The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-20
Chapter 30
eoNYA'S SECRET


"V0U know I'm Russian Sonya
= went on. II Il we're possible.
I'd 60 back to Russia and try TO play
some part there. howevsr small.
When I Jared ont ct Jon that eve
ming. It was just my narrow personal
feelings. But ! can't 90 back. I'd
probably be Imprisoned the minute
! landed. And besides i've been II
Canada twelve years and teal Cans
dian, and = person can do'somsthing
here too.
"When I say useful Curt I don't
mean professional uplittsrs and
fussy reformers who 60 around pry.
Inc into other peoples w. Of living
and trying to make everybody con.
form to their own standards. Heay.
ems no! But there are roles where
men can do . real good Hen with
. conscience, ! mean-and you've
got . conscience"
Curt wished he could tell her Of
that evening in Edmonton when he
had thrown away the Consolidated
offer and taken on the Karakhan
hunt. She would applaud that.
where Resale had called him . fool
and had utterly failed to understand
his motive. He recalled sonya's
words, "idling around pleasantly.
and he knew that that was how she
would regard his plans 70 return
north. II she knew about them.
Near i've o'clock they came 70 .
little bay. went ashore, gathered
firewood and cleared I place for the
two tents. II was the 3rettiest camp
site Of their trip.
They sat down under Q pine TO
wait for tho other canoes. Curt
plucked nervously at the Leaf Of .
maidenhair fern. He could stave on
his talk with Sonya no longer.
"There's something I'd like 70 un.
derstand. Sonya. It's none Of my
business, except that rye got Z
friends interest IN you and Ralph"
Sonya interrupted: Il know what
you're going to say-that we're not
entomologists. Ralph told mo you
asked him about that beetle. knew
you were suspicious and would dnd
us out sometime"
She pointed At the pass. .And
now You want TO know why we're
going into that country. You're
thinking there's Just some within o.
rattlebrained idea behind our trip
aren't youl"
ION the contrary. told Paul tha,
you must have some pretty substan
tial motive"
"rm glad you have that much con
ddence II NJ, after finding out how
we lied" She picked . lichen cur
and unrolled It In her small brown
fingers. TT Is . substantial reason
Curt
n don't question that. But d
question your secrecy about TIL
whole thing when the tril n % dan
gerous. Il ! knew what you're try
Ing to do. ! might be able to give you
. hand
Sonya shook her head Il DOM
believe you would. n fact I know
you wouldn't"
Are you afraid "a 80 barginl
Into your plans IKE Z bull IN . chinl
shop | wouldn't
She still shook her head IN -
fusaL "I'd Ike to tsll you But
simply cant. It's In the very naturl
Of my motive that ] must keep Il q
myself
r cant conceive q any such or
cumstance.s
''Then you'll have 70 take my wor.
for It, Curt"
LIE felt provoked q har. Il NJ
= = possible that she Or Ralph hal
heard some Wild tale about . riol
lode or placer IN the Lilluars Of tina
she wanted 70 make . study Of thl
Klosohees themselves. hut 10 ooul'
not believe either Of these guess0s.
there's something olse-sttll leo
NJ nv hnainAaa. annn0Rns htf Hon
~. why do ron pretend this rotation
ship to RaIph3~
That caught her Z surprise.
color new into her checks.
sPretend-rela& ionship-what 4
you meant"
Curt Was cortair Of his ground
He plunged boldly:
~Ralph II no more your 6rothe
than ! nm, GIRL HIS no relation :
youAt all
- q.