The huge Fortress came in fast for a perfect landing. Crew members began to tumble out through the door. One of the young men in captain’s uniform evidently was a passenger for he carried a suitcase.
“Lou!” Penny grasped her chum’s arm. “That flier looks like Jerry Livingston!”
“Oh, it couldn’t be!”
“All the same, I think it is!”
Penny was so excited that she barely could control her voice. Jerry Livingston was one of her very best friends, a former reporter on the Riverview Star. In the days before he had joined the Army Air Force, she and Jerry had shared many an exciting adventure. However, since he had gone away there had been only a few letters and those brief communications had contained no real news.
“It is Jerry!” Penny cried an instant later. “Oh, Lou, this must have been the surprise that Dad knew about! How could he keep it from me?”
Breaking away from her chum, Penny darted across the runway. As she called Jerry’s name, the young man turned toward her. His handsome, wind-tanned face became a brilliant smile. A dozen long strides carried him to her side.
“Penny!” he cried. He didn’t hesitate. He just swept her into his arms and kissed her.
“Sorry, Penny,” Jerry apologized, his eyes twinkling. “Guess I shouldn’t have done that. But when you’ve not seen your one and only girl for going on a year—”
“Your which?” Penny stammered, too confused to blush.