They fell silent a moment while they watched the other darkened ships moving across the wide expanse.
After an interval he said in a low tone, “Miss Dale, this is the first opportunity I’ve had to thank you for your cooperation.”
“There was nothing else I could do.”
“Of course. But you did it more tactfully and successfully than many others would have.”
“Naturally I’ve been curious to know what really happened the other night when I went to Miss Hauser about Tini.”
“It’s a long story that goes way back,” he began, and glanced around once more to be sure no one else was in hearing distance. “You’ve helped us trap two of a ring we’ve been trailing a long time.”
“Oh, Major Reed, really?”
“Their specialty has been getting in with women in the service, not only nurses, but WACs, WAVES, and even Red Cross workers, to worm information from them by subtle tricks at which they’re very adept.”
“And Tini Hoffman’s temperament made her a gold mine for them, I should think.”
“Exactly. We took some great chances letting her stay as long as she did, but it proved to be worth it in the end.”