The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-21
CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE
UnWillingly Wade snubbed the
nose of the seaplane to the wharf.
and Janet stretched out both
Hands.
Wade. you haven't changed Z
bit" For the first time since he
met her, Cliff thought he detected
a spontaneous warmth in he~ voice
and eyes, and he saw that her
.handclasp brought a smile to
Wade's leathery face.
But the little hunter still glanced
nervously back toward shore. If
you all get your duffle ready, I'll
saddle up and we can start for
New Dixie. No sense lookin' for
trouble if you don't have to- For
q second he studied Bogard's
square jaw and level eyes. You
cont look like you scare very easy,
mister, but those Blacklanders ran
that other fellow out so fast you
could of set a cup of coffee on his
coattails."
"They can't be looking for me-"
Cliff reminded him. "How could
they know I'd land here?"
"Mebbe they didn't know" Wade
conceded. but the point is they
don't want you here"
Sooner or later I'll have to
meet them-it might as well be to-
day."
IF it's all the same to you. I'd
rather you did your meetin' some
place else. Let's go up to the
house"
Wade, turned back toward shore,
and leaving Pablo at the plane,
Janet and Cliff followed along a
winding path. 1t was cool and
shadoWry beneath the dripping can
opy of jungle, and after a short
walk they emerged upon a broad
clearing, where three shacks stood,
rooted with palmleaves. AS Cliff
neared the larger building, he
heard a voice repeating in a sing
song monotone words that sounded
vaguely familiar, and finally re-
solved themselves into "Amo,
amas. amat-amo, amas, ANAL
Wade chuckled at Cliffs look of
surprise. tits Lilli, workin' over
her Latin. Sounds awful bored,
don't she? / wanta send her
to school in the states next
year, but Lii just don't cotton to
llearnin'."
-amamuS, amatis," the words
droned tonelessly on, but now the
voice ceased in midair. Cliff heard
a book drop. then the quick patter
of bare feet, and a girl stood in
the doorway.
Seen in sharp relief against the
blackness of the room, she seemed
very young and marvelousIy alert,
as if poised for instant flight. The
smooth dark skin was richly
tanned, the lips were full, the soft
brown eyes slanted up and out
ward. Two thick strands of black
hair were braided about her head,
and a thin, single-piece cotton gar
ment, sleeveless and caught at the
waist, a~ccentuated her slenderness.
Small in stature, every feature
delicately chiseled, she gave the
effort of a graceful and perfectly
formed creature OF the wild.
Swiftly her eyes moved from b.
gard to Janet, then back to b.
gard again. Hello" she said, a
little uncertainty.
"Lilli, this is Miss Norman"
Wade called. "You remember DIR.
Norman, her father-he brought
you into the world" Wade jerked
a thumb toward Cliff. And this is
Mr.. Bogard. You all come in and
sit down"
Lilli moved back, her slanting
eyes on Cliff.
It was a small plain room with
rough board floor and hand
wrought chairs and tables. Tanned
hides of crocodiles crowded the
four walls, and opposite the door
was a shelf of well-worn books. In
one corner stood a rifle and a dou-
ble-barrled shotgun.
But Wade remained ill at ease.
II just hate seenin' inhospitable.
especially to you, Miss Janet" he
began. intentionally, "but that
bunch of Blacklanders is almost
sure to come back this way. vi
cente's with 'em-he's the one who
threw that other fellow out"
Wade was so clearly anxious to