cdm/src/main/java/ucar/util/prefs/PreferencesExt.java
private Object _getObject(String keyName) {
      Object result = null;
      try {
        result = keyValues.get( keyName);
        if (result == null) {
          // if failed, check the stored Defaults
          PreferencesExt sd = getStoredDefaults();
          if (sd != null)
            result = sd.getObjectFromNode( absolutePath(), keyName);
        }
      } catch (Exception e) {
              // Ignoring exception causes default to be returned
      }
      return result;
    }
private Object _getObject(String keyName) {
      Object result = null;
      try {
        result = keyValues.get( keyName);
        if (result == null) {
          // if failed, check the stored Defaults
          PreferencesExt sd = getStoredDefaults();
          if (sd != null)
            result = sd.getObjectFromNode( absolutePath(), keyName);
        }
      } catch (Exception e) {
              // Ignoring exception causes default to be returned
      }
      return result;
    }
assume key non-null, locked node