now, up to yer waists in water, an' we wa'nt mor'n a hundred feet
behind. Did you see them Filipino trenches after we took 'em?"

I shook my head.

"No; I was down and out long before then."

"Hell of a sight, believe me--jammed full o' little brown men, deader
than door nails. They died a fighting, all right, an' they sure gave
us a belly full that day. Lost sixteen out o' my company."

Our eyes lingered an instant on each other's faces; then I turned away,
and walked to the door. She was waiting motionless, her back to the
window, and, when I spoke, followed me in without a word. I led the
way to the secluded table behind the screen, seated her, and took the
chair opposite. Without questioning her wishes I ordered for both, the
girl sitting in silence, her face bent low over the menu card, a red
flush on either cheek. Still obsessed with vague suspicion of her
character I could not forbear a suggestion.

"What will you have to drink?" I asked, as the waiter turned aside. "I
'd rather like a cocktail to drive the wet out of my system. Shall I
make it two?"

She glanced up quickly from under shading lashes, her eyes, big and
brown, meeting my own.

"I prefer coffee; that will be quite sufficient."

I ran my hand through my hair.