The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-12-20
chapter SO
THE DEpARTuRE

THE DEPARTURE
n FTER LeNoir had gone to sleep.
4 : Karakhan left the cabin and
walked down the lake shore. uncon-
sciously seeking the open where
walls did not limit his mood.
He could hardly yet believe HIS
good fortune. He had never dreamed
Sonya was searching for him or
even that she liked him wen enough
to join him. He could easily imagine
tot Helen Mathieson or others like
her. but not OF Sonya volkov.
In the course OF his dealings with
her father and brother at Victoria.
he had, met her and Immediately
thrown over the Mathieson girl for
her; but she had proved the most
elusive creature of his wide expert
ence. At times he had even been q
little afraid OF Iier-and now she was
actually coming to him.
He believed he understood those
six weeks. Her letter. especially one
sentence of 1t. explained her aioof-
ness there In Victoria. She'd been
playing a-girl's shy game with him,
leading him on perhaps feeling. her.
self hampered by the presence OF
her father and brother: hut after he
had dropped from sight -Your
disappearance was an awakening
for me. an unbearable realization of
what had lost" No coyness
there. but cry of sheer longing for
himi
A mile down the lake shore he
came to a small cove. screened by
sweeping pines--a beautiful little
retreat with It's tinkle Of water and
scent Of cioudberry blossoms. Lean
Ing against a lichened rock. he
watched pair OF Harlequin ducks
tipple and feed in the shadows. In
the back OF his mind he was imagin-
Ing Sonya Volkov there VITA him in
that seclusion. but his thoughts
were gradually SOLDERING. for those
two suspicious strangers kept In.
truding, Earring discord in his
fancies.
He knew now that they were not
prospectors. whatever else they
might be. Gold hunters would hard.
~ have disregarded that warning at
the pass: and after that night at
tack they would certainly have got
out OF the country as fast as canoe
could take them.
To judge by LeNoir's account
they were pair Of competent devils.
A small voice whispered that this
Raiston was one of those damnable
Mounted. who had struck hts trail
somehow and was sticking to II like
a human bloodhound.
It put him in = dilemma. He was
In danger and ought to escape
Though LeNoir had thirty-soms men
now and stood every chance 10 the
world OF wiping that party out. still
something might slip up and those
two might bore on through to his
refuge. BY all the rules OF caution
he ought to go.
But to leave Just when Sonya
Volkov was on the way to him and
he had the prospects OF having her
there during the soft summer moons
S. For once he could not make q
clean-cut decision.
Suppose. he reasoned. that he let
LeNoir go south with the main band
OF Klosohees and spring his attack.
LeNolr could send back runners
and keep him constantly informed
OF what was happening. II Ralston
was killed and all danger from him
was ended with the bang OF finality.
well and good; he would stay there
and wait for Sonya.
But ik Ralston was not killed. be
would escape. There would stu BE
time. That plane In the hangar was
40 ace up the sleeve. II gave one al
almost magical power Of xanlshins:
1T bothered him more tina. a little
! to think that he might have TO
leave Sonya in the lurch. so helpless.
so far back in those appalling noun.
tains. But he had long since passed
the point Of allowing any scruples 10
stop him. or any dalllance. however
pleasant. 10 endanger him. His own
safety came first.
On his return he stopped at the
hangar and looked over the plane
carefully. II needed BIT OF work
frayed control leads to replace.
fouled plugs 10 scrape. a few tritiug
adjustments to be made: but In gen
eral Il lad come through the winter
In tiy-away shape. He cheexed the
gas again to reassure himself.
1 The wing tanks showed iifty-four
gallons. with six more In the emers