Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-09-18

e them into a corner Well" he
: said cheerfully, picking up a
towel, II hope the shower has hot
: water"
! Questioned on Novel.
( Keefer said in a slow. strangled
( tone. "Sir. do you object to my
| working on a novel?"
5 mot at all, Tom," said Queeg,
( taking faded blue bathrobe out
/ of his narrow closet. "An out
side interest of an intellectual
kind is recommended for all off,
} Icers, as a Stimulant to clear
thinking and alertness."
Fine" said Keefer.
$50 long as your department is
in every respect up to the mark,
of course" said Queeg. II mean
all reports up to date, all changes
entered, all responder e
cleared. all enlisted training at
1.-The maximum, your own training
; accomplished, and, in general,
Everything so perfectly in hand
that nothing remains to be done
in your spare hours. Until such
; time, ! think the Navy has first
call on you"
Queeg looked at him amiably.
, Say, how about coming to the
club with me and having a few?"
Sorry, sir. Under the new
watch orders I have to stay
} aboard"
"Oh. DAMN" said the captain
regretfully, as though he and
Keefer were both victims of a silly
rule. well, another time. Say.
I'd like to read your novel one of
these days. Has it got plenty of
sex in it?" He giggled hopefully :.
Keefer said, will that be all
now, sir?"
That's all, Tom," said Queeg.
The communications officer
went into his room. He lay back
on his bunk and picked up Aureli-
us. He lit a cigarette and took
quick. deep puffs. Soon he lay in
Ia cloud of gray curling smoke,
reading.
! Willie Keith came to the quar-
terdeck at II O'Clock that night.
looking for Keefer, and found
him sitting on a folded blanket.
his back against the anchor. Hi"
said Willie.
Hi. What can I do for your"
Il have a friend on the Moul-
ton. Ensign Keggs. He was with
me in training school. Mind if II
go over and see him?'
Go ahead"
Il looked in on Mr.. Gorton to
ask him. But he was asleep"
Hell, you don't need the exec's
permission to visit in the nest.
Shove off,"
Thanks, Mr.. Keefer."
When Willie left Keefer on the
forecastle to go to the Moulton.
the communications officer stared
skyward for a while, then took al
pad, pencil, and f1ashlight from
his pocket and began to scribble
verses.
An hour or so later the gangway
petty officers came trampling upI
the forecaStle. "Mr. Keefer, the
captain has returned aboard, and
Mr.. Gorton wants to see you in
his room. On the double"
"Gorton? I thought he was
asleep"
He just phoned up from the
wardroom, sir"
Keefer rose, hitching his gun
belt and yawning. Flash red,
no doubt"
GOrtOn Cross, Mussed.
In the wardroom Keefer found
the executive officer in his under
wear in an armchair, drinking
coffee and looking sleepy, mussed,
and cross. '"Tom," Gorton said.
How much trouble can one guy
cause in one day? Why the hell
weren't you at the gangway WHEN
the skipper came aboard?"
why, you young fat fraud,"|
said Keefer. You, who broke
me in to watch standing, and
slept through every import night
watch you had until you became
exec
| Gorton slammed down the cup
and saucer on the arm of the
chair. Coffee Splashed to the
deck. Mister Keefer, we are
not discussing anything but to-
nights watch" he said, land be
careful of your tone in addressing
me-"
Hold on, Burt. Take an even
strain. No offense meant. Did the
old man eat you out?"
you're damned right he did.
Do you secure your brains when
you're not writing your damn
novel? The first night a new
skipper is aboard, can't you be a
little careful?"
| Sorry. I did think of it, out
l got to talking to Steve and for.
got to watch the clock -
r We'll, that's only half of it..
What the hell is Keith doing over
on the Moulton?"
| Keefer's face crinkled in dis
gust. ooh, Burt. That's too
much. Since when is the duty
section not allowed to cross the
gangplank to the ship alongside?"
Since always. Read the stand
ing orders again. Why didn't he
check out with me?"
He looked in on you. You were
asleep"
well, he should have walked me
up"
] Burt. anybody waking you up.
with such a fool request before
| tonight would have gotten a copy
) of Snappy Stories in his puss,"
Well. tonight'S another night.
j We're back on standing orders.
and no kidding"
"Okov akau fbotfc cin,olo