The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-12-01

his OHer. as me as II was uHeA-
pected. nearly took Sonya's breath.
She wanted to snap II mn instantly
before he could change his, mind,
Two days OF. river travel had showed
her how little she and Ralp'. knew
about the Strong Woods and how
worlhIessi those lazy guides were,
With Curt leading the. party. she
could feel safe. and IT. anybody could
get on good terms with the KlOso
.haes. he was. the man 70 duit
"if the idea dpesnsts appealI To-
you." be said. please iGn't be hest
tantl about saying so. You mustn't
let US. break intp any Of your. plans
"Oh.. but II does appeal TO mel"
"Yon like II. then?"
Spnya hesitated.. In Curtis. tones
and, his manner she could see that
he was interested. in her. On q
lengthy wilderness trip. together
where, they woulds be thrown into.
constant intimate association. he
might come to lihe her livery great
deal. It wouldn't be rieht to allow
that.
But you'll be travelling so much
faster than we," she objected.
"Oh. no; we'll be taking ittleiEnre.
.ly scouting for float as we go. To
be frank. h don't believe you and
Ralph are used to- water-dpgging on
a mountain river. TIL you gel on to
the hang OF things IT. mightnt be
bad idea to have a couple O.. expert
enceda people along. Also. if those
guides don't prove dependable, you,
wouldn't be left In the lurch,"
"Your offer Is magnanlmous. Curt"
She stumbled just a little over his.
first name. 20 don't know anybody
else who'd have made II, But we'd,
be positive nuisance"
your company and Ralah's would
be real pleasure to Us both. Talk
it.oyer with him. won't your
Stillwavering. Sonya looked down,
into the torrent. where number OF
tiny trout'were darling aboltin pool
like little flashes OF sunshine. She
knew that the safe unselfisn thing
was torefnse. But then she Thoughts
that II she steered their association
carefully she could guide 1t into, O.
comradely friendship. And she did
need his help so badly. With her II
might make all the difference be-
tween success and abject failure.
I'VE might've could try it, she
assented finally. AT least We can
start ont together. and. II It. doesn't
work we can, always split up"
As they went on filling the pail
Curt congratulated hjmselE on hav-
ing neatly solved a. tough problem,
He would be going up the l.iIlnar on.
his own business. and a. the same
time Panl and he could look after
Sonya's safety
And he would have her company
FOR a week. week os wilderness
travel with her. Al the pass. when,
she and Ralph came face to face
with the Klnsohee danger and real
lied how serious II was. they would
undoubtedly turn hack to Russian
Lake. That would free him. and
Paul. to go. on inside and nail Kara.
khan.
THE report to which Karakhan
had just listened mako him un.
easy. His cigarette. forgotten.
burned to ashes at his elbow. and
BIZ. fingers. long and. sensitive, as
musicians. topped. the rough table
thoughtfully. Looking past LeNoir.
he stared out the cabin window at
the lake. bordering the breeds sto-
ny.
The account might be a lie. Le-
Nolr might just - trumping up. a
npn-existent danger in order to Jack
] bis pay higher. But then the story
might be fact.
|, With. fifty hard cahoemiles be-
hind him since dawn LeNoir leaned
| hack against the log wall. watching
his chief sharply This. man, OF the
steelcold eyes and calm v0lce--one
could never so much as guess at his
thoughts
One only knew that he was great.
" wanted by the Yellows'r ile s. that
he bad buried himself in these noun.
tains 70 shake or the n0lIca and that
he was planning fight away az the
end OF summer to some new land.
About his getting drunk. his fight
with Curt and his shooting up their
tent. LeN0lr had wisely said moth.
ing. He knew his chief too wen.
KArakhan would not hesitate to
pump q bullet into any person Who
endangered him By going on sprees.
10 his way LeNoir was altogether
loyal to Karakhan. who had been
very generous to him In the matter
or money. The breed aad q code,
such as Il was. He had bargained to
protect the Cossack. and he was
giving everything he had to that Job.
for he was hard-set In his loyalllas
aa Ia his fsnds.
fcoprriaAt 1888. WiiIiam q. ho0sryl
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