The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-12-07

' he couldn't help it."
 How much else did PaM hear?' Her tones were quick, frightened When was this?" Two evenings ago. He didn't hear anything else" Sonya breathed easier. Curt real ized, too late. that he had made 3 mistake. There was something else. and she was afraid for him to know it. If he had pretended he knew. he could probably have got ie out of her.
 She admitted reluctantly: Yes. you're right; we're not related. I'll tell you why we made this this ar engagement. If I'd been alone. couldn't have come in here at all. wouldn't even have got as far as Russian Lake. Ralph's good friend. I knew could trust Ralph implicit ly. He's a gentleman through and through. Under the circumstance our arrangement was entirely sensi ble. It was the only recourse had"
 But all that told him nothing ahout her mission in that country. Curt swung the talk back:
 "Sonya, Tn not playing cards with you, or trying to meddle in your business, or looking for any ad vantage to myself. You may be jus tifed in going on north. In that case I'll give you all the help in my pow CT. But I've got to know what you're doing" He paused moment. then added pont-blank, And you've got to tell me-"
 Sonya refused fiatly. I'm sorry. Curt. can't do it."
 There was no use to argue. He was irritated by her stubborn si lence and jealous that Ralph should share her confidence while he was barred out.
 "l suppose you're going to wash your hands of us now" she said.
 "You inteEd to go on above the. pass?" he demanded. And when she nodded: You're fumbling dy namite. if you only knew it."
 q do know it. But there's chance that we can get on friendly terms with the Klosohees.
 "A mighty slim chance. frt m what old John tells me. You can't go on without Paul and nie."
 
 We will"
 She said it quietly. but Curt knew she meant it. Her prrposiveness was almost grim. Short of tying her up hand and foot and taking her back to Russian Lake he could not stop her.
 "If we can make friends with the Klosohees." she said presently. there wouldn't be any danger at all. That's the. crux of the whole matter. You've had a good dealof experience with Indians, Curt; l believe you could manage 1t" She leaned to- wards him, plea crept into her voice. "l know l don't deserve help. after refusing to take you into my confidence; but won't you. anyway, Curt?"
 \ s he saw the situation. he was 4 \ forced to take his choice of help ing her or letting her go into that country without protection. By Themselves she and Ralph simply did not stand chance. That great blue cleft up river would prove one-way portal into Klosohee terri. tory.
 Perhaps he could work himself into the good graces of the Kloso- hees. If so. the whole danger would blow over, as she had said. At any rate Paul and he would be guarding her.
 They could go cautiously, keep their eyes open and bring her back to safety if trouble started popping.
 He did not like the prospect. She would be exposed to danger. how. ever careful he and Paul might be, and he would be sadly handicapped on the Karakhan hunt. But the al ternative was to let her go through that pass unprotected, defenseless: and that was something he could not do.
 Sonya was watching him, hanging upon his decision. Curt saw her fingers trem bling as she waited. He thought it fine of her that in those moments she made not the slightest attempt to sway him by her charm or her powers as a girl.
 "Ill make bargain with you, Sonya," he said finally. "It's this: I'll take you in there and do every thing l can with those Klosohees. but if see that friendly contact isn't possible you're to le~ Paul and me bring you back out, and you'll go on south to Russian Lake. Win you agree to that?"
 Sonya clasped his hand. "Curt, that's awfully splendid Of you!"
 "You promise. then? You'll turn back when give the word. and you promise you'll go straight south to Russian Lake?"
 "Yes. promise"
 fCopuiaht. i9H Wnliam B. Mowerp)