The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-12-07
Chapter 20
soNYA,s SECRET

DUN "A . SEChEI
 "NOU know I'm Russian" Sonya
 went on. If it were possible. I'd go back to Russia and try to play some part there, however small When l flared out at you that eve ming. it was just my narrow personal feelings. But 1 can't go back. I'd probably be imprisoned the minute Il landed. And besides I've been in Canada twelve years and feel Cana di.n. and a person can do something here too.
 When say useful Curt, don't mean professional uplifters and fussy reformers who go around pry. inc into other peoples we of living and trying to make everybody con form to their own standards. Heav- ems no! But there are roles where men can do real good. Men with a conscience, mean-and you've got conscience"
 Curt wished he could tell her of that evening in Edmonton when he had thrown away the Consolidated offer and taken on the Karakhan hunt. She would aprlaud that, where Rosalie had called him fool and had utterly failed to understand his motive. He recalled Sonya's words. "idling around pleasantly" and he knew that that was how she would regard his plans Q return north, if she knew about them.
 Near five o'clock they came to a little bay, went ashore, gathered firewood and cleared a place for the two tents. It was the Jrettiest camp site of their trip.
 They sat down under pine to wait for the other canoes. Curt plucked nervously at the leaf of maidenhair fern. He could stave off his talk with Sonya no longer.
 There's something I'd like to un- derstand. Sonya. It's zone of my business. except that I've got a friends interest in you and Ralph" ! Sonya interrupted: T know what you're going to say-that we're not entomologists. Ralph told me you asked him about that beetle. Iknew you were suspicious and would find us out sometime"
 She pointed at the pass. "AnS now y.l want to know why we're going Into that country. You're thinkiIg there's just some whim or rattle3rained idea behind our trip, aren't you?"
 "on the contrary. told Paul that you must have some pretty substan- tial motive"
 "Pm glad you have that much con fdence in us. after finding out how wa lied" She picked lichen curl and unrolled it in her small brown fingers. Tt is a substantial reason, Curt"
 'T don't question that. But do question your secrecy about the whole thing when the tril is so dan gerous. If knew what you're try ing to do. might be able to give you . hand"
 Sonya shook her head. "I don't believe you would. In fact. know you wouldn't"
 Are you afraid I'd go barging into your plans like a bull in china shop? I wouldn't"
 She still shook her head in re. susal. "Id like to tell you. But ] simply can't. It's in the very nature of my motive that l must keep it to myself" is q can't conceive of any such cir cumstance."
 "Then you'll have to take my word for 1t, Curt" LIE felt provoked at her. It was II possible that she or Ralph had heard some wild tale about rich lode or placer in the Liiluars or that she wanted to make a.stldy of the Klosohees themselves. but he could not believe either of these guesses.
 "There's something clse-still less of my business. 1 suppose; but Son va, why do you pretend this relation ship to Ralph?"
 That caught her surprise. A color few into her cheeks.
 "Pretend-reiationship-what do you mean?"
 Curt was certain of his ground. He plunged boldly:
 Ralph is no more your brother than am. girl. He's no relation to you at all"
 "Why-why. how can you make an assertion like that?"