The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-12-28

cast filigree shadows on the woods
Iioor and lay in a wan ghostly flood
over Ralph and the wolf-foot and the
plot OF black lilies. Far away. so far
it seemed a mere pinpoint OF sound
In the night silence. crescend0
wailing arose. and was taken up and
answered from a dozen mountain
peaks.
In the last two hours, since realiz-
ing that Ralph was not to be with
them, Curt had made up his mind
to go back north and try to capture
Karakhan. Tenn-og could take
them to that headwater lake. II
Smash had kept his rendezvous.
they would have a plane and could
make the trip in less than three
hours.
With any luck at all. he would not
only end his long hunt then and
there. but he could shield Sonya and
bring her out. IN spite OF her associa-
tion with Karakhan he felt 1t his
duty, as a man. to look after her
safety. She was white girl. she had
shot square with him and helped
him and Paul out of desperate
plight.
Besides. he was vaguely beginning
to suspect that there was something
to her relations with the Russian
which he knew nothing about. Her
letter to the man and her talk with
LeNoir stood as mountainous facts
against her. but still he was
troubled. His bad mistake about
Tenn-Og. OF whose treachery he had
been so sure. made him wonder
whether be might not be partly mis-
taken about Sonya too.
THE time verged on midnight.
Red Antares. glittering in the
southwest. hung low over the dis.
tant peakline. Through the trees he
watched 1t sink and vanish. When
he glanced again at Ralph he was
surprised to see that the latter's
eyes were open.
He took Ralph's hand, to let him
know that a friend was with him.
Ralph looked around. evidently look
Ing for Sonya. The delirium had
passed. be seemed to be In no pain
whatever: but be was not altogether
clear-headed. and his consciousness
was the last faint fiare-up.
He gazed up at Curt for moment.
His lips parted. Curt bent lower.
Where are-we. Curt?"
"Down river. Ralph. Back at the
Iskitimwah."
you thought-could get me-
out?'
Curt nodded. not trusting his
voice.
where's Sonya. Curt? I'd like
her-a little talk"
Curt started to say that Sonya
was on her way to Karakhan, but
he checked himself. No need to re.
call that painful fact to Ralph's
wandering mind.
She's sleeping. Ralph. I'll wake
her before long. She asked me to-"
Then she didn't try-to reach
him. Curt?' Ralph asked, struggling
weakly against the fog in his brain.
Curt could see him cropping to recall
the happenings OF that dim time be.
fore he was stricken. Il thought
she did go.
mo. she gave that over. Ralph"
"I'm glad. She'd have been left
alone In there with those indians. /
tried to tell her so--but she be-
lieved she could get out--somehow
-afterward."
Curt thought that Raiph's mind
must be wandering badly. What did
he mean BY left alone In there?
She would be with Rarakhan,
wouldn't she? And what did Ralph
mean by shed get out. somehow.
afterward"? After what?
"You'll watch out for her now,
Curt? Ralph begged. "She likes you
more than she--lets herself think.
You'll take care OF her. won't your
Curt promised. He felt himself on
the verge Of something portentous.
q discovery OF the whole truth about
Sonya's trip. Very plainly she haf
told Ralph.
Before he could word the Ques
lions In bis mind. Ralph's lips were
nioving again.
"She wanted to-trnst you. Curt.
Wanted to tell you. and ask your
help. But she felt she-dldn't dare.
She wasn't sure-just who you
were: and she was afraid you'd
Judge her harshly. Afraid you'd
send her back out--if you knew.
That would have been--a terrible
blow to her. She couldn't rest.
couldn't live--tili she'd hunted him
down"
Ralph sank back. limp and quiet.
A tremor passed through him. For q
moment Curt thought II was the
end. But then came . faint rally.
The ineoherent words he had Just
listened to hewildered Curt. Ralph
VISA distinctly implying that when
Sonya reached the headwaters lake
she would be exposed to some great
danger.
fcopyrtaAss isss. Waaian u. Moreryy
aA..na naaa. = aAA.As.n. 49,.