The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-13
and left: the young trapper stuck q
wolf cub In each jacket pocket and
trotted for his tent

and left: the young trapper stuck 4
wolf cub In each jacket pocket and
trotted for his tent
Curt wanted to ask Sonya II he
might walk up to Higginbotham's
residence with her. where she and
Ralph were staying: but he was
afraid Of getting snubbed. While he
wavered. Sonya said goodnight to
Mrs. Hodkins and turned to him.
1--WE been wanting to apologize to
you. Mr.. Ralston." She was really
sincere about it-so contrite, in fact,
that she would not look him in the
eyes but stared at q button on his
jacket.
"Why, 1t was as much my fault
a. yours" he insisted, as they start
ed up toward the factors house. II
threw out q big wild statement and
you caught me up on It. But honest
ly"-he was thinking Of her javelin.
sharp words-"I'd hate to ever get
into q real quarrel with you."
Am that bad?'
"Oh. you're positively formidablei
To change the subject, there's some
thing I'd like to say. IL you won't bite
my head off,"
ST nromico What as ~ ~
"Well, il you don't mind an I'm.
solicited opinion. believe you and
your brother ought to think twice
before you start north into Klo-
sohee territory. l don't know any.
think about the Kosohees myself,
but I do know that some Of these
northern Dinnehs can't be judged BY
the bands closer in to civilization"
"But we've thought twice already,
Mr.. Ralston, and we've decided it's
worth the risk"
She said it so conclusively that
Curt dropped the subject. II he was
to stop them, he would have to think
up some way more effective than
argument.
At the door Of the residence they
chatted q few moments about the
party. and then Sonya babe him
good night. Curt turned away m.
luctantly. looking back once for .
glimpse Of her as she stood outlined
in the shaft Of light from the door.
LIE told himself when the karak.
1 han hunt was over he was going
to look her up. find out who she
really was, and try for a better 90.
quaintance. He would be a poor dc.
tective IL he could not trace Ralph
and her.
The rain came on in earnest short
" after he reached camp. A high
wind dashed the pines, woke up the
lake and tugged at their tent: rain
fell in gusty sheets: fash after
binding fash Of lightning banged
into the timber and rolled believing
across the Jake.
Sitting on their sleeping pokes, he
and Paul waited for the time when
they could begin their work. Not
long after the storm began, Curt
felt a trickle Of water on his hat
brim. He reached for his torch and
looked up. About two feet down
from the ridgeline a neat hole the
size Of pencil had appeared in the
canvas. On the opposite wall and
at the same height was another hole.
Look Paul - how'd those get
there? No stick would blow clear
through both"
A livid white flash lit up the tent
as plain as day. An instant later
kip-plang!-their nested set OF alu.
minum dishes. lying on q box near
the hap-front. suddenly exploded in
q dozen directions, as though pos
sessed Of some diabolic magic.
In the rolling thunder Curt heard
the half-mumed bark Of q rife.
He sprang to his feet. "Helll
Somebody's shooting at our tent!
It's that 'breed!"
They grabbed slickers and auto
matics. and leaped outside. Throw.
ing themselves down behind the flre-
wood. they waited for the next squirt
Of rifle IRE to stab the darkness.
"Watch hack In the timber, Paul.
I'll watch down toward the fort. He's
IN one Of those directions. He's not
out on the lake or around the post
anywhere"
A minute heightened to three, I'VE.
Curt had never known It to rain 30
hard 40 just then. or to tighten 80
tremendously. One moment they
were blinded BY . dazzling glare:
in the next the dark dropped like .
pail.
They lay there for ten minutes.
praying for Just one glimpse Of q
rifle flash. But the sniper did not
shoot agar.
I'VE might as well 60 back IN
Curt suggested finally. II ought to've
taken your advice and left him over
on the island. We saved him from I
soaking and then got It ourselves"
Sometime we're going to have 1
showdown with that slinker. He's
going to kill US or we're going to
kill him."
Twas exactly Curtis own thought.
Downright 1888. WILTON ,. xovsry)