“Here’s an interesting news item,” Penny remarked, indicating a brief story on an inner page of the paper. “It says an enemy submarine was sighted not many miles from here—just off the coast.”
“Did they get it?” Louise inquired absently.
“I guess not. The story doesn’t say, except that the air patrol dropped bombs.”
“Wonder what a single sub was doing so close here?” Louise speculated. “Oh, well, we’ve nothing to fear.”
A clock chimed the hour of nine. On the first stroke, the girls arose and hastened to keep their appointment with Jerry. The night was closing in dark. Along the shore no lights were showing for the dim-out was rigidly enforced at Sunset Beach.
“Where’s Jerry?” Penny asked as they reached the bench where they had promised to meet him. “Hope he didn’t forget.”
Ten minutes elapsed. Penny was examining the luminous dial of her wrist watch when someone came striding down the gravel path.
“Hello,” Jerry greeted the girls. “Sorry to have kept you waiting. All set for adventure?”
“Lead on!” Penny laughed.
Taking each of them by an elbow, Jerry guided the girls down the deserted beach. Twice they passed guards who merely stared and allowed them to pass unchallenged.