CHAPTER TWO
HURDLES
At Major Reed's request a young private brought Nancy's baggage fromthe Pullman and packed it in the car. The major gave the local doctorlast minute instructions about some of the injured, while Nancy andCaptain Mary Lewis waited for him. It was the first five minutes Nancyhad had since the accident to think quietly about the catastrophe.
With a sudden inner jolt she recalled the two German-speakingpassengers who had sat behind her the previous afternoon. Could therepossibly be any connection between their whispered conversation andthis tragedy? The demand for her services during these last horriblehours had driven out all other thoughts except the use of her skill inhelping 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 weleave here."
He glanced at her, his foot lifted to the step, and saidabsent-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," hetold her frankly.
Nancy felt the blood drain from her cheeks. What would they think ofher not mentioning her suspicions sooner? She had gone too far now toremain silent. Briefly she gave an account of the German conversationbehind her the previous afternoon.
"I might have thought little of it," she hastened to add, on seeing thescowl on the major's face, "but on boarding the train last night Inoticed there were eight troop cars. Instantly I thought of what thetwo men behind me had said. I also noticed the blond corporal watchingthe entraining men. He stood at the edge of the crowd outside my coach."
"You should have reported him as a suspect," stated Captain Mary Lewissharply.
Nancy flushed, and asked, "To whom should I have reported him? Theywould 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 MajorReed. "Where large numbers of lives are involved it's excusable to besuspicious of your own brother, rather than take any chances."
Nancy didn't flare up in anger or burst into tears, but looked themajor squarely in the eyes. "I'm sure you're right. Had I been at ahospital, or in camp, I would have reported my suspicions to the rightauthorities. Under the circumstances, sir, what would you have done?"
The major got suddenly into the car and slammed the door. "I wouldprobably have done exactly as you did, young lady."
Then Nancy did want to cry from sheer relief. Their car crawled offthrough the traffic congestion at the scene of the accident. Thehighway ran parallel with the track for some distance. They had anappalling view of the twisted mass of wreckage in the forward part ofthe train. At a group of official-looking cars, Major Reed had thedriver stop. He got out to talk to two men. A few minutes later hebrought them over to the car and had Nancy give a description of thetwo suspects she had noticed on the train.
"You are to be commended, Miss Dale," said Mr. Nelson, the taller ofthe two strangers, "for at least giving the suspects a looking over."
"I had to see what they were like after I heard them whispering inGerman!" exclaimed Nancy. "But when I saw one was a corporal in thearmy 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 justbecause he wears our colors."
"I suppose it would be impossible now to locate the pair," said Nancyunhappily. "The blond could be anywhere among the thousands back thereat the station, or hundreds of miles away by this time."
The other plainclothes official said, "You underrate our SecretService, miss. The description you've given is elaborate compared withsome we get. We've sometimes caught 'em on little more than ashoestring."
He saluted respectfully and their car rolled out to the open country,and across the red clay hills. They were all too tired forconversation, even if they had had the heart for it after such adepressing experience. Captain Lewis did not seem inclined toconversation, and Nancy was glad enough to ride in silence. Shesnuggled deep into her corner, and was actually asleep before they hadleft 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. Toher amazement she found they had stopped in front of a long, one-storybuilding. 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 abilityto relax at once will stand you in good stead when you get in the thickof things."
Nancy was pleased. "Mother has always said if anyone would give me apillow I could go to sleep any time, anywhere."
"And this time you didn't even have a pillow." Then suddenly CaptainLewis assumed her official air. "Lieutenant Hauser will show you toyour room and help you get settled. Would you like to join me atbreakfast when you get cleaned up?"
"Oh yes, thanks. This brisk morning air has really whipped up myappetite."
Not until long afterward did Nancy discover what an honor Captain Lewishad bestowed upon her. Too many new and exciting things were happeningjust then for her to appreciate the full significance of the invitation.
Captain Lewis introduced her to Lieutenant Hauser who was rather shortand stocky and had a ready smile. She gave Nancy the comfortablefeeling that there was really no difference in their positions, eventhough Miss Hauser was already a first lieutenant.
"Your roommate is Mabel Larsen," explained Miss Hauser. "She got inyesterday and already knows enough to show you the ropes."
They went down a long, narrow hall. A moment later Miss Hauser openedthe door of a neat little room with two beds, attractive cretonnedrapes and comfortable chairs and floor lamps.
An exclamation of delight escaped Nancy, "Oh, I thought we'd besleeping on army cots in tents!"
"You'll get plenty of that later. Better enjoy these comforts while youhave them," Lieutenant Hauser warned her. "Mabel's out on the obstaclecourse right now. You'll have a chance to do some unpacking and cleanup before she comes in."
Miss Hauser pointed out a list of rules tacked on the door, told Nancywhere the dining room was and left her to her own devices. An hourlater when Nancy came back from a hearty breakfast with Captain Lewisshe found Mabel Larsen stretched on her bed.
