"About ten years."
"Then Miss Necia was born out in the States?"
Gale shot a startled glance at the soldier before he answered in the affirmative, but Burrell was studying a pattern of sunlight on the floor and did not observe him. A moment later he inquired, hesitatingly:
"Is this your first marriage, Mr. Gale?" When the other did not answer, he looked up and quickly added:
"I beg your pardon, sir. What led me to ask was Miss Necia—she is so—well—she is such a remarkable girl."
Gale's face had undergone a change, but he answered, quietly:
"I 'ain't never been married."
"What?"
"When I took Alluna it wasn't the style, and neither one of us has thought much about it since."
"Oh, I see," exclaimed Burrell, hurriedly. "I'll bring that list with me the first time I think about it," and, nodding amiably, he sauntered out. But his mind was in a whirl, and even after he had reached his quarters he found himself repeating: