"There's just one way that a clue might be found," muttered Private Bill Hooper, one morning in Sergeant Hupner's squad room. "In time it may turn out that a sweetheart of some soldier gets some pretty jewelry trinkets given to her."
He glared covertly, though meaningly, at Hal Overton.
But Hal was far enough away neither to see nor to hear Hooper's fling.
"You'll never get caught on that trick, Bill," jeered Private Hyman. "No girl would look at you, even if you displayed the whole of the missing jewelry."
"I've had my share of sweethearts in my day," growled big Private Hooper.
"That was before your face changed for worse," grinned Hyman.
"Don't get gay with me," warned Hooper sulkily, "or your face may suffer some changes!"
"Go over and thump the kid," proposed Hyman.
It was Hal who was meant by the term "kid."
"I don't like that youngster," muttered Hooper. "And I don't trust him, either."