“What’s all this about a masterpiece?” Tom asked on the way home. “I don’t get it.”
“Oh, that!” Norma laughed low. “That’s a sort of military secret between my big, high chief and myself. When it—well, when the story breaks, you might say, I’ll try to let you in on it. But for the present mum’s the word.”
“Have it your own way,” Tom grinned, “but, see here, sister, if you go out to that old geezer’s house, don’t go alone. Take that from me. I don’t like his looks!”
“I won’t,” Norma agreed.
That night, on lonely Black Knob Island, Betty had a rather weird experience.
To make life safer for the plane spotters on the island, six enlisted men had been sent there. These had taken up their quarters in a small summer hotel that had been closed for the winter. Betty, Millie, and Mary were given rooms at the Norton cabin, but took their meals at the hotel which was presided over by Mrs. Pearl Tratt, a busy, friendly fisherman’s wife.
In no time at all, Betty had won her way into the hearts of Patsy and her grandfather.
On this particular night. Betty was sharing the first spotter watch with Grandfather Norton and Patsy, who had not yet retired for the night.
Since the moon was not up, it was quite dark on the spotter stand. Grandfather Norton, who had already begun teaching Betty the deaf and dumb alphabet so she could talk to Norma “by hand,” was now introducing her to a device which he had been working on for a long time.