The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-12-18

besides she might think that the uh. personal element was eolorins what 1 said"
 Curt suddenly realized that Bald wins interest in Helen Mathiesor cut lot deeper than a professional interest. Strange-an officer of the Mounted, and the girl whom the Cossack Karakhan had thrown aside. Luck dealt queer cards sometimes.
 "Tll do what can, Arn," he,prom- ised.
 will you? Old man, I'll depend on you for thatl know she'd listen to you. On this other matter, I'll be phoning you before midnight"
 Curt left. On his drive out to the Marlin home he prayed that Rosalie would be gone for the weekend, as she usually was. He had no definite thought of ever marrying Sonya Nichols; the whole situation be- tween Sonya and himself was so un- certain and unpredictable that he could not look ahead with any as suraace whatever.
 But his intimacy with Sonya had revealed to him a new strange vista, ungdessed at in all his previous life. He had known Rosalie for eight years without their association quickening into life or deepening be- yond a casual comradeship; he had known Sonya less than two weeks, but it seemed to him that destiny itself had led hin. to take up the Karakhan hunt merely that he might meet and know her.
 A T the Marlin home AK answered A his ring Smash had gone to bed, AK informed, as he took Curt out on the porch. Rosalie too was gone-on a weeks yachting trip to Seattle.
 Sorry" Curt mumbled, when he heard that.
 AK brought a pitcher of iced drink. drew two chairs beside the magazine stand, and listened closely to the detailed report. The account left him uneasy. The big part of the hunt, and the worst part, still lay ahead. and several features of it looked ominous. Two men against three dozen-for Curt to go back into those mountains and con- tinue the hunt was like tryst with death.
 And this girl Sonya-who was she. what was she doing in there, and why under heaven had Curt handicapped himself with her in a situation where he needed above everything else to be absolutely free? Curt must be interested in her, to put it mildly.
 "Curt, d'you suppose this girl can be an agent of European police? Enough of them want Karakhan badly. Maybe they sent woman to take him"
 Curt shook his head emphatically. 'It can't be, AK. know that posi- lively: she couldn't have fooled me there"
 What do you believe she is them"
 T haven't the faintest idea. Elk cept,' he added. she's most ex- person. l wish you knew her, AK
 Marlin glanced at him. Why" he asked, his suspicion almost a cer- tainty.
 As he listened to Curtis halting at tempt to describe her, Marlin felt that instead of liking this Russian girl he would dislike her intensely. He disliked her even then, without eve. having seen her, for he saw that she had crowded Rosalie en- tirely out of Curtis thoughts. He looked away, to keep Curt from seeing his shock and pain.
 It seemed incredible that Curt, who had always been so rational in such matters, should fall in love with a girl of whom he knew noth ing and whom he had met less than a fortnight ago.
 Her alien origin, her secrecy, her going off on long trip with a man who was no relation at all, strongly that she was some sort of adventures. No doubt she was a brilliant girl-she appeared to be a match for Curt at Curtis own game; and no doubt she had charm ing qualities or she could not have swept him off his feet as she had done.
 But nevertheless she was an ad- venturess, and Curt had an awaken ing ahead
 He kept his conviction to himself. It was not a matter in which one mar could counsel another. Curt had to choose and travel his own path. Perhaps, God willing. that path would bring him back to Ro- salie yet.
 At eleven the phone rang. Bald win was calling from downtown hotel.
 Curt? Arn speaking. Some news for you.
 fCopyright. 19ss. William 3. Holrery)
 AK gives Curt surprise, to-
 morrow