Mabel merely lifted her head when Nancy came in, and greeted hercasually. "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 allin--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 thosehurdles!" Mabel turned over cautiously and groaned again. "I might'vebeen pounded by Japs from the way these shanks feel."
Nancy laughed in spite of herself. "You must've been neglecting yourdaily dozen before you came here."
"I've never been one of those exercise addicts," stated Mabel. "I'vealways gotten enough floor work in the wards without this one, two,three business." Mabel reached for a bottle of rubbing alcohol andbegan 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 thesoothing touch of Nancy's hands.
"You oughter been a masseuse," she sighed. Then after a moment sheasked, "Why were you so late? We thought you were coming on that earlytrain."
"There was a wreck," said Nancy, reluctant to recall her tryingexperience.
Mabel sat up suddenly. "You mean the train you were
on?"
Nancy nodded and gave her a hasty sketch of what had happened, andtheir work with the injured.
"Well, if I'm not the daughter of a sloth!" burst forth Mabel. "Here Iam letting you give me an alcohol rub when you've already been workinglike a trooper for hours!"
"Oh, I got a bit of sleep coming over in the car, but Miss Lewissuggested that I go to bed again till lunch time. I had breakfast withher 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 withthe 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 whatstuff you're made of. Some people do have all the luck."
Nancy didn't know just what to make of this talkative roommate, but shewas too tired to care just then. She found her rumpled pajamas in thezipper bag and got them out. In the meantime Mabel was painfullyputting on her uniform to report to class.
"They'll probably give you a bunch of this gear this afternoon," Mabelsaid. "I never had so many new duds all at one time as they issued tome yesterday."
"Miss Hauser said I'd get my uniforms this afternoon, and be given myschedule, too. After that experience this morning I'm rather glad Idon'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 capat a rakish angle on her reddish curls.
"Boy, do I feel swell in this uniform," boasted Mabel. "It sure boostsyour morale to feel you're really one of the bunch at last. I've beenraring 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. "Ibelieve we're gonner hit it off fine."
"We'll make a team to whip the Japs," Nancy said, entering into thespirit 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 longand short, the chestnut curls and the strawberry-blond mop, your commonsense 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 youlater," she called back.
Nancy felt as though a whirlwind had just passed, and she settled intoher pillow with a sigh of relief. She felt certain she was going tolike her new roommate. Though most of her remarks were flippant, sheshowed that there was the right sort of stuff underneath.
After a couple of hours' sleep and a shower, Nancy felt ready to tackleher new life. She spent the rest of the afternoon being fitted for herclothes. She was surprised to know the old blue uniforms were no longerissued, and that she would wear olive drab for dress.
"They found the Japs wearing blue sometimes in the Pacific area. Itproved confusing," Lieutenant Hauser told her. "White uniforms are notcustomarily worn, either, by nurses at the front--too easily spottedfrom 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 hardwork 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 outbefore daylight for half an hour of calisthenics. Mabel stuck close togive her a prod or hint against doing things wrong. That morning Nancyalso noticed Tini Hoffman for the first time. Unlike her nickname Tiniwas of a large build, and she seemed not to have the slightest sense ofrhythm or coordination. She was constantly getting out of step andthrowing the line off.
"All right then I'll step out!" snapped Tini, when she had beenreprimanded 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 dustfly over those around her. Nancy wondered why she was here at all ifshe 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 theformation broke up. "I came in to nurse the sick, not to do a lot ofcrazy drilling."
That afternoon Tini was close to Mabel and Nancy when they were jumpingsome hurdles. Nancy's long legs swung easily over the first two, butthe last took all the ability she had. Tini, however, didn't even tryto go over the last, but quickly ducked under when the instructorwasn't looking.
"Go back, you cheat!" snapped Mabel. "We're not going to have anyduckers-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 calledout good-naturedly, "Now, now, young lady! You have to take it over thetop, you know."
Tini knocked down the bar twice before she finally made that lasthurdle. She scraped her chin the first time she hit the gravel. Whentheir instructor was out of hearing she gave him some back talk, andcontinued to grumble while she crawled parallel with Nancy and Mabelunder some lengths of chicken wire.
Nancy was sure her palms had as much earth on them as skin when shefinally came triumphantly through on the other side. "Boy, what anexperience!" she burst forth, when she got up to brush herself off.
"Just imagine how much faster we could do it, if the Japs were usingthe soles of our G.I. shoes for target practice," Mabel reminded her.
"There's just no sense in all this," complained Tini, wiping her grittypalms on her coveralls.
Nancy didn't like this girl, nor her attitude, and found she couldn'tkeep 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--toprepare us for real trials to come if we're sent into the fightingareas."
"Mind your own business," snapped Tini like a spoiled child. "I've gota right to blow off if I want to."
She stalked on to the next test. Here they were required to swing by arope down the side of a ravine. Nancy and Mabel followed slowly, andMabel said, "If they keep her on she'll get our unit into trouble, sureas life."
"I doubt if they keep her with such an attitude."
"She griped like that all the way through nurse's training," Mabelexplained.
"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 forturning 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 Samthan outright sabotage."
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