Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-11-17

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Jutlands.
The admiral opened the door. He
was smiling absently. He looked at
her. He stared. His smile became
tremulous. 1t faded. 1t returned In
the form of delighted grin.
"Zorie!" he cackled. "Why! I
hardly knew you, my dearl And
after what you went through last
night! You are lovely! Maybe I'd
better fall off this ship myself"
where is Steve?"
| ION the lanai"
Zorie walked out into the lanai,
with the admiral trotting along be-
hind her.
Steve, in white toweling dress
ing gown, was stretched out in one
of the long bamboo chairs. His pal
lor was shocking. His eyes were
pale. He looked really ill.
He grinned slowly and said, "Hel-
10, glamour grill"
The admiral said, "Zorie, do you
think you're going to feel like work.
ing today?"
YES" Zorie answered, IT feel
very much like working today"
II wanted to get on with the Bat
tie of Manila Bay, then I thought
we'd go back and finish up those
chapters on my first years in Annap-
oils"
For moment, her resolve fall
tered. Habit-that detested old habit
of meekness-made her plant. But
the wavery feeling passed.
I'm sorry" Zorie said. "I'm sor-
ry to let you waste all that time. If
you want me to help you with your
memoirs, Admiral, the chapters on
Annapolis and everything, perhaps,
but short chapter on Manila Bay
60 overheard"
"Now, wait a minute" the ad-
miral began.
II mean it," she said. "Steve was
right yesterday. You're the only
person alive who can tell the story
of the Duncan family. From the lit
tie I've heard of it, it's fascinating
story, really wonderful story. If
you want me to help you on book
that's going to be the book"
She heard a chuckle from the
bamboo chair.
The admirars eyes we're fiery. His
obstinate chin was unusually promi-
nent. His right fist was clenched.
With it he banged on the table.
Nobody is going to tell me how
I'm going to write my book" he
shrilled. mot even you, Zorie. No,
sir! l write my own book my own
way-or there won't be book"
very WE'LL" Zorie said serenely.
"There won't be book. AS a mat
ter of fact, there isn't any portion Of
any book. All of yesterdays dicta-
ton" She lifted her hands in a
gesture indicative of emptiness.
"You didn't destroy it," the ad-
miral gasped.
"Gone!" said Zorie.
Good grill" said Steve.
"I'm sorry, Admiral" Zorie sail,
"but that's how it is"
Admiral Duncan glared at her.
"All right" he snapped. IF you
say so, Zorie-all right! But only
because I have the utmost respect
for your opinion! Not because I
agree with you for moment-hm?"
"And that" Steve said languidly,
"is the first time since grandmother
died that anybody has backed down
the old fire-eater."
He strobe out of the room. A mo-
ment later he came back almost
running. His face, usually so red,
looked very pale. He was painting
when he stopped beside them
Honolulu and Pearl Harbor," he
said breathlessly, were bombed
this morning! Japanese planes fe
in from carrier! They've destroyed
our planes at Hickam. Wheeler and
Kaneohe! We're helpless! The ra-
dio says they're coming over Shafter
again in new Waves!'
The road into Uluwchi E Kai ran
along the edge of purplc-red cliff
beside tall ripe sugar-cane with sill
ver-bronze plumes, then it dipped
rather abruptly into the palm trees
which fringcd the cove. Zorie caught
glimpse of a golden beach on
which waves broke in snowy
smother and of pale green water
deepening to dazzling blue offshore.
glimpses of group of houses with
fiat blue tile roofs and an immense
garden against the sheer mountain
wall in back. The mountain side
was shivering purple flame of
bougainvillea. And she recalled that
Uluwehi E Kai meant "a profu-
sion of growing things by the sea-"
1t was a sparkling morning, gold
en- and blue. Schooner clouds ghost
ed along an indigo horizon.
Zorie unpacked in the charming
airy guest room to which Japa-
nese maid had taken her, then wan
dered out under the banyan trees
and into the garden-a fragrant jun
gle of strange, exotic flowers.
She hoped that Steve would join
her and tell her what some of the
flowers were, but she presently saw
him and the admiral walking briskly
| along another garden path toward