"I want, Steve. But dad will be looking for me," she told him wistfully.
"Good Lord, Morehouse doesn't make you work?" he exclaimed in mock
horror.
"What did you think?" she asked him with a quizzical glance.
"I thought it was a case of plain, everyday, common, down-to-earth
nepotism."
"So do a lot of people, but it isn't true; I'm told that I earn my
salary."
Steve laughed. "I didn't intend that crack of mine to rub salt in an
open wound."
"Oh, I'll not take it seriously," she said. "But you go on and saturate
yourself with coffee; glad you made it all right."
"See you later," he nodded, and turned from her to walk briskly towards
the mess. Seeing Lois had steadied him as he had known it would. Hagen
was not given to mental analysis, either of himself or of others, but
he did realize the truth of what his professors had taught him in
psychology I--that the feeling of kinship with good solid earth and the
regard of a woman were the absolute basic things that go toward making
a man feel well in heart. So long as he can retain these--
"Steve!" came the call. Hagen whirled instantly and held up a hand to
Lois; he turned and started to cross the space between them but Lois
waved him back. She cupped her hands to her lips and called: "You'll be
at the brawl Saturday?"
"Yes," he called back. "You gotta date?"
Lois shook her head.
Steve beat upon his chest, then polished his fingernails on the lapel
of his leather space jacket.
Lois nodded, shaking her auburn hair vigorously. Then she turned and
headed towards the office building, and Steve went on towards the mess.
Steve Hagen was feeling positively cheerful.
* * * * *
He was still there when Halligan came limping in, to land uncertainly
in his accustomed spot. Like the rest, Steve went out to see the man,
and they all waved him home, surrounding him and pelting him with both
hand-shakes, mild insults and warm greetings. Halligan replied to the
insults stoically, grinned at the rest, and peered around the group
until he saw Steve. Then he shouldered his way through.
"Steve," he said seriously, "I did not mean anyth--"
Hagen smiled. "Naturally," he said, accepting Joe Halligan's hand. "I'd
have been no use to you and I know it. I'll need some more practise."