The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-10

a stop not five yards away.
Cliff lifted the girl up to Pablo
and climbed after her.
Get going! he painted.
But Pablo had already grasped
the danger. Opening the throttle
wide, he headed the roaring plane
straight for the riders. Cliff caught
a glimpse of their terrified faces
as the pontoons rose from the
water and Numbered a scant foot
above the Blacklanders' heads.
Louder than the engine, Cliff heard
their savage shout-Pablo with a
grin OF pure delight, was thumbing
his nose.
Cliff looked down at Janet. Her
eyes were closed, and he bent anx-
lously over her. Everything all
right?"
She summoned barely strength
enough to nod. Everything will
be when you give me back my
Clothes"
That night in Claribel's candle
lii room at New Dixie the rubber
contract was signed. Whatever
difficulties Madison had met per-
suading his aunt to change her
mind he kept to himself, but he
took the precaution of advising
Cliff against telling about their
capture and escape from the Black
landers. what the old girl don't
know won't bother her." he COM
rleated, and Cliff remembered
Wade's observation that many af-
fairs in New Dixie never reached
the ''old girl"
Cliff frowned as he read the con-
tract, then looked up at Claribel.
If I sign this" he objected, cit
puts me pretty completely at your
mercy"
"How does it," she asked testify.
"Look at this clause - i any
trouble develops out of my opera.
tons to threaten the peace and Sc
curity of New Dixie. the contract
is void. And here's another - all
persons employed by me must be
acceptable to you. Either one of
those clauses leaves it wide open
for you to stop my operations at
any time"
Claribel reread the contract.
madison wanted it that way" she
said uncertainty, then she glanced
across the room, where her nephew
was talking with Janet, and her
voice sharpened. Madison, if you
can possibly tear yourself loose a
moment, there's this little business
OF a contract. Mr.. Bogard doesn't
like the way it's worded."
"What's the matter with it?"
Madison asked shortly.
cts too n : sided," Cliff an
sWered. "Any time you want to
break the contract, you can do it,"
Sure we car. That's our pro-
lection in case trouble starts with
the Elacklanders."
why should you worry? We're
the ones they'll be after. not you.
This contract puts me between two
fires-you can slow me down or
stop me at any time. and if you
slow me down, the United States
will cancel their agreement with
me for non-delivery."
Madiso1's slate : gray eyes had
grown unfriendly. That's the way
l wrote the thing, and that's the
way it is" Turning on his heel, he
walked back to Janet.
Cliffs face showed no sign of his
inward anger - Madison had the
upper hand, and they both knew it.
Reaching forward, Cliff picked up
the pen and signed the contract.
He handed the pen to Claribel, and
she scrawled her name beneath his
she seemed even more thorough
ly skeptical of the future than he.
Sure as I'm sitting here" she
announced IT know there'll be
trouble. And if there is. don't come
to me. You and your so : called
fighting Irish will have to take
care of yourselves"
We'll take care of ourselves"
I'm not so sure of that. and
neither is the government. I just
learned they're opening the old
garrison near the river because Of
the raid Vicente made on your
warehouse. l knew we'd get mixed
Dp with soldiers before this was
over" The matriarch's blue eyes
Kept peering across the room,
where her nephew and Janet stood.
Madison was talking eagerly in a
low voice, wholly ob1ivious of
everything, and Janet vas smiling.
The old lady gave an %inelegant