The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-12-29
Chapter &c
soNYA,s MISSION

oONtA0 MloSlON
CURT knew now beyond al doubt
that Sonya's trip had some sig
nifcance which he, in his hasty
cocksure certainty, had missed en-
tirely.
Ralph" he pleaded urgently,
knowing that Ralph had but q min
ute or two more. atry to tell me-
what did you mean about her being
left alone up therew
Ralph did not seem to hear him,
but pursued his own drifting
thoughts. I'm glad-she listened TO
you and-didn't go. inow she's got
courage, but Just a girl. by herself.
she'd never have managed-to XIII
him. Shed have failed, and he'd
have left her there. He'd have
thrown her-Zto those others"
ITO XIII him-w Curt echoed.
jolted from head to feet. That bToken
phrase sent his world crashing out
'of its orbit. He could only stare at
Ralph. stupeHed. "HiH"-that word
meant Karakhan. It pointed straight
at him But Sonya. killing the man
to whom she had written that letter
surely Ralph must be so delirious
that he did not know what he was
saying. Or was he delirious7
"RaIph!" he begged franticalIy. In
a race against the lowering Dark.
Why's she hunting Karakhan2 Tell
me that. What does she want with
him? Ralph do you understand me9'
His question went unanswered.
Ralph lay quiet, his lips apart.
his eyes closed. For minute he did
not stir. Then with sudden Jerk he
moved. rose to his elbow and gFaspei
Curtis arm with an unnatural
strength.
.Curt! Don't let her so back
therel Don't ever let her try TO kill
himl Take her out OF this noHntryi"
Il will. Ralph. III take her out.
But Ralph. listen! Tell met
"Curt! Wake her! Bring her here.
rll-make -her-promlse--F
His grasp broke fram Curtis arm
and he fell back.
In desperation Curt shook him by
the shoulder. Ralph! Ralph!" But
he got no answer. He pressed g IN.
ger into Ralph's wrist, and felt no
pulse. And then he slowly realized
that the answer was forever beyond
him.
EDR a long time afterward Curt
: sat there beside the fire. with his
thoughts In a chaotic whirl. His
mind. so tired by two days Of incon-
celvahle strain that even Ralph's
death could numb 1t no further. re-
fused to 8 apple with RaIph's broken
words and make q coherent story
Of them. It was like trying to 1t To-
gether most bathing puzzle when
the parts were all iumbled and the
key pieces missing.
sopya, trying to kill the Russian
Il turned upside down everything
hat he had beenfeellng and thinking
about her. He had read her letter.
had heard her own words to LeNolf;
and against all that he had only
few hating phrases from man who
was dying.
Yet he believed Ralph. and all bis
lormer ideallzatlon Of Soma came
npoding back TO bolster up his be-
lief. Raiph's mind undoubtedly had
been wandering; but eYen IN the
most wandering thoughts there was
tpmewhere . core OF actuaiity; ana
Ralph had returned again and again
e that one colossal fact-Sonya had
come lninthls country to locate and
klll Igor Karakhan.
lie got up. after q time. ana stun.
Died aImlessi1 along the lanawnah.
Ne vas unconscious sCs IN 1axhAus.
tinn. Of everything except the das-
Ing revelation which he had iust
barely cheated death itself out OF.
The explanation OF her letter and
81 her tryst with LeNoir had been
cut OF: but he knew that those facts.
which had started him on the path
81 his horrible mistake. and the
other damnlng facts which had con.
armed him In It must have their In
depreciation.
Through all his numbed cropping
ran an inexpressible gladnesA He
sould have faith In Sonya's integrity
again. He felt as though ne had
been staggering through . black
uioFass and had come out into the
sunshine once more.
LIE had no idea Of the motive driv.
! ing her TO kill Karakhan: he
gould not even guess at It: but he