to the USO as soon as possible.”
“Glad to know it weathered the blow.”
Kitty couldn’t go anywhere until she saw for herself how Brad was. Thenurse was just propping him up for his dinner as Kitty entered.
“Surely is grand to see you eating, Brad!” she said happily when shewent in.
Though his left arm was bound against his body he could feed himselfwith his right hand.
“That transfusion put the kick right back into me,” Brad said. “Sorry Iwas such a nuisance last night.”
“Don’t be silly!”
She followed the nurse to the door and closed it tightly. “Brad, thewhole thing came to a climax last night. Feel able to hear about it?”
“Sorry you don’t get the privilege, Kit, but Chief Carter and CaptainRogers were in here a couple of hours ago. They told me everything.You’ve really been super through it all.”
“I’m glad they talked with you. Hazel told me they’ve gone out toTerrapin Island now to get Beeson and Punaro. Sure hope no harm comesto Uncle Mose before they get there.”
“Hope so, too. We can use the old darky when we build our summercottage in the pine thicket.”
“Our summer cottage in the pine thicket!” exclaimed Kitty and laughedsuddenly. “Oh, Brad, what a dreamer you are! They must have you sort ofdoped still.”
But he was entirely himself as he looked at her seriously. “Really,Kit, wouldn’t you like that?”
“I think I would, Brad,” she replied just as seriously. “But we’ve anawful lot to do first.”
“Oh, of course. We’ve got to finish this big job!”
“And I can’t stay here long now. There’s work to be done down yonder.”
She moved toward the window as she spoke. A few blocks away she couldsee where the storm had struck with full force. It looked as tho
ugh agiant mowing machine might have laid everything level in its path.
“Oh, our cottage is ruined!” she burst forth.
“Sorry, Kit. Your dad told me about it.”
How happy they had been there, she thought. But, of course, they hadowned neither the house nor the furniture, so their loss was nothing tocompare with that of many others near by. And they would be needing herservices right now. There were many hungry mouths to feed and she musthurry off to her Canteen work. This was no time to dream of a brightfuture or stop to talk over a troubled past.
A few minutes later she ate a hasty lunch with her father and Billybefore she put on her Canteen uniform to report for duty at the USO.The wind was still too high for them to feed the homeless outdoors, sothe hall was turned into an emergency dining-room. Kitty worked hardall day and until the last dish was washed that night. It was almosttwelve o’clock when she finally returned to the hospital to get a fewhours’ sleep in Hazel’s bed.
She was roused next morning by Hazel standing by her bed. “I’m going tohave breakfast with your father. Wouldn’t you like to come along?”
“Yes, indeed!” Kitty was out of bed with a bound, and soon had on herclothes. “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 apossibility his boat went down in the storm, when he tried to returnhere—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 MangroveIsland along with several boxes of medicine and hospital supplies. Thestuff 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 intheir rubber boat. There they change to different clothes and an oldbateau kept hidden in the mangroves, in case they meet anyone on theirway to Terrapin.”
“The same boat the boys found in the mangroves, I suppose.”
“No doubt it was. They found enormous supplies of canned goods andother foods stored at Beeson’s place.”
“Makes me shiver now that I really know what chances we took,” saidKitty, when they were ready to go down.
“And well you may shiver, my child. It’s a miracle you came through itwith 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 forthem in the dining-room.
“What a wonderful family reunion!” exclaimed Kitty.
When they had been served Chief Carter leaned across the table and skidto 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 thissaboteur business in the bud, then I hear that you and Hazel are goingto be married, and—and Brad talks deliriously about building us asummer home in the pines on Terrapin Island.”
“Now it’s our turn to be surprised, isn’t it, Hazel?” exclaimed herfather.
“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 growingserious again. “Captain Rogers has just told me that you both will begiven service awards, for special help to your country.”
“Oh, Dad, not really!”
“I didn’t do anything but get shot!” exclaimed Brad, but Kitty couldsee 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 torecognition,” stated Chief Carter.
“Oh, Dad, I’m so thrilled! I’ve wanted so to help, but I never dreamedit would turn out like this.”
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Transcriber’s Note
Punctuation has been normalized. Variations in hyphenation have beenretained as they were in the original publication. The followingchanges have been made:
She realized now that a {Canten changed to Canteen} worker {Page 40}
pounding the door with her {firsts changed to fists} {Page 216}
Italicized phrases are presented by surrounding the text with_underscores_.
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