The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-28
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OuaNN 04NoH t'JoWeu
well, you see, it'd be deuced
awkward for me to do 1t. She knows
I'm q professional bloodhound, and
besides she might think that the
uh, personal element was colorins
what said"
Curt suddenly realized that Bald.
wins interest in Helen Mathieson
cut lot deeper than a professional
interest. 3trange-an officer of the
Mounted, and the girl whom the
Cossack Karakhan had thrown
aside. Luck dealt queer cards
sometimes.
'I'll do what can, Arn." he prom.
ised.
~win you? Old man. I'll depend on
you for that! Mnow she'd listen to
you. On this other matter, III be
phoning you before midnight"
Curt left. On his drive out to the
Marlin home he prayed that Rosalie
would be- gone COR the weekend, az
she usually was. He had no definite
thought Of ever marrying Sonya
Nichols; the whole situation be.
tween Sonya and himself was so IN.
certain and unpredictable that he
could not look ahead with any as.
surance whatever.
But his intimacy with Sonya had
revealed to him a new strange vista,
ungdessed at in all his previous life.
He had known Resale for eight
years without their association
quickening into life or deepening be.
yond a casual comradeship; he had
known Sonya less than two weeks,
but it seemed to him that destiny
itself had led him to take up the
Karakhan hunt merely that he
might meet and know her.
n T the Marlin home AK answered
his ring. Smash had gone to
bed, AK informed. as he took Curt
out on the porch. Rosalie too was
gone-on a weeks yachting trip to
Seattle.
Sorry" Curt mumbled, when he
heard that.
AK brought q pitcher Of iced
drink. drew two chairs beside the
magazine stand, and listened closely
to the detailed report. The account
left him uneasy. The big part OF
the hunt, and the worst part, still
lay ahead. and several features OF
it looked ominous. Two men
against three dozen-for Curt to 90
back into those mountains and con-
tinue the hunt was like q tryst with
death.
And this girl Sonya-who was
she. what was she doing In there.
and why under heaven had Curt
handicapped himself with her in q
situation where he needed above
everything else to be absolutely
free? Curt must be interested in
her. to put It mildly.
"Curt. d'you suppose this girl can
be an agent Of European police?
Enough OF them want Karakhan
badly. Maybe they sent . woman to
take him."
Curt shook his head emphatically.
TT can't be. AK. ! know that posi-
lively: she couldn't have fooled mo
there"
"what do You believe she =
then?"
II haven't the faintest idea. Ell.
cept." he added, she's q most ex-
traordinary person. I wish you
knew her. Ak"
Marlin glanced ct him. why" hs
asked. his suspicion almost . GER
tainty.
As he listened to Curtis hating at
tempt to describe her. Marlin felt
that instead Of liking this Russian
girl no would dislike her Intensely.
10 disliked her even then. without
eve. having seen her. for he saw
that she had crowded Rosalie en-
tirely out Of Curtis thoughts. He
looked away. to keep Curt from
seeing his shock and pain.
Il seemed incredible that Curt.
who had always been 90 rational IN
such matters. should tall In love
with . girl IT whom he knew moth
ing and whom he had met less than
= fortnight ago.
| Her allen origin. her secrecy. her
going Of on . long trip with . man
who was no relation ct al. strongly
suggested that she was some sort
OF adventures. No doubt she was
. brilliant girl-shs appeared to b
. match TOR Curt ct Curtis own
game: and no doubt she had charm
Ing qualities or sha could not have
swept him OF his feet . she had
done.
But nevertheless she was IN i'd
venturess. and Curt had N, awaken
Ing ahead.
/ He kept his conviction to himself
It was not . matter In which one
man could counsel another. Curl
had to choose and travel his own
path. Perhaps. God willing. thai
path would bring him hack to Ro
sale yer.
At eleven the phone rang. Bald
win was calling from Z downtown
hotel.
curt? Arm speaking. Some new
for you.
Copyright. 1855. Wallors ,. Noesvy
Az sivss csse> . aasapeieas -
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