The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-23
Chapter Is
NIGHT ATTACK


- and lowered motionless. A fig
ure stood up in It and stared down
toward the island. For perhaps i've
minutes the craft lowered there.
Then It slowly backed away, blurred
to aothingness. disappeared.
Spying out our camp!" Curt
breathed to himself
Gradually the pink glow faded
from the mountain peaks. A big
cloud hove In sight over the eastern
range. Curt watched It anxiously,
afraid It would come on west and
blot out the moon and plunge the
lake into darkness Just when he and
Paul might have to beat OF IN ct.
tack.
Moccasined footsteps came up the
west landwash. Paul. he thought A
moving blur shaped itself to . hui
man figure. Then he saw It was not
Paul.
A dozen steps away the figure
stopped, looked around for him.
"Sonya," he called quietly.
She came on to the little barri-
cade. us one allowed to talk to the
guard?" she asked whimsically. She
crouched down with him. II brought
you one OF my blankets and q lineup
OF coffee. I raked enough sand Oh
the fire to heat this. but I didn't ex-
pose the Goals"
Curt squeezed her hand. 1T was
sweet Of you-all tho trouble. dear.
But you'd better take the blanket.
This mountain air gets chilly when
q person isn't moving around" He
put the blanket about her shoulders.
Thanks. Curt The air does have
q bite in IT.
She did not flee her hand or OBJ
ject to his endearino word. Her near
ness and that shock Of golden-brown
hair 80 close to his shoulder almost
robbed him Of his restraint.
"Tired?" he asked gently.
"A little"
He put his arm around her and
made her snuggle against him.
"Isn't that better. dear?"
Lots. Curt" But then she caught
herself up and admitted more eau
tiously. Il mean-lots better than
the cold rocks"
His lips touched her hair, her fore
head. "Sonya, look up at me-"
Don't. Curt ~ please" .
whisper Of protest from her a. he
sought her lips. She would not al
low him. "Dear. you must not" She
reached up her hand and touched
his hair. running her fingers over
It Curt. you've been 50 good. you're
90 unselfish and generous-I'd hate
myself IL ! caused you any pain"
"Pain-to me? Why Sonya, you
couldn't do that!"
but could! You'll want me-
you do even now, Curt-to be more
than q friend: and don't-can't-
oh. wish W could continue to be
Just the good friends we have beer"
0URT started little. "'Cant7' !"
~ he repeated. do you mean that
we-that ! can't be more than .
friend3'
"Please Curt, I'd rather not talk
about it."
you've never told me anything
ct oil about yourself ! don't even
know your name. your real name"
Does that matter?"
Cor where you came from, or
whore you're going when this trips
ended. Il that fair. Sonya7"
cts grossly unfair. I've treated
Jon unfairly Ill along. Curt But I
cant help myself When this trip IL
over. maybe Their can afford to b
honest. don't blame you for ask.
ing questions. but I think I'll
60 back to the rocks down there"
"Pleass dou't," Curt begged,
She leaned her tired head hack
against his shoulder. but Curt felt
she was Tar away from him. alone
with her own thoughts. He seemed
shut out By Q granite wall Of aloof.
ness. For days no had been vaguely
awaro Of some barrier between
them: now he felt It forcibly and
unmistakably. Cant" - had che
really meant that portentous little
wordf
Moccasined footsteps again, quick
footsteps. very near the sentry
box. Sonya hastily freed herself, and
drew apart from Curt.
"Here. Paul."
The young Canadian came up to
them. - party just landed on the