It was always a gamble, knocking at the Wigfalls' front door. 

Ofttimes a caller was treated to a very loud running argument from behind the woodwork between the various family members about whose turn it was to answer the door; sometimes it would be opened straightway by the genial enough Hector Wigfall, although he could be a little too friendly, if you happened to be young, pretty, and female. Other times the bovine features of Jemima Wigfall would be the face to greet you, in morose tones, when the door cracked open. 

However, today, unfortunately, it was the disapproving visage of Mrs Wigfall herself who looked down the front door steps at the Saloon Singer, Caroline Mundee.

"Yes?" was the less than welcoming salutation, delivered with a look of vinegar disapproval and a foreboding crossing of the arms. Not an auspicious start, by any means.

Wayfarer 

"Hello, I'd like to talk to Lt. Greene and I know he has a room here. Just tell me which room and I can find it," Caroline wasn't beating around the bush.

"Oh. You will, will you?" harumphed Mrs Wigfall. Why, the very idea of allowing this strumpet into her respectable boarding house! It didn't bear thinking about.  

"I am afraid that guests here are not allowed to receive visitors of the opposite persuasion, even respectable ones. Perhaps you would like to return home and continue getting dressed, and I will appraise the Lieutenant of your visit." she suggested, although it seemed likely that this message would never get through to the intended recipient, judging by the way Mary Wigfall was looking at Caroline.

Luckily, Hector put his head out of the front parlour and peered down the hall, past his Mother and saw enough red dress, yellow hair and white flesh to know who it was.

"Howdy Caroline! You looking for the Lieutenant? I'll go and tell him you're here!" the lad yelped genially and started up the stairs. Mrs Wigfall was not impressed and started yelling after him: "HECTOR WIGFALL, COME BACK HERE IMMEDIATELY! YOU WILL NOT DISTURB LIEUTENANT GREENE! HECTOR!! HECTOR!!" 

Hector ignored his mother completely and disappeared up the stairs; he could always say he hadn't heard her, unlikely though that was - everybody else in the town had.

Mrs Wigfall turned back round, casting a furious look at Caroline. 

"How does my son know your name? Have you been corrupting him?!!" she asked crossly. "I bet you're a friend of that Mudd girl aren't you?!!" This seemed to be the ultimate accusation. 

Luckily Joseph was up and dressed when he heard the tapping at his door and the voice of the son of the house (one could say the man of the house, Mr Wigfall never seeming to be about) Hector calmly announcing "Say, Lieutenant, Caroline Mundee from the saloon's downstairs asking after you. I'd come pretty quick, I don't think her and my Ma are, whatayacallum?, compatible."

He heard the lad race back down stairs while he grabbed his walking stick and plopped his kepi on his tousled golden hair. He and Caroline really did make the blue-eyed, blond-haired couple of Kalispell!

As he painfully descended (going downstairs was decidedly tougher on his wound than ascending, curiously enough) he heard the tail-end of a non-too convivial conversation.

"How does my son know your name? Have you been corrupting him?!! "I bet you're a friend of that Mudd girl aren't you?!!"

"He has on occasion played fiddle at the saloon for some extra money. No, I haven't been corrupting him, you old crow. And yes, I am a friend of Arabella Mudd," 

Joe sighed with relief as he finally reached the bottom of the stairs and then suppressed a laugh at the sight of Hector, pushing his head under Mrs Wigfall's arm to talk to Caroline and a cacophony of argumentation.

"How dare you call me an old crow!" "Don't worry, Caroline, the Lieutenant's on his way!" "Well, if you're a friend of that girl, I'm not surprised..." "Gee, that's sure a pretty dress you're wearing Caroline, is that from Pettigrew's? Say do you ever see anything of Miriam Kaufmann when you're in there...?" "HECTOR, HAVE YOU BEEN FIDDLING WITH THIS WOMAN?!"

The injured officer couldn't be bothered to shout above this noise, so instead rapped his cane on the door, which opened inward. This got him both quiet and egress.

"I'm going for my daily constitutional, Mrs Wigfall, don't worry, I'll be back in time for supper!" he beamed and took the middle aged woman's hand "I wouldn't miss that for the world!" The frosty older woman was suddenly all fawning smiles. There was a bit of a fandango as the Cavalry man sidled round the landlady. Meanwhile, Hector was actually outside in his carpet slippers, trying to get Caroline's attention.

"You see, I always say hello to her first, and she says hello back, but I think she's avoiding me. Does she ever mention me to you or Arabella, ... this is Miss Kaufmann, I mean... do you think I should send her some flowers?" the lovelorn telegrapher babbled.

"Good day, Joseph. Hope you don't mind me stopping by?" she smiled.

He smiled back "You only just beat me coming to see you!" 

"You see, I always say hello to her first, and she says hello back, but I think she's avoiding me. Does she ever mention me to you or Arabella, ... this is Miss Kaufmann, I mean... do you think I should send her some flowers?" Hector babbled.

"Later Hector, in fact come by the saloon any day and I will see you get a drink on the house and we can talk about...your friend," Caroline wanted to be nice since he'd helped her out but was not going to get dragged into this now of all times.

"I keep telling you, Heck. Join the army, women can't resist a man in uniform." Joseph advised the young telegraph operator, and then nodded at Caroline, as if to say 'see what I mean'.

"Ha ha... no thanks!" returned Hector, pointing at the Lieutenant's wounded leg. He would stick with sending telegraphs, where the only occupational hazard you had to worry about was a slightly calloused fingertip!

They left the Wigfalls to it: Hector returning indoors and his mother making strenuous enquiries as to what immoral doings he had been up to in the saloon and berating him for chasing after 'that Jew girl'.

Then it was back to focusing on the lieutenant, "How are you now? Feeling better? You look good."

"I'm fine, all the better for seeing you" he said, taking her by the arm. "Listen, I've been posted into town for a while on a top secret mission. Do you want to hear all about it?" he asked with a conspiratorial grin.