“He’s not told you very much about why he came here.”
“No,” Penny said briefly. The subject was a sore one with her. She felt that both her father and Jerry were keeping secrets.
The tide was still high when the girls reached the beach, but the flow was outward. Sprawling in the warm sand, they watched the gulls.
“Wonder what became of Jerry and Dad?” Penny speculated. “They’re probably together somewhere.”
“Or with Mrs. Deline,” Louise suggested wickedly.
She was sorry that she had spoken for Penny’s face immediately became as black as a thundercloud.
“Sorry,” Louise apologized. “I was only joking.”
Penny continued to scowl for at that moment she glimpsed Mrs. Deline walking rapidly down the beach. The widow came from the direction of the lighthouse and was alone. To avoid the incoming waves she waded ankle deep through the great sand ridges along the drift fence.
“That’s queer,” Penny muttered, sitting up.
“What is?”