The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-24

came. "Janet has told me MOTH
ing" Then, still lower, Janet be-
lieves I am dead"
In that strange second of rev.
1elation Cliff grasped the reason
for those dawn vigils of the soil
tary rider above his camp. Only
an impelling, overpowering need
to see his daughter could have
driven Norman to risk that long
ride over trails where Madison's
vaoueros and the soldiers rode.
Incredulously Cliff burst out.
do you mean she still doesn't
know you're alive?"
"Janet knows nothing"
In Cliffs voice. disbelief gave
way to anger. "You let her go
through two years thinking you
were dead, while you hide away
on this darned island, fomenting
trouble"
"That's enough" Norman's
eyes struck fire, and for a mo
ment he struggled to keep his
temper, then more calmly he ask
ed, "Why should I justify myself
to you?"
The two men held each Others
hostile gaze, and at last Cliff said,
81 think you're right. I made a
mistake in coming here. l thought
there might be some way of pre-
venting trouble between your peo-
pie and mine. I suppose L thought
there had to be some good about
the man who was Janet's father,
but I was wrong. Any father who
| would let his daughter suffer two
years of doubt and uncertainty
hasn't enough humanity in him to
be reached by anyone. You may
be a good leader of lost causes,
but you're a darned poor father.
"And now,"-Cliff sat up-''1n
tell you something you don't know.
You're not going to keep me here.
1 left word at camp that if I'm
not back tonight, my men r TO
come for me. There is n person
down there who knows not only
where you are, but who you are,
and unless 1 60 back and stop 1t,
Madison's vaqueroS and the sol
diers will have your secret before
dawn. That will be a happy way
for Janet to learn her father is
alive"
Norman made no move. His
u. L,,ooJ doo1 into cliffs and
after a moment he gave a short
sigh. 81 wonder" he said deliber-
ately, "if you are lying
"You know I'm not. But the
easiest way to find out is to keep
me here and see what happens.
Norman nodded in that quick,
decisive way so characteristic OF
Janet. Yes, 1 believe you. You
are an intelligent man-it is a
pity We are on opposing sides"
He walked across the room, then
turned. Shall we make a COM
pact? In return for keeping the Sc
cret of this island, you are free to
go whenever you want"
ats a bargain" Cliff answered.
AS if eager to have him gone,
Norman asked. do you feel well
enough to ride?"
I'm stiff, but I can make it,"
Good, l will lend you a shirt,
and your horse is outside Again
his gray eyes searched Cliffs face.
81 cannot ask you to promise, but
it would be best for all of us if no
word of this reaches Janet"
"Why?"
"For her sake. If she knows !
am here, she will come to me. and
l would not have her share the
life of a man with a price on his
head. The time may be soon
enough when she will have to
know about me-but not yet. And
now, let me show you something
He led Cliff to an inner room
where, on a cot, Vicente lay. The
big breeds face was puffed and
swollen, and at sight of Cliff he
tried to rise, but Norman's hand
gently forced him back. Rest my
son. he said. 1.-The fight is over
Vicente's lips moved painfully.
I'VE will fight again."
Cliff shook his head. mot if l
can help it. One fight like that
will last me a lifetime"
Following Norman out to where
his horse was tethered, Cliff silent
ly mounted, but as he lifted the
reins, he looked down at the doc
tor and said, 81 came here hoping
for peace. You and I might have
helped each other, for l need men
"a lot of men-to gather rubber.
You could have brought work and
pesos to every farmer in the val
ley, but instead of that you would
rather turn your Blacklanders
against me and make it tough for
both of us. Well, that's the way
you want it, and there's nothing 1
can do to change it, but if I'm
forced to take sides with Madison
and his vaqueros, it won't be my
fault-it will be yours" Turning,
OlllI Tode uOWH tlle pdllh ana WV
into the swamp.
Back on the firm earth of the
mainland, he stopped and for a
time sat looking over the stagnant
water, where always a thin,
ghostly mist seemed to hover.
What had his visit to Norman ac-
complished? Very little SO far as
any actual understanding Was con-
cerned, yet he had a feeling, too
intangible for words, that Norman
did not intend to make an immedi-
ate raid. Even if he had, he could
scarcely attack now, without vi
cente, and the big Blacklander
would not be able to ride for days.
And as he sat there by the
swamp's edge, Cliff realized that