At Major Reed’s request a young private brought Nancy’s baggage from
the Pullman and packed it in the car. The major gave the local doctor
last minute instructions about some of the injured, while Nancy and
Captain Mary Lewis waited for him. It was the first five minutes Nancy
had had since the accident to think quietly about the catastrophe.
With a sudden inner jolt she recalled the two German-speaking
passengers who had sat behind her the previous afternoon. Could there
possibly be any connection between their whispered conversation and
this tragedy? The demand for her services during these last horrible
hours had driven out all other thoughts except the use of her skill in
helping the injured.
When the doctor returned to the car and started to get in, Nancy said,
“Major Reed, there’s something I believe I should tell you before we
leave here.”
He glanced at her, his foot lifted to the step, and said
absent-mindedly, “Yes?”
“This may or may not have any connection with the wreck.”
“They’ve already found evidence that it’s the work of saboteurs,” he
told her frankly.
Nancy felt the blood drain from her cheeks. What would they think of
her not mentioning her suspicions sooner? She had gone too far now to
remain silent. Briefly she gave an account of the German conversation
behind her the previous afternoon.
“I might have thought little of it,” she hastened to add, on seeing the
scowl on the major’s face, “but on boarding the train last night I
noticed there were eight troop cars. Instantly I thought of what the
two men behind me had said. I also noticed the blond corporal watching
the entraining men. He stood at the edge of the crowd outside my coach.”
“You should have reported him as a suspect,” stated Captain Mary Lewis
sharply.
Nancy flushed, and asked, “To whom should I have reported him? They
would only have laughed at me. Nobody on that train knew who I was.”
“Never take a chance when it comes to anything like that,” said Major
Reed. “Where large numbers of lives are involved it’s excusable to be
suspicious of your own brother, rather than take any chances.”
Nancy didn’t flare up in anger or burst into tears, but looked the
major squarely in the eyes. “I’m sure you’re right. Had I been at a
hospital, or in camp, I would have reported my suspicions to the right
authorities. Under the circumstances, sir, what would you have done?”
The major got suddenly into the car and slammed the door. “I would
probably have done exactly as you did, young lady.”
Then Nancy did want to cry from sheer relief. Their car crawled off
through the traffic congestion at the scene of the accident. The
highway ran parallel with the track for some distance. They had an
appalling view of the twisted mass of wreckage in the forward part of
the train. At a group of official-looking cars, Major Reed had the
driver stop. He got out to talk to two men. A few minutes later he
brought them over to the car and had Nancy give a description of the
two suspects she had noticed on the train.
“You are to be commended, Miss Dale,” said Mr. Nelson, the taller of
the two strangers, “for at least giving the suspects a looking over.”
“I had to see what they were like after I heard them whispering in
German!” exclaimed Nancy. “But when I saw one was a corporal in the
army I thought perhaps I was being too suspicious.”
Mr. Nelson laughed bitterly. “We’ve picked up several spies lately,
disguised in soldier’s uniforms. A man isn’t always to be trusted just
because he wears our colors.”
“I suppose it would be impossible now to locate the pair,” said Nancy
unhappily. “The blond could be anywhere among the thousands back there
at the station, or hundreds of miles away by this time.”
The other plainclothes official said, “You underrate our Secret
Service, miss. The description you’ve given is elaborate compared with
some we get. We’ve sometimes caught ’em on little more than a
shoestring.”
He saluted respectfully and their car rolled out to the open country,
and across the red clay hills. They were all too tired for
conversation, even if they had had the heart for it after such a
depressing experience. Captain Lewis did not seem inclined to
conversation, and Nancy was glad enough to ride in silence. She
snuggled deep into her corner, and was actually asleep before they had
left the wreck five miles behind.
Some time later she was startled by a gentle hand shaking her shoulder.
“Here we are, my dear,” Miss Lewis was saying. Nancy opened her eyes.
She sat up with a start, wondering if there’d been another wreck. To
her amazement she found they had stopped in front of a long, one-story
building. Some white-uniformed nurses were coming down the steps.
Across the lawn she saw another group in coveralls.
“You mean we are actually there—at camp?” she asked in amazement.
“You slept like a baby all the way,” said Captain Lewis. “That ability
to relax at once will stand you in good stead when you get in the thick
of things.”
Nancy was pleased. “Mother has always said if anyone would give me a
pillow I could go to sleep any time, anywhere.”
“And this time you didn’t even have a pillow.” Then suddenly Captain
Lewis assumed her official air. “Lieutenant Hauser will show you to
your room and help you get settled. Would you like to join me at
breakfast when you get cleaned up?”
“Oh yes, thanks. This brisk morning air has really whipped up my
appetite.”
