The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-15
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Perfectly motionless, Janet sd
looking up at Cliff, her hands fold
ed on the drawing board. He couly
see she was weighing him, as j
wondering how far she might safe
ly confide in him. At last she CAV
her quick nod OF decision.
"There is a way you can. hel
me-you more than anyone else.
"Ten me how" II y.
cts not very easy to ask.
have to start by saying I didn'
play fair with you. l only use
this rubber contract as an excus
to get a visa. into New Dixie"
Il know that. What was you
real reason?"
She looked down at her folde,
hands. II can't tell you"
That means you don't trus
me-" The words sounded like a!
accusation, but he had not mean
them to-. After all, why should sh
trust him? Tell me what yo1
want me to do he urged.
"Send me out into the planta
tons. I want to have some reasol
for getting back into your rubbe
camps, not just once or twice, bu
as often as l like. ] want to-
She stopped, for he was shaking
his head.
Pm afraid that's out" he said
81 hate to refuse your first re
quest, but remember-I said any
thing reasonable
Her chin went up. Whats TN
reasonable about my going bacl
into the plantations?"
II just couldn't afford t.. You
capacity for stirring up trouble j
marvellous enough around here: j
you ever got back into the plan
tations it would be practically un
limited" Then, more seriously
THAT country is too dangerous
Janet, and it's. no place for
woman. You don't know the jungi'
even Wade says that. I couldn'
let you wander around by your
self, and heaven knows I'm tot
busy to watch after you"
Janet's voice was quietly stub
born. Casey said he'd take M
wherever l wanted to go, if that
all that bothers you" e.
Cliffs hands slammed down o,
the desk. "Casey's got enough
work to do. This is no Sunda,
School picnic! We're behind in tn
work, and unless we come through
on time we lose. our eontract-yol
know that. Casey must be gettin'
soft-headed. Why don't you ge
your boy-friend to take yon?"
Her eyes had begun to glow will
anger. IF you mean Madison, X
thought of that. But the people
want to make friends with hiatt
him and his vaqueros. You're thu
only one VINO could help me, ;ane
since you won't do it, let's forge
about it."
He could see her withdrawing
into herself again, and he felt lik!
a heel. She would think his -offe'
to help her was nothing more thar
t,c.lk-and she had worked hard.
"Look'' - he stirred uncomfort
ably - you know as well as l dc
that we have a .deadline to- meet
I've got to have my first cargo
of rubber ready by the delivery
date-not half or three-quarters
but a full cargo-and we're .goini
to have to do some scrambling K
get it together. If l don't were
licked. So you e why l can't le'
Casey be sidetracked into chaper
oning you. over the plantations
And l. simply won't have you OIL
there by yourself. Let's co1npro
mise. My trips back there arr
short and quick, but 1 make then
pretty often, and I could take yoi
on some Of them il that wouic
help.
ut might" Janet managed ;
small smile and picked up he!
pencil. Thanks"
He saw that her acceptance y
the compromise had been far fror:
eager. Whatever she expected tt
do back there, she clearly pre-
ferred TO do in his absence, ant
an echo Of his old suspicion re
turned. For a moment he re
GREETED his offer. but he'd prom
ised to take her-and he'd take
her. "And only God can predic
the outcome" he told hirnsel
| solemnly.
Cliff proved a true prophet o.
the very first trip.
He and Janet had gone. b!
launch up one Of the small tribu
taries in search Of a dock site
where the workers could pile ethei
smoked rubber until the Gat-bot
toned boats brought it over tn
rapids to the main warehouse
Stopping at a point on Che rive
where the plantations came dow
to the very banks, Cliff made the
boat fast while Janet looked abou
her, fascinated. The tall, clear
trunks of the D err trees
stretched back in equidistan'
ranks, each tree bearing the long
slanting cut made by the rubber
CATERERS, and at the base Of ev'
cry cut hung a small tin cur
where mi1k-wfite sap was drip
ping.
"Does this 60 on all over the
plantations?" she asked.
There's hardly a tree We
haven't hung a cup on by this
time" Cliff answered. IF you're
up here in the afternoon, you ear
b. = reg =, a. i ..--.s 49, :.