The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-31
TWELVE

Janet had saved the day. Prob
ably she had intended to take out
those distributor points when she
left him on the trail that morning,
and uncomfortably Cliff admitted
that his early appraisal of her
might need some revision. She was
looking up at him. and he wond-
cred if AN ever-so-slight hint OF
amusement lay in her eyes.
"Just before we left" Cliff said,
81 told Claribel you were my
idea of a rabbit. I take that back"
She laughed. cts nice to know
I'm not a rabbit"
mo. And 1 haven't the foggiest
notion what you are"
"As a judge of human nature
Don't say it," he interrupted.
"Claribel told me already I wasn't
doing so we'll"
do all women battle you, Mr..
Bogard?"
mo. Just you."
"Rut there's nothing about me"
Lets not go through that again.
If you want to make a mystery
of why you're here, it's all right
with me. Anyone who could put
Pablo's plane on the sick-list the
way you did doesn't have TO ex-
plain anything"
She gave a little nod that might
have meant thanks, and turned to-
ward the plane. Nov that we're
spending the night here" she said,
Cpd better get some clothes" She
glanced toward the shore, and a
faint smile came and went.
Here's someone else who is glad
those distributor points walked
away" 8
Janet swung down into the cabin
of the plane. and Cliff looked up
to see Lilli coming cut the wharf.
She was carrying a cup that she
offered him a little shyly.
81 made you some orange juice"
she said.
you're an angel, Lilli. But may
be Miss Norman would like it."
"She had some," Lilli answered
shortly.
While he drank, she slipped down
beside him and thrust her toes into
the water, but her face had gone
so serious that Cliff asked, whats
wrong, Lilli? Trouble with your
jaguar?"
mo it's you. I just been talking
with Sam"
1.-The rider who brought you from
New Dixie. He says you don't want
to go away from here, but Claribel
says you got to-"
Cliff nodded. That would seem
to cover it."
"Why do you want to stay?"
81 want to do a job"
MEN call it opening up a coun-
try. 1t means work for hundreds
of people, maybe thousands-build-
ing roads and camps and bringing
ships in to send rubber back to
to the United States"
Lilli curled her tanned legs be-
meath her. "You could stay if you
wanted" Her voice had fallen 10
a murmur.
"HoW?"
Il could hide you. l know places
in the jungle Tier .:body knows.
1 could bring you food, I could"
She stopped; her slant eyes reso-
lutely refused to meet his. Il coulo
be with you whenever you wanted
me. No one would ever find YOU
Her voice was so eager it trem-
bled. and Cliff laid his hand on
hers. You're a grand kid, Lilli
But it wouldn't work, and you
might get into trouble"
81 wouldn't care"
why not?"
Because" She stopped, as il
overwhelmed at her own temerity
Its because I so want you te
stay"
Soft and alive beneath his hand
her own hand lay, while her eyes
moved over his face, and within
him Cliff felt a singing sense Of
warmth. OF everyone he had mel
in this dubious country, she alone
wanted to help him, with NJ
thought of return, no hidden mo
tive, simply because she liked him
The strong, deep lines of his face
softened. you're a darling. Lilli
but just hiding in the jungle
wouldn't get me anywhere, and i
wouldn't be so good for you. YOU
old pal Vicente might raise OBJ
jections."
Again she said simply, sc
wouldn't care" Lips a little part
ed, she was looking up at him
waiting, %expectant, watching hin
out of clear eyes that were tn,
eyes ce both child and woman
making no effort to conceal the fac
that this tall man had her com
plete approval, and suddenly self
conscious, Cliff said, ''Vicente's il
love with you, you know"
Her eyes had gone shadowy
why do you say that? Vii
doesn't come here hardly any NOR
since he started fighting tn
vaqueros."
A sound from the jungle brough
Cliff to his feet. z
cts horses" Eilli said.
Faint at first, then closer, cam,