The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-12-27
Chapter 30
THE RENDEZVOUS

ffE n IN v E < v W v ,H1HAT did Sonya want with Le- W Noir? He was the Cossack's con act man. Was that fact the reason she wanted to see him?
 "Why's she meeting LeNoir?"
 She's giving him letter"
 "A letter? To whoL 2"
 Paul hesitated. shuddered; but here was no help for it, and he took he step. Its a letter to Karakhan. Curt stiffened. like the granite he stood against He shook Paul rough. y by the arm.
 Docs she know Karakhan"
 "She knows him very well. For give me, partner. but you had to know
 Curt turned slowly and stared down toward the tents as though try ing to catch a glimpse of a girlish figure wonder in the darkness. After time he turned to Paul again. His voice shook.
 Don't make a mistake about her sending 9 letter to Karakhan. Are gou positive of it? Dead positive"
 ITO the extent" Paul said quietly. that 1 have copy of the letter itself. Last night saw her writing Il the teLt She was so secret about that 1 knew she was writing some hing important. l watched through )ne of the arrow holes and saw where she hid the note when she inished; and after she'd gone to sleep. went in and got it. sat here behind these rocks. and made copy y your electric torch; and then 1 ,eturned tie letter."
 What does it say? What did she ell him?'
 Paul reached into his jacket and brought out paper. carefully wrap ped in canvas. You had best read il yourself. Then you'll tnow."
 He vc Curt the pages. and saw lis partner stare at them with fasci- hated dread. Why didn't he snap on he flash and read them? Was he ,fraid?
 ln the southwe~ sky Antares lad sunk down till it lowered on the neakline. looking not like a star but some distant light on the mountain .op. Time for her meeting with LeNoir. he thought.
 What are we going to do about @his rendezvous he asked Its our ,hance to find out where Karakhan s. They're sure to d.op word about his hiding place."
 q suppose we ought to do some ehing." Curt agreed duly. It seemed ehat locating Karakhan had become D no importance.
 Across the channel Paul heard the huttering call of an owl. It did not tool him.
 There's LeNoir signaling to her That's the signal he was to use Aren't we going to shadow them? We'll find out more in ten minutes ahan we could in a month other wise"
 Curt thrust the letter into his pocket unread. "We ought to follow ler. I'll do it. 1 want to hear what they say. Paul. there's something to this that you didn't get the truth of. There's got to be-"
 The "owl" signaled again. Paul glanced down toward the tents, heard nothing of Sonya, saw noth- ing of her.
 Well have to give her clear road" he suggested, before she'll cross that channel. Suppose I go lown to the tents and make her be- lieve I'm turning in? If she's there by the canoe. I'll drop the remark that you're tired and almost asleep. You can stay here, and when she starts. you can follow I'll bring you a canoe 10 cross with"
 Curt shook his head. "LeNoir would see a canoe. No, I'll get across. Just leave me your blankets and the fash"
 DAUL anished down the island. and Curt waited alone. A queer unnatural frame of mind had come over him. Sonya, meeting 'Teeste LeNoir. conniving with hin against the two who had defended her.
 It seemed only a little less pre- posterous than her knowing. fnti. mately knowing, Igor Karakhan. He : could no longer deny that she was acquainted with the Cossack and that her trip was somehow connect ed with the man. But her motive in this affair might be innocent, even commendable. Footsteps came up the landwash