The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-27

NlllI LIN
Janet contin. ed. I would no
give up. You can't re lie the to-
lure OF not knowing whe tnef some
one you love is dead or alive. !
wrote Claribel, and she aad Maoi.
son investigate, but ne sent wore
that it was impossible for Fathe-
to be alive without the vacqaeTo
hearing about il. Finally, ! ieatne,
thai the Rubber Division wanted
to open the New Dixie plantations
and l went back to Washington TO
see if l could gel them to send me
down. When they found out ! a
lived here, IT was easy to persuade
them l might be able to help you
"Tell me one thing" Cliff inter
rupted. Was it about your fathe-
you wanted 10 talk with Vicente
the night he captured u.s.
Eyes. The first day l saw vi
cente az Wade Carro1l's, ] was sure
he knew something. ] still think ne
does, Bgt he would only say he ha!
known Father long ago.
"Have you spoken of this ta
Madison since you came back?'
Janet shook her head. Father
and Madison never liked each
other. Father hated the way Madi-
sons vasqueros treated the people
up the river"
Watching her. with her head
thrown back beneath the light
and earnest ev CT his, Cliff real
lied that at last she had dropoed
her guard against him. For the first
time there could be full trust be
tween them. but even now per-
haps now more than ever-ne was
poWerless to help her. and sudden
sympathy swept over him. More
than anything in the world ne
wanted to say some word that
might hold out hope to her, but he
knew it was not hope she wanted
it was certainly-and to tell her
the truth at this time might mean
disaster.
Mutely he touched her hand, and
in that simple inarticulate gesture
she sensed the offer of his friend
ship, for tears were in her eyes.
She gave a tremulous laugh. "You
don't know how much it means not
to sail under false colors any more.
From now on, whatever comes.
you'll know why I'm here. and if
it has to be war between you and
Madison, you'll know where l
stand"
81 hope you won't ever regret
It," He sat down behind the desk.
"Just now things look pretty dark,
ard it's no use denying that. we
may be beaten"
Standing beside his chair, she
laid her hand on his shoulder. You
won't ever be beaten-you couldn't
be beaten" The steady voice held
4 world of quiet trust and assur-
ance. Il remember the night they
took us captive, how you carried
me for miles to the river. And
I've listened to the tales Casey and
the rest of them tell about you.
Men like you can be killed, Cliff
they can't be beaten"
The low voice stopped, but he did
not answer. Madison, Vicente, even
the prospect of defeat had lost all
Importance, all reality. Nothing
q important now except to know
she believed in him. and was
standing very close to him. Raising
his head, he brushed her arm with
his cheek. and almost without
breathing felt the warm, living soft.
ness OF her. He did not stir. Strong
er than any will of his own, far
stronger than any strength to re-
sist or deny, the need for her surg
ed over him like an engulfing wave.
His cheek still lay against her arm,
and turning, he touched it with his
lips. Her body trembled, he heard
the faint intake of her breath, and
lii that second he was on his feet
MS arms about her.
"Janet!"
Within the hush of the little Of
nee he held her through a timeless
1rapmPnt Of atorpi+x, ,,,ba,. SOL