The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-12-21
chapter 81
soNYA's PLEA

"uE'LL get a damned bad disap-
pointment!" Curt was think
ing grimly. when that avalanche
piles down we're going to be else
wherem
The moment Sonya went he In.
tended to start FRANCOIS and Jockn
back south and send Ralph along
with them. BY travelling at night
and holing up during the day the
three would get out to Russian Lake
easily enough. That would free him.
self and Paul. Taking nothing but
rifles and light canoe, they would
slip away from the island and be
miles gone when LeNoir and his out
At came calling. Up the Lilluar
they would watch for Sonya to pass.
then fall in behind her party and let
her lead them to Karakhan.
Through the open fiap-front Of
Sonya's tent he could see her NOV
Ing about in the dim interior. max,
Ing ready. he believed. to leave
them that night. He tried not to
watch her. but his. eyes kept stray.
ing back. He could steel himself
against her. lie could scorn her. but
indifference lay beyond his power.
She had meant too much to him.
In the tent Sonya was putting to.
gether a few personal articles for
her trip. fully expecting LeNoir to
come and take her away that mid.
night. Her unshakable purpose kept
Ter steady. and after that long red
trail from Vetemsk to Urga the dan.
gers OF this trip were not formidable
enough to stop her: but the dark.
ness settling down. the daunting
Journey ahead and the terrible un.
certainty at the end of 1t filled her
with dread.
CHANGING through the flap, she
NJ saw Curt lay aside his rifle and
start filling cartridge clips. evident.
" getting ready for whatever might
come. The safety of the party after
she left worried her only . little;
she had an implicit faith that Curt
and Paul could take care Of them
selves against q dozen like LeNoir
and the sub-chIef They would get
back to safety and get Ralph back.
She longed to step outside and
talk With Curt. few last words:
but .she was afraid to. afraid he
would cut her cold as BIO had been
doing for the last four days. She
was utterly bewildered BY his atti.
tude. his icy exaggerated poiiteness.
his sudden and complete change TO.
ward her. Something had happened.
that night of his return.
She could not tathom the cause OF
his change. Il couldn't be that he
knew anything about her render
yons with LeNoir; she herself had
seen him leaning against the rocks
asleep. and Paul had been IN bis
tent both before and after she went.
And II couldn't be that Ralph had
told him about her trip. Ralph pro
tested earnestly that he had never
dropped hint nor had Curt CUES.
toned him.
Whatever the reason. she felt that
she had lost her best friend on earth,
tho one person whom she might
have depended on 70 help her.
When her light pack was made up,
she buckled II. laid II aside and
stepped over to the tent door. Cur
was almost done with the clips. II
q minute or two he'd 60 up and iolr
Paul. and she wouldnt get 10 see
him again alone. t SIS
For a few moments she wayered
torn between her pride and the
promptings OF her heart. II might
be that she had said OF done some
thing which had offended him and
which she could smooth out. Wher
she thought of bis pleading "Can't
hope you do care-a little bit. sweet
heart II seemed impossible that hs
could care nothing az ell now. May
be she had been too Spartan witt
herself and with him on those twt
evenings.
She put her pride in her pockel
and went ont to him.
"can't help You with those car
tridgesf. she preferred as an excuse
10 llnger and talk.
every kind OF YOU" Curt refuses
colby. "but II you haven't done thil
before yon might load 'em back
wards"
Sonya wondered what he mean
By that His words carried soml
barbed meaning. Just as he hai
meant something singing when b