The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-01-20
Chapter 49 THE KISS

CURT knew something was troubl- ing AK deeply. He had been noticing it ever since the old officer arrived six hours ago.
 What is it, A-K?" he asked. Marlin turned to him with reso lute air. "I might as we'll get It over with, I suppose. She, mean Rosalie, told me to break you the news. l should have. before now, but it's a dismal duty"
 In flash Curt guessed the trouble Rosalie had landed a more suitable candidate than himself! He won. dered sardonically whether the gen tleman was the Edmonton banker or the Seattle ship owner.
 "I believe l know what you're going to tell me, AK" For Marlin's sake he hid his sheer delight over the unexpected good news. "Rosalie came to the conclusion that she and just weren't suited for each other, and so she"
 You're being generous" Marlin interrupted, more sharply than he had ever spoken of Rosalie. "The conclusion she came to was that she wanted to marry money; and she went after it. and-well, she got it, got a whole steamship line!" He made weary gesture and stood up. Well. you know now. I don't think it's altogether surprise to you. Nor," he added pointedly. "very much of disappointment"
 "No. it isn't" Curt admitted hon estly. q was intending to have a frank talk with her when I was in the city a month ago. but she wasn't there. Rosalie and l can be lot bet ter friends as things stand than if we'd have married"
 "Yes, you're right. She's got one idea of what life's all about and you've got a different idea. and the two would've been oil and water" When they went out to old Johns camp. the company had already gathered. On the packing box Sonya sat talking with Mrs. Hodkins and Paul and a girl. The Indians and prospectors were there, and the young trapper had brought his two wolf cubs, still fuzzy and playful but now grown too big for his pocket.
 One person of that former eve 1 ming was missing. though; and Curl ! felt the loss keenly. As his glance occasionally met Sonyas across the 1 fire, he knew that she too was think ing of Ralph Nichols and lonely lobstick up the Lilluar.
 Like some wild creature brought in from the mountains. Tenn-Os hung back at the edge of the fire glow. trying to understand all those strange tongues and strange people of the underworld. After an exile oi one hundred and twenty years. g Klosohee had returned at last to the ancestral home O. his tribe. Curt felt a proprietary interest ir that proud little band which had fought him so fiercely. They were his clan. and he wanted to give them ! helping hand and some desperate 1 ly needed counsel. Even in that iso lated country they could no longer hold out against changing world Now that the primitive Siam-Klale was dead and Tenn-Og's half brother was leading them. he believed he could wean them from their unso cial ways
 Curt noticed how tired Sonya was too tired to talk or even listen to the others. The long trip out of the Lil luars, ended only yesterday. had been hard on her; he himself still felt logy from it.
 A LITTLE before midnight she \ looked across at him with an i understanding glance, excused her. self and went up toward the factors house.
 After a decent interval he got up and left. as inconspicuously as pos. sible. In the moon shadows of the trading post he found her, waiting for him.
 You were so long. dear" she whispered, "I thