CHAPTER NINE
ALERT
During those first busy days at the hotel Nancy saw little of Tini. Though she managed to get in always before eleven, and was at hand for breakfast, she took most of her other meals out.
One noon when Nancy, Mabel and Shorty were on a shopping expedition they came across Tini in a swanky Chinese restaurant, sitting at a table with a smart-looking woman, obviously about ten years her senior.
Nancy’s trio, in a high mood, was having a final fling. They had carefully checked over their funds to be sure they would have enough for a meal in this expensive restaurant. They were surprised and not altogether pleased to find Tini ahead of them with someone who would probably foot her bill.
“She hasn’t paid a particle of attention to what Miss Hauser said about our going in groups,” Mabel grumbled on seeing Tini.
“Has she ever paid attention to any regulations she could break and get by with?” asked Shorty, whose round, babyish eyes took in more than her guileless face betrayed.
Nancy gave her attention to the menu card, but when the other two were occupied with thoughts of food she sent the woman sitting opposite Tini a critical look. The stranger was a blonde like Tini, but her chic hat and smart clothes could not hide the hard sophistication in her face. A group of WACs came into the dining room, and Nancy saw the woman’s eyes follow them to their seats. Two army nurses, not of their unit, entered a moment later and again she trailed them. Nancy made up her mind to ask Tini later about the woman, then tried to dismiss the unpleasant subject, and enjoy this meal they had been anticipating.
The chop suey and Chinese tea proved to be all that had been anticipated. Though they dawdled long over the food Tini and her companion were still at their table when Nancy and her friends rose to go.
When they had left their tips and paid for their food Mabel said in an impish tone, “I’ve gotter pass by Tini’s table on the way out.”
“Now, Mabel, what are you up to?” asked Nancy.