Not until long afterward did Nancy discover what an honor Captain Lewis
had bestowed upon her. Too many new and exciting things were happening
just then for her to appreciate the full significance of the invitation.
Captain Lewis introduced her to Lieutenant Hauser who was rather short
and stocky and had a ready smile. She gave Nancy the comfortable
feeling that there was really no difference in their positions, even
though Miss Hauser was already a first lieutenant.
“Your roommate is Mabel Larsen,” explained Miss Hauser. “She got in
yesterday and already knows enough to show you the ropes.”
They went down a long, narrow hall. A moment later Miss Hauser opened
the door of a neat little room with two beds, attractive cretonne
drapes and comfortable chairs and floor lamps.
An exclamation of delight escaped Nancy, “Oh, I thought we’d be
sleeping on army cots in tents!”
“You’ll get plenty of that later. Better enjoy these comforts while you
have them,” Lieutenant Hauser warned her. “Mabel’s out on the obstacle
course right now. You’ll have a chance to do some unpacking and clean
up before she comes in.”
Miss Hauser pointed out a list of rules tacked on the door, told Nancy
where the dining room was and left her to her own devices. An hour
later when Nancy came back from a hearty breakfast with Captain Lewis
she found Mabel Larsen stretched on her bed.
Mabel merely lifted her head when Nancy came in, and greeted her
casually. “Oh, hello! You’re the latest shavetail, I suppose?”
“I’m Nancy Dale, and they tell me you’re Mabel Larsen.”
“Glad you came. Sorry I can’t be very formal just now, but I’m all
in—got only fifteen minutes to get my wind back.” She groaned softly.
“Gosh, but my legs ache!”
“What’s wrong? Are you ill?”
“Oh, nothing that won’t be worse tomorrow! Just wait till you try those
hurdles!” Mabel turned over cautiously and groaned again. “I might’ve
been pounded by Japs from the way these shanks feel.”
Nancy laughed in spite of herself. “You must’ve been neglecting your
daily dozen before you came here.”
“I’ve never been one of those exercise addicts,” stated Mabel. “I’ve
always gotten enough floor work in the wards without this one, two,
three business.” Mabel reached for a bottle of rubbing alcohol and
began to massage her rather plump legs.
“Wait, let me do it,” said Nancy.
Mabel lay back on the bed and gave herself up to the enjoyment of the
soothing touch of Nancy’s hands.
“You oughter been a masseuse,” she sighed. Then after a moment she
asked, “Why were you so late? We thought you were coming on that early
train.”
“There was a wreck,” said Nancy, reluctant to recall her trying
experience.
Mabel sat up suddenly. “You mean the train you were on?”
Nancy nodded and gave her a hasty sketch of what had happened, and
their work with the injured.
“Well, if I’m not the daughter of a sloth!” burst forth Mabel. “Here I
am letting you give me an alcohol rub when you’ve already been working
like a trooper for hours!”
“Oh, I got a bit of sleep coming over in the car, but Miss Lewis
suggested that I go to bed again till lunch time. I had breakfast with
her just now.”
“Not Captain Mary Lewis?” asked Mabel.
Nancy nodded as she began to take off her clothes.
“Well, aren’t you the lucky bloke!” exclaimed Mabel. “Hobnobbing with
the majors and captains on the very day of your arrival.”
“It just happened that way.”
“Think of the chance you had to prove to ’em right off the bat what
stuff you’re made of. Some people do have all the luck.”
Nancy didn’t know just what to make of this talkative roommate, but she
was too tired to care just then. She found her rumpled pajamas in the
zipper bag and got them out. In the meantime Mabel was painfully
putting on her uniform to report to class.
“They’ll probably give you a bunch of this gear this afternoon,” Mabel
said. “I never had so many new duds all at one time as they issued to
me yesterday.”
“Miss Hauser said I’d get my uniforms this afternoon, and be given my
schedule, too. After that experience this morning I’m rather glad I
don’t have to get down to business till tomorrow.”
Nancy crawled into bed and was thankful to find it very comfortable.
She watched her new friend straighten her tie and set her new visor cap
at a rakish angle on her reddish curls.
“Boy, do I feel swell in this uniform,” boasted Mabel. “It sure boosts
your morale to feel you’re really one of the bunch at last. I’ve been
raring to get in for months.”
“So have I,” Nancy told her. “But I only graduated last month.”
“Shake, sister! You’re a gal after my own heart. I just finished, too.”
The irrepressible Mabel seized Nancy’s hand that lay on the spread. “I
believe we’re gonner hit it off fine.”
“We’ll make a team to whip the Japs,” Nancy said, entering into the
spirit of her banter.
