quarter
into his hand and opened his mouth.

"The close co-ordination between our fighter units and the low-level
bombers will be secured by a system of code signals." Colonel Benson's
voice snapped off suddenly. His green eyes were on O'Malley and sparks
flashed in their depths. The other boys turned and looked at O'Malley.

"You are hungry, Lieutenant O'Malley?" Colonel Benson asked coldly.

"Yes, sor. 'Tis three hours an' more past dinnertime," O'Malley answered
calmly as he shoved half of the pie into his mouth.

"Stop! Stop--swilling that pie!" the colonel roared.

O'Malley got rid of the pie in a simple manner. He shoved what was left
into his mouth and munched upon it.

For a full minute the colonel could not think of anything to say. But
his face got deeper red and his eyes blazed. Finally he rapped on his
desk and said:

"Gentlemen, I will not tolerate eating during a conference. Any sort of
eating. I will not tolerate eating pie while I am giving instructions.
Lieutenant O'Malley, you will retire. I will consider your case later."

O'Malley got to his feet. He handed the pie plate to the embarrassed
corporal. "Thank you, sor," he drawled as he made off.

The colonel snorted and went back to his lecture. O'Malley headed for
the mess hall. The half pie had whetted his appetite. Locating a
comfortable place near a window he ordered a big dinner, with a whole
blueberry pie for dessert. In a leisurely manner he began devouring his
meal.

He had spent most of an hour enjoying his dinner and was ready to eat
his pie, when the fliers began drifting in from the conference. Several
of them headed toward O'Malley's table. O'Malley was the most famous
pilot in their outfit. The stories about him amounted almost to legend.
The boys admired his disregard for military usage. All of them had been
working according to the colonel's carefully explained plans for months
and knew them better than the colonel did. They had been bored by the
long session but had not had the nerve to show their feelings.

But none of them reached O'Malley. Colonel Benson came in and strode
over to O'Malley's table.

Nodding to O'Malley, he said, "Mind if I join you?" His voice did not
sound so stiff outside his office.

"Sure, an' I'm glad to have you," O'Malley said, but there was a gleam
of suspicion in his eye.

Colonel Benson seated himself. He watched O'Malley attack the pie. His
interest amounted to fascination and he did not