“Why not break down and tell me the identity of our two fellow passengers?” suggested Penny.
“So you really don’t know their names?” Francine flashed a triumphant smile. “Fancy that! Well, you’ve proven such a clever little reporter in the past, I’ll allow you to figure it out for yourself. See you in Pine Top.”
Turning away, the young woman went back to the desk to speak once more with the ticket man.
“Doesn’t she simply drip conceit!” Louise whispered in disgust. “Did I make a mistake in letting her know that you weren’t on an assignment?”
“It doesn’t matter, Lou. Shall we be going out to the plane before I miss it?”
The huge streamliner stood warming up on the ribbon of cement, long tongues of flame leaping from the exhausts. Nearly all of the passengers already had taken their seats in the warm, cozy cabin.
“Good-bye, Lou,” Penny said, shaking her chum’s hand.
“Good-bye. Have a nice time. And don’t let that know-it-all Francine get ahead of you!”
“Not if I can help it,” laughed Penny.
Francine had left the waiting room and was walking with a brisk step toward the plane. Not wishing to be the last person aboard, Penny stepped quickly into the cabin. All but two seats were taken. One was at the far end of the plane, the other directly behind the two strange men.