The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-04

There were too many things he
had no answer TO . All he could be
sure of was a future filled with
dynamite, and two allies he had no
shadow of trust in.
A discreet knock sounded on the
door, and Wade entered.
Just heard you and Miss Janet
are stayin' on in spite of Clari-
bel" The hunter looked genuinely
pleased 'Claribel can be an old
hellion, and there's a good many
of us here think a lot of Janet
Norman"
Cliff did not answer AS far as
he was concerned, both women
could be a thousand miles away.
Wade went on. Just wanted to
tell you to make yourself at home
until Madison gets back. Lilli and
l are leavin' for the upper country.
There's a pair of jagulars near the
rubber plantations I oughta get a
good price for"
Cliff looked eagerly up. care
you going to the plantations?"
Fright to the edge of EN-"
will you take me?"
Wade scratched his head. I'VE
mayn't get back for five Or six
days, and Madison said you was to
see him tomorrow when he flies
up from the coast"
81 think / can fix that if you'll
take me-"
Wade still looked doubtful.
What about Miss Janet?"
Let her stay here" There was
a spontaneous heatertiness in Cliffs
voice that made the hunter look up
at him.
81 wouldn't like that" he said
slowly. mot leave her all by her
self"
She's not a child, is she?"
Out came the blue handkerchief
in evidence that Wade was strug-
Cling with a problem. "You see,"
he began uncertainty, IT wouldn't
want anything to happen"
Remembering Janet's heel mark
down by Vicente's cage, and her
adroitness in forcing him to give
her a job, Cliff asked bitterly,
what could happen? She might
spank heck out of Plato, or tie
your bushmasters in knots, but
nothing could happen to her-that
girl can take care of herself"
Looking more and nor unhap-
py, Wade stood fumbling with his
handkerchief, while Cliff added
more quietly, "Well if you're
afraid to leave her, why not take
her with us?"
"She don't know much about this
jungle-she amt like Lilli."
Cliff blew up again. whats the
matter with her? You act as if she
needs a nurse"
Wade gave his glistening fore
head a polish. cts this way, MI.
Bogard. Miss Janet's always been
what you'd call sheltered. Her ia
Their watched over her-she never
went out into the jungle except
with him. and then only close in to
New Dixie. Maybe he was too
careful of her. 1t amt that she
lacks courage, but she amt got
experience jungle ways, and
courage without experience gets
you into trouble" The hunter look
ed up. Il think you're bein' kinda
hard on her. DR.. Norman just
about filled her lie, and when he
got drowned in the flood she was
left all by herself. 1t amt been
easy. Now if you don't take to
women"
81 take to women fine!" Cliff
assured him. He a getting tired
of being called a woman hater.
1.-The thing is ] came here to do
a job, and I don't want to be clut-
tered up, whether it's by women
or children. So let's take her
along-Lilli can help watch out for
her, can't she?"
Wade folded his handkerchief
and stuffed it in his back pocket.
Il guess" he said with no visible
enthusiasm.
Relieved to have Janet's pro-
blem momentarily settled, and
stirred by the prospect Of action,
Cliff hurried down to the wharf
things were beginning to march.
He found Pablo Busy inside the
cabin OF his plane, and at the news
that Cliff and Janet were not going
back with him, the little pilot
raised eloquent shoulders.
mi madre," he sighed, 'tnever
do I have passengers who so can
not max up the mind"
"Our minds are being made up
for us, Pablo, old son. But look
here" Cliff pulled a map from his
jacket. 81 want to leave for the
rubber plantations with Wade this
-. 0n~ior - n, --Ir l.