parachute drop.” Barbara stared gloomily at her feet. “They say it’s not really required that a parachute rigger should take parachute training, but that if they do take it, and if they do take just one drop, they make better riggers.”

“Of course they do,” Sally agreed. “They know what it’s all about.”

“That sounds all right. But would you want to go to an airfield where only men are training, and go through all the practice and finally take the drop, all by yourself?”

“No, of course not. Are they asking you to do that?”

“Not asking, just suggesting.”

“Which in this war is the same thing. Tell you what—” Sally came to a sudden decision. “If Lieutenant Mayfare will let me, I’ll go through the training with you.”

“You wouldn’t!” Barbara stared.

“I said I would, didn’t I?”

“Yes, but you don’t have to.”

“No, of course not, but I want to. If I’m to go in for Radio and Communications I want to be prepared to serve anywhere, on land, on the sea, or in the air.”

Barbara Was Staring Gloomily at the Floor

“You’re the daffiest person I ever knew—and the dandiest!” At that big Barbara hugged Sally until she thought her ribs would crack.

“But, Sally, you don’t have to go in for parachute jumping if you’re going in for Radio,” Lieutenant Mayfare protested when Sally made her unusual request next day.

“But I want to,” Sally insisted.

“You’re doing it to help Barbara. Is that fair to yourself?”

“Who knows what is fair?” Sally asked quietly. “It’s not fair to ask a boy to give up his college work right in the middle of his first year to go to war. Or is it? It’s not fair to ask a father to leave two small children for the same reason. Or is it? Who knows—

“Anyway I’d like the experience,” she added after a brief silence. “There are several things we are not being asked to do now. Perhaps tomorrow or next month we will be asked. I want to be prepared. And after 

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