The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-12-04
&I .FORBIDDEN VALLEY
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His offer. as fine as it was unex- pected. nearly took Sonya's breath. She wanted to snap Il up instantly before he could change his mind. Two days of river travel had showed her how little she and Ralpi knew about the Strong-Woods and how worthless those lazy guides were. With Curt leading the party she could feel safe, and if anybody could get on good terms with the kloso- hees. he was the man to do IL
 If the idea doesn't appeal to you" he said. please don't be hesi- tant about saying so. You mustn't let us break into any of your plans"
 "Oh. but it does appeal to mel"
 "You like it. then?"
 Sonya hesitated. In Curtis tones and his manner she could see that he was interested in her. On lengthy wilderness trip together where they would De thrown into constant intimate association. he might come to like her T very great deal. It wouldn't be right to allow that.
 But you'll be travelling so much faster than we" she objected.
 "Oh, no. we'll be taking it leisure ly. scouting for float as we go. To be frank, l don't believe you and Ralph are used to water-dogging on a mountain river. Tili you get on to the hang of things it mightn't be bad idea to have a couple oi expert enced people along. Also, if those guides don't prove dependable. you wouldn't be left in the lurch."
 "Your offer is, magnanimous, Curt" She stumbled just little over his first name. q don't know anybody else who'd have made it. But we'd be positive nuisance"
 Your company and RalDh's would be real pleasure to us both. Talk it over with him. won't you?
 Still wavering. Sonya looked down into the torrent. where number of tiny trout were darting about in a pool like little flashes of sunshine. She knew that the safe unselfish thing was to refuse But then she thought that if she steered their association carefully she could guide it into comradely friendship. And she did need his help so badly. With her it might make all the difference be- tween success and abject failure.
 "We might-we could try it." she assented finally. "At least We can start out together. and if it doesn't work we can always split up."
 As they went on filling the pail Curt congratulated himself on hav- ing neatly solved a tough problem. He would be going up the Gilluar on his own business. and at the same tune Paul and he could look after Sonyas safety.
 And he would have her company for a week. week of wilderness travel with her. At the pass. when she and Ralph came face to face with the Klosohee danger and real ized how serious it was. they would undoubtedly turn back to Russian Lake. That would free him and Paul. to go on inside and nail Kara khan.
 
 THE report to which Karakhan had just listened make him un- easy. His cigarette. forgotten, burned to ashes at his elbow. and his fingers. long and sensitive as musicians. topped the rough table thoughtfully. Looking past LeNoir. he stared out the cabin window at the lake. pondering the breeds sto. ry.
 The account might be lie. Le- Noir might just He trumping up a non-existent danger fin order to jack his pay higher. But then the story might be fact.
 With fifty hard canoe-miles be- hind him since dawn. LeNoir leaned back against the log wall. watching his chief sharply. This man of the steel-cold eyes and calm voice-one could never so much as guess at his thoughts.
 One only knew that he wal great ly wanted by the Yellows'riLes that he had buried himself in these noun. tains to shake off the police and that he was planning flight away at the end of summer to some new land.
 About his getting drunk. his fight with Curt and his shooting up their tent, LeNoir had wisely said noth- ing He knew his chief too well. karakhan would not hesitate to pump bullet into any person who endangered him by going on sprees.
 In his way LeNoir was altogether loyal to Karakhan. who had been very generous to him in the matter of money. The breed dad a code, such as it was. He>had bargained to protect the Cossack. and he was giving everything he had to that job, for he was hard-set in his royalties aG in his feuds.
 fCopgrioht i9s, Wflliam 3 MouervJ