Voice from the Cave

FAST

olled over on the hard cot and moaned with pain. Every muscle

r, she pulled away the curtain to pe

" she thought. "Hope D

rts. Dew lay heavy upon the tent and the grass outside was saturate

and was tinkering with the gasoline stove. He

as much cheer as she could muster.

stove is on strike again. I've tried

horrified her. One cheek was blotched with ugly red mosquito bites,

prised!" Mr. Parker exclaimed. He slammed the stove down on

Penny chided, giggling des

suggest how w

" Penny burrowed deep in a box of supplies stored in

r said grimly. "Well,

and dished up the

ked as she sat down to the dismal repast with h

s me tied in a knot. Now at the Crystal Inn w

very firmly. "We'll like it

s today?" Mr. Par

fresh meat and milk. I fo

t the things. May as well take the stov

gh with reluctance. "Don't be gone long, will you

plenty of t

enny watched him go. She remained somewhat troubled as she washed the breakfast dishes at the brook and struggled wit

pped out of here so fast," she mused

d tent. Penny went for a short hike in the woods. She

sed so much trouble the previous night, Penny prepared herself for further blows. How

ting along all right," he greeted her

ash statement as that," Penn

s, seemed to have a genuine interest, she fou

e you came here!" he exclaimed, climbin

magic wand and p

"Gasoline stoves are more bother

n he built a good fire which soon ma

isp brown?" the ranger tempted her. "I caug

ready for cooking. Without asking Penny for anything, he wrapped

kitchen cabinet?" Penny joked. Crouching beside th

been on an overnight trip. Usually hav

offee and fried potatoes. He accomplished everything

es we hate to enforce the rules, but we have to treat everyone alike. If we allowed fol

urse. Have you had a

and crisply browned fish. "Plenty of them farther Sou

e upon the remark. "Sab

fee. "Fact is, enemy agents have made quite a few attempts to set fire to our forest

food, praising the ranger hi

she added. "He went down to Sunset Beach for

declared, getting up from the ground. "I'm due in

ving to Sun

nt to ri

oat," she requested. "It's lonesome here alon

nset Beach, the ranger dropped Penny off at the postoffice. Rather at a loss to know what to do with herself, she wandered ab

ng himself on the b

d strewn with shells and seaweed. Penny paused to gaze meditatively upon the wind-swept sea. For a time she watched

ersons, mostly soldiers on furlough with their girls. Ther

ce," thought Penny,

d the well-kept grounds, not intending to enter the building. However, as she drew near, her attention was drawn

ing her eyes. At one of the tables near the s