The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-12-29
Chapter 32
CURT DECIDES

throw up this Karakhan case altogether. What stew Sonya had made of it! Except for her. they would already have closed in on the man. Not only had they wasted precious days. but their best hope had gone glimmering, the hope of shadowing LeNoir, for without a doubt he suspected them now and would never let them follow him to his chief.
 Occasionally he glanced down toward the lskitimwah mouth. but saw nothing of his partner. A little before noon he could stand it no longer. Dropping down lake. he landed and walked back into the pines.
 Curt was sitting against boulder, tracing meaningless patterns on the wolf-foot with stick. He was plunged into deep thought. motion less. a dead pipe in his teeth. His face was gray and haggard. his eyes had a hard light in them; and when he looked up and smiled, it was a bitterly cynical smile.
 But in spite of those ravages and of the many times when Paul had seen the steely selfcontrol that lay deep-down in Curt, he was surprised that his partner could have taken so terrible blow and then. within the space of few hours. could have shaken it off and got himself in hand. He no longer seemed confused and bewildered, as last night at the sentry rocks.
 Curt pointed with the stick. "See that pair of black lilies there. nod. ding their heads together? The smaller one is Sonya Volkov. and the other is her Cossack. I'm going to pull Karakhan's head off in a min. ute. I'll do it as an agent of the law and not out of any jealousy over her. Lord. no,.-l couldn't be jealous Of anything that he owns. I'll take the blossom over and give it to her. and then. after we nail him. I'll tell her what meant by it."
 "'Nail him? You're still going ahead with this hunt?"
 "Why not? We started it. we'll go through with it. And from now on there'll be no more pussyfooting or generosity to strangers want to get through with this mess and gel back down north to our Three Rivers country I've been thinking of the Nahanni Mountains. Pros pecting in the Nahannis will be a good way for fellow to forget"
 He got up. put on his jacket. and plucked the taller of the two black lilies. Over the other one he hesi tated a moment. A shudder went through him as he took hold of 1t But then with savage gesture he jerked it up by the roots and flung it away. and brushed his hands.
 How're you going to find him ?' Paul queried. "LeNoir is suspicious of us He won't ever let us shadow him now"
 We won't try to shadow LeNoir We've got an easier way of finding Karakhan. Sonya Volkov has been hard luck for us so far. but we're go ing to turn her into good luck. We'll use her. It's only fair; she used us. .
 "'Use her'-?"
 "Well. she's going to him. isn't she? Whats to prevent you and me from following her? She'll be 8 dozen times easier to shadow thar that bush-slinker We'll use her as our bait. She's pretty bait. When she goes to join him, we'll go along; and when she gets there, we'll be there tool"
 A TIER a day and night of hard 4 \ travelling. LeNoir stood in Ka rakhan's cabin once again. Dis i: your," he said, and with no other ex planation he handed over Sonya's letter.
 "Mine?" Karakhan echoed. struck all in heap. Its for me. you say? His face turned ashy. Who know: I'm here? Who in nell pumped that out Of you?"
 LeNoir trembled Read heem." he urged. You understand. den."
 His eyes went to the table behind Karakhan where lay his chiefs heavy automatic. He backed up step. and his fingers closed over an iron-tipped ski staff leaning against the wall. If this girl was no friend