“Seems no doubt he was the one who shot Brad.”
“The FBI have gone out now in a powerful motorboat. The wind is down enough for them to take a chance. They’re afraid to wait too long for fear 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 the destruction from Brad’s room.”
Kitty was instantly alert. “Then we’ll need every Canteen worker on the island. I must try to get in touch with Mrs. Evans. I suppose all the wires 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.”
Kitty couldn’t go anywhere until she saw for herself how Brad was. The nurse was just propping him up for his dinner as Kitty entered.
“Surely is grand to see you eating, Brad!” she said happily when she went in.
Though his left arm was bound against his body he could feed himself with his right hand.
“That transfusion put the kick right back into me,” Brad said. “Sorry I was such a nuisance last night.”
She followed the nurse to the door and closed it tightly. “Brad, the whole 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 Captain Rogers 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 to Terrapin Island now to get Beeson and Punaro. Sure hope no harm comes to Uncle Mose before they get there.”
“Hope so, too. We can use the old darky when we build our summer cottage in the pine thicket.”
“Our summer cottage in the pine thicket!” exclaimed Kitty and laughed suddenly. “Oh, Brad, what a dreamer you are! They must have you sort of doped 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 an awful 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 could see where the storm had struck with full force. It looked as though a giant mowing machine might have laid everything level in its path.