Elinor, along with the rest of the San Diego flying instruction group, had been transferred to the Pensacola base, arriving the same time as Lefty. He had seen her earlier in the day and had had an opportunity to speak with her for one brief moment.
Now, as he stood perspiring and working over the wing of a plane with soap and water, she walked directly by him.
Just as she passed the boy, the bottom of her regulation cape caught in the wiring on the wing and the button at the neck fell off, dropping in the pail of water at Lefty’s feet.
As she looked after the absent button, somewhat perplexed, her eyes met Lefty’s and the broad smile beaming upon his face. He reached into the pail, retrieving the lost accessory and, holding it in his hand for her to reclaim, said, “If I wasn’t so busy, I’d sew it on!”
Elinor, remembering the incident in the Senior Medical Officer’s reception room, smiled good-humoredly and helped along the situation by replying, “Are you always busy?”
Lefty dropped his soap and brush, gazing down at the lovely girl hopefully at this welcome sign of encouragement.
“Well—I’m not busy to-night!”
A mischievous twinkle shone in Elinor’s eyes and, as she started to walk away, replied, “That’s just too bad, Private Phelps, because I am!”
“Well, how about to-morrow night?” Lefty called after her.
“Still busier!” she said, continuing on her way across the field.