“Say, that’s swell! So you want to go down under, too?”
“You bet! My brother’s flying a bomber there.”
“I’ve got a sweety out there, too. Yeah, we’ll make a team—the long
and short, the chestnut curls and the strawberry-blond mop, your common
sense and my nonsense.”
Then they were both laughing and the ice was completely broken.
Mabel glanced at her watch and bounded toward the door. “Be seeing you
later,” she called back.
Nancy felt as though a whirlwind had just passed, and she settled into
her pillow with a sigh of relief. She felt certain she was going to
like her new roommate. Though most of her remarks were flippant, she
showed that there was the right sort of stuff underneath.
After a couple of hours’ sleep and a shower, Nancy felt ready to tackle
her new life. She spent the rest of the afternoon being fitted for her
clothes. She was surprised to know the old blue uniforms were no longer
issued, and that she would wear olive drab for dress.
“They found the Japs wearing blue sometimes in the Pacific area. It
proved confusing,” Lieutenant Hauser told her. “White uniforms are not
customarily worn, either, by nurses at the front—too easily spotted
from the air. All these changes are the result of practical experience.”
When Nancy went out to supper with her new friend, Mabel remarked,
“Leisure’s a scarce commodity round here. We put in eight hours of hard
work every day, counting all the classes, ward work, drills and stuff.
Six days a week, too, sister!”
“I’m used to that,” Nancy told her.
Nancy’s real initiation came the next morning when they were routed out
before daylight for half an hour of calisthenics. Mabel stuck close to
give her a prod or hint against doing things wrong. That morning Nancy
also noticed Tini Hoffman for the first time. Unlike her nickname Tini
was of a large build, and she seemed not to have the slightest sense of
rhythm or coordination. She was constantly getting out of step and
throwing the line off.
“All right then I’ll step out!” snapped Tini, when she had been
reprimanded the third time. “I can’t do anything to please you.”
“You’ll stay in ranks and keep trying till you do it correctly,”
Lieutenant Carson stated. “Or else!”
After that the girl stomped about like a spoiled child, making the dust
fly over those around her. Nancy wondered why she was here at all if
she had not come in the spirit of cooperation with the training program.
“Too much silly falderal,” she heard Tini say in a low tone when the
formation broke up. “I came in to nurse the sick, not to do a lot of
crazy drilling.”
That afternoon Tini was close to Mabel and Nancy when they were jumping
some hurdles. Nancy’s long legs swung easily over the first two, but
the last took all the ability she had. Tini, however, didn’t even try
to go over the last, but quickly ducked under when the instructor
wasn’t looking.
“Go back, you cheat!” snapped Mabel. “We’re not going to have any
duckers-under in this unit.”
Mabel’s bluntness attracted the attention of Lieutenant John Warren,
who was putting them through this phase of their training. He called
out good-naturedly, “Now, now, young lady! You have to take it over the
top, you know.”
Tini knocked down the bar twice before she finally made that last
hurdle. She scraped her chin the first time she hit the gravel. When
their instructor was out of hearing she gave him some back talk, and
continued to grumble while she crawled parallel with Nancy and Mabel
under some lengths of chicken wire.
Nancy was sure her palms had as much earth on them as skin when she
finally came triumphantly through on the other side. “Boy, what an
experience!” she burst forth, when she got up to brush herself off.
“Just imagine how much faster we could do it, if the Japs were using
the soles of our G.I. shoes for target practice,” Mabel reminded her.
“There’s just no sense in all this,” complained Tini, wiping her gritty
palms on her coveralls.
Nancy didn’t like this girl, nor her attitude, and found she couldn’t
keep silent any longer.
“Looks as though you’d better get out of this right now,” she snapped.
“If I understand the reason for all this, it’s for our own good—to
prepare us for real trials to come if we’re sent into the fighting
areas.”
“Mind your own business,” snapped Tini like a spoiled child. “I’ve got
a right to blow off if I want to.”
She stalked on to the next test. Here they were required to swing by a
rope down the side of a ravine. Nancy and Mabel followed slowly, and
Mabel said, “If they keep her on she’ll get our unit into trouble, sure
as life.”
“I doubt if they keep her with such an attitude.”
“She griped like that all the way through nurse’s training,” Mabel
explained.
“Oh, was she in your class?”
“Yes. We came here together, too. You have to hand it to Tini, though.
She has a keen mind and makes grand marks. They had no grounds for
turning her down, I suppose.”
“She makes me feel as uncomfortable as those suspects on the train did.”
“Yeah!” agreed Mabel. “There’re more ways of working against Uncle Sam
than outright sabotage.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------