The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-06-04
LILA
CHAPTER XIX

She sent him wide-cyed
stare of innocence. 81 don't
know what you mean" she smil-
ed demurely. But he did say
once that a fortune teller told
him he would be rich and pow
erful and marry a beautiful
blond"
The moon was full bril-
liant, luminous disk moving
through the warm blue of the
tropic sky. The breeze was
warm. Even the towering depths
of the jungle seemed pulsing
with some dark, vibrant elixir of
life.
Barry, strolling beside Allison
across the clearing from 'he In
dian hunts, gave sigh OF impa-
thence. In all this vital, urgent
rushing Of nature he felt himself
the one fixed, helpless point.
cts been nine days since l got
back from the Quiche country"
he muttcred. IL can't 81. around
forever"
Allison lifted the soft flared
skirt Of her evening gown TO
leap puddle. "Rcnalin s, Us you
are very strong man il you
can throw off the kind oil fever
you got in two weeks"
Barry ignored the reminder.
"Tll be all right il take il
slow. How soon do you expect 10
1have the chicle ready for ship
= nent?"
She glanced involuntarily
ward the line Of cooking vais
the deep shadows of the Jun
Tomorrow" she said, 'or
latest the next day"
rhc went up the steps to the
-randa. She crossed TO let down
lie bamboo screen. and called a
servant.
Have her bring my drink to
my bedroom, will you?" Barry
asked. II want to get out some
reports to send back to head
quarters with the chicle train
"Oh, bother reports" cried
Allison. ITS such lovely
night" The hanging lamp above
her made a molten aureolc of
her cropped hair. She looked
like pampered debutantc in
her black wisp of a dress and
her cleaning jewels.
"All right, them she flung
out with pouting smile, "Ill let
Renaldo whisper beautiful moth
ings to me-"
III bet he can do it," grinned
Barry. See you at breakfast.
, He went to his room, the grin
lingering on his face. 1t was a
constant source of surprise TO
him how this autocratic little
darling of society could adapt
herself to this heather mode Of
existence. He had seen other
women try to do il and fail -
women with far more strength
OF character, more poise. What
vas the difference?
A certain flcxibility, he decid-
ed, as de brought out his small
portable typewriter and found
a suitably low table. She had no
strain or grudge over the loss Of
her fortune. She was not making
the attempt to mold the jungle TO
her, but was content to mold
herself TO the jungle. She had a
quality Of receptiveness, that's
what she had that essentially
feminine keynote so eternally
lacking in most women.
He got hold of his thoughts by
main force then, realizing he'd
been about to compare her with
his fiancee. And Lila-Gradu-
ally he was able to concentrate
on his reports.
He worked at first with alb
rbed speed. The mule train go
/. out with chicle would be the
: chance to start the reports TO
New York office before he
ade his next attempt TO per-
ade the Quiche chief to open
~ his mercury mines. He want
I'd these reports complete. In
case he didn't. come out Of the
Quiche country this time, the
company would have all data at
hand and could carry on the
campaign for the mines without
loss of time. Time.
His fingers moved faster over
the keys. There was so damna-
bly, little time and the need of
the mines was so great! He felt
fresh wave of impatience burn
through him. He cursed his stu
pid fever. II he could only start
back tomorrow! For a minute
he played with the idea. WHY
not risk it? He might make il
He might be able to prove TO the
chief that he had been framed.
He might
But cold logic smashed his
wishful thinking. He was al
ready trembling with the effort
of half hours tipping. His head
felt light and dizzy. No, he
would be throwing away the one
chance Of accomplishing his mis-
sion il he went all half-cocked.
Better to wait till Renaldo had
finished the chicle boiling, and