“That made it exciting, I can tell you. Might have been an enemy plane scouting. And there were too many lights burning in Portland that night.”
“What happened?” Norma demanded eagerly.
“Grandfather kept hearing them and reporting for half an hour. Then a fighter plane went out, but couldn’t find them in the fog.
“They came in quite close to Black Knob. Then the motor went off. Grandfather was outside. He was sure they went into the sea—thought he heard a splash. They—”
Bess broke off suddenly to press the head-set to her ear. She listened intently for a moment, then murmured into her speaker:
“Okay.”
Stepping to the door she said to her sister:
“Just another Navy plane off its course. Pilot called for directions and got them.”
“See? That’s the way it is.” she said to Norma.
“I see,” said Norma. “Disappointing?”