The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-12-05

| the mountains.
 Non, non! Dey take on too moch grub dere at Russian Lake. l talkit to dose guides an fin out. Dey breeng grub for mebbe two mont treep."
 "You say that this Ralstcn fellow is some prospector loping the bush?"
 Oats wat he say he is; but me, don't b'lieve heem. He got no cal lous on hees hans. lak prospector got. He do t'ings lak ceety man n-say tank you keep shave, and talkit lak book-learn feller." Something queer about this Ral ston, Karakhan sensed intuitiyely A trained geologist would know that the formations of the L;lllars were not gold-bearing. Anybod; who yen tured into Klosofee territory after all the warnings at Russian Lake. must have important business in there. Ralston might be Mounted | detective.
 Whoever Ralston was. he had to be stopped. If an enemy the sooner the better. If only a prospector- well, the country had plenty of such bush-lopers, aud one would not be missed
 "Where's the southern band of Klosohees. LeNoir?"
 | "At de Lilluar forks. Dey spen summer dere, camp at fish weirs.' Do they know about this party coming up river?"
 LeNoir shook his head.
 Karakhan Tipped his cigarette through the window. decisive ges ture. Well, see to it that they find out! Tell lem that this kalston Is a I land scout for the white men, com ing in here to look things over.-Tell | em that other white men will follow after him ard shoot the Klosohees down and take away these noun tainS Understand"
 LeNoir grinned. He could ina zine how the Klosohees wo"ld react to 1 thatl
 You get back down the Lilluar," l Karakhan added, "and keep tab on that man yourself. Give him warn ing at the pass. If he turns back, let 1 him alone; we don't want to stir up trouble if it isn't necessary. But if he disregards the warning and comes on. simply kill him. and make the job look like rapids accident. :" | LeNoir nodded. his black eyes l glittering in the candlelight. FIFTEEN miles below the pass. Curtis party went ashore on a headland one noon for tie midday rest. Casually walking iway from the others. Curt started I'D the land wash on a little expedition of his l own. For several days suspicion had been growing on. him about Sonya and Ralph. and h meant to settle the matter before going pad dle-stroke farther.
 He glanced back once at camp. The two guides were lazily building fire. Badly Jagged out. Ralph had 1 flung himself down on a bit of moss to rest. At the upturned canoes Paul was calking leaks with gum pot and canvas while Sonya cut strips and handed him things.
 I As he walked along the landwash Curt looked on up river at the Lilluar pass. in plain sight now. 4 grim re hinder of danger just ahead. il brought him somber thoughts oi horn bows, his hunt for Kara khan. his heavy responsibility for Ralph and Sonya. He had counted positively on those two turning back at the pass. but now he doubted whether they would. They seemed | determined to go on. especially Sonya.
 Out of sight of camp he cut a pine branch and sat down on rock. Six spots, robber flies. mud-daubers and yellow-jackets kept lighting all around him, but the beetle he wanted was rare. He waited twenty min utes before one finally came. l At the first motion of his pine branch the beetle went fitting away Curt sprang up and took after it. Swift and agile, 1t led him a hot chase back and forth across the sand; but its brilliant color proved tits undoing, for he kept it in sight and at last go. in lucky swipe that stunned 1t.
 I As he picked his captive up and rolled 1t over on his palm, twie snapped behind him. He turned Under the pine where he had cut lths branch. Sonya stood looking on her eyes dancing with laughter. Curt realized she had been watchi g the chase and had been amused by 1t. 1 "I guess l did look ridiculous" ht thought, chasing aroun with hall | a pine tree to knock down a little bug. But anyway. I'm going to find out something now"
 | He mopped his forehead ant stepped over to her with the beetle
 "D'you know this beetle. Sonya!'
 fCoprioht. 1888. wiIitam B. NosoerS' T,,~x Iaorne a