“Great’s the word, all right!” Jack became enthusiastic. “We used to have a regular gang, half a dozen fellows and more girls. Campfire parties, canoeing in the moonlight, sings—all that....” His voice trailed off. Then, “Patsy was up there once.”
“Who’s Patsy?” Stew asked.
“Just a girl I used to know. We grew up together.”
“Uh-huh,” Stew drawled.
“Ted took her away from me at last, or at least I think he did.”
“Our Ted?” Stew sat up. “The one who came out today to help us fight the Japs? The Ted who saved our lives? Hm-m-m! Sounds a little bit queer.”
“Yes, but we practically saved his life too. That might also seem strange. It’s that way in war. War changes a lot of things.”
“You see,” Jack said, sitting up, “Ted and I were rivals. He was what the girls call ‘smooth’. I wasn’t. You know how I am.”
“Oh sure.”
“He beat me in some things, and I beat him in others. Then he went after Patsy.”