The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-11-28

wolf cub in each jacket pocket and
trotted for his tent
Curt wanted to ask Sonya If 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
wayered, Sonya said goodnight to
Mrs. Hodkins and turned to him.
"pve 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 button on his
jacket.
"Why. it was as much my fault
as yours" be insisted. as they start
ed up toward the factors house. Il
threw out a big wild statement and
you caught me up on 1t. But honest
Iy"-he was thinking Of her javeIin.
sharp words-"rd hate to ever get
into a real quarrel with you"
"Am that bad?"
aOh. you're positively formidable!
To change the subject, there's some
thing I'd like to say. il you won't bite
my head or"
81 promise. What Is it?"
"Well, II you don't mind an un-
solicited opinion. | believe you and
your brother ought to think twice
before you start north into Klo-
sohee territory. don't know any
think about the Klosohees myself.
but | 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 conciusively that
Curt dropped the subject. Ifshe was
to stop them, he would have to think
up some way more effective than
argument.
At the door of the residence they
chatted a few moments about the
party. and then Sonya babe him
good night. Curt turned away re-
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-
- han hunt was over he was going
to look her up. find out who she
| really was, and try for a better &C.
Quaintance. He would be poor de-
tective II he could not trace Ralph
] and her.
The rain came on in earnest short.
iy after he reached camp. A high
wind dashed the pines. woke up the
lake aud tugged at their tent: rain
fell In gusty sheets: fash after
binding fash of lightning banged
into the timber and rolled believing
across the lake.
Sitting on their sleeping pokes, be
and Paul waited for the time when
they could begin their work. Not
long after the storm began. Curt
felt 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
al the same height was another hole.
Look Paul = how'd those get
there? No stick would blow clear
through both"
A livid white fash lit up the tent
as plain as day. An instant later
kip-plangl their nestled set OF alu-
mlnum dishes. lying on box near
the fiap-front. suddenly exploded in
q dozen directions. as though pos.
sessed OF some diabolic magic.
In the rolling thunder Curt heard
the half-mufied bark Of rife.
He sprang to his feet. HE'LL
Somebody's shooting at our tent!
It's that 'breedm
They grabbed slickers and auto
MATES. and ieaped outside. Throw
i ing themselves down behind the fire.
wood. they waited for the next squirt
OF rife IRE to stab the darkness.
'sWateh back in the timber. Paul.
Ill 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 so
hard as Just then. or to tighten so
tremendously. One moment they
were blinded by q dazzling glare:
In the next the dark dropped like q
pain.
They lay there for ten minutes,
praying for Just one glimpse Of
rife fash. But the sniper did not
shoot again.
| "we might as well 20 back In"
| Curt suggested finally. Il ought to've
taken your advice and left him over
on the island. We saved him from q
soaking and then got It ourselves. :
| Sometime we're going to have q
showdown with that slinker. He's
going to kill rs or we're going to
| kill him
| II was exactly Curtis own thought.
TcoprrteAt. 1855. Wriia-, p. Horeryl
Curt and Paul 90 en- a strange