Evening star., 1918-02-10

you. You look better than you did"
Branch turned somber glance upon
her and gave vent to a bitter, sneer-
ing laugh. It was plain that he be-
!ieved she. too. was attempting to pull
could find some poisonous toadstools.
I'd eat 'em raw"
Listen" Norine went on. Let's play
a game. Well imagine this is Del
monico's and we'll all take turns order
think Of The one who orders best,
wins. Wen call the game She
frowned thoughtfully.
Call it 'vittles.'" O'Reilly suggested.
us an appetite for supper. Leslie. you
begin. Come now, hand your hat to
the hat boy. then follow the head
waiter. This way. sir. Table for one?
Very good, sir Here's cool one. in
front OF the electric fan. We have an
exceptional selection of cold dishes to-
day. sir. Perhaps you would like a
nice halibut salad
No halibut salad" Branch answered.
striylng valiantly to enter into the spirit
breakfast. And say. turn of that fan;
I'm just back from Cuba. Now. then,
you may bring me Some oysters-
0ystsrs are ao,to'n out Of . season oReilly
Some oysters" Branch insisted. stub
bornly. After that. cup OF chicken
broth. a grilled sweetbread. and toast
Joe Judson put an abrupt end to the
invalid's meal by Eurling a clod at him,
crying: You're In Delmonico's. not in
Battle Creek. Let somebody order who
knows how. Wen have steak and onions
all around" /.
II want strawberries"' Norine cried.
They're ripe now: Strawberries and
There was tense silence, which
OReilly broke by saying. II guess Wit
ties: isn't a very good game. after ALL
1T doesn't seem to fill my wants." the
girl acknowledged. Let's talk about
something else"
Miss Evans did seem truly concerned
for the welfare Of her boys" as she
termed the little group of Americans
whom she had met. and she showed, by
asking numerous questions. that her in
tereSt was keen.
The men were glad to talk and she
soon gained an insight into the pecu-
liar. aimless. unsatisfactory, and yet
effective method Of warfare practiced
by the insurrecto armies; they told her
Of the endless marches and counter
marches. the occasional skirmishes. the
feints, the inconclusive engagements
which were all part of the general
strategy-operations which served to
keep the enemy constantly on guard.
like blind swordsman. and would, it
was hoped, eventually wear down his
patience and endurance. In her turn,
Norine related something Of what she
was doing and how her labor of mercy
progressed.
I'm nearly discouraged" she con-
fessed. finally. Everything is SO diff
ferent from what 1 thought It would be.
and I'm SO weak and Ineffective The
medical supplies I brought are nearly
all gone, and I've learned what hard
work 1T is fitting up hospitals when
there's nothing to fit them up with.
I can't teach these people to take care
of themselves-they seem to consider
precautions against disease as a con-
fession of cowardice. Summer, the
yellow fever season. is here, and-well,
I'm getting Observation-Disclosures
me-" she sighed. II imagined I was
going to work wonders-I thought I
was going to be a Florence Night
ingale. and the men were going to
idolize me-"
Don't they?" Judson demanded.
mo. That is-not exactly the way
They all want to marry her"
O'Reilly explained.
.'Insolent bunch" growled the cap
tain. Then he swallowed hard and
"Why. Joel" Norine cast a startled
glance at the big fellow.
IT'S a fact" he asserted, doggedly.
Il might as well declare myself here
and now. There's always a gang of
eaxssdroppers ysss ppsrs hanging around you
said. Hadn't you better take walk p
Branch rolled hostile eye at the
artilleryman. and his lip curled. 'I'll
not move. When he gets through I'll
How silly you boys can be!. Norm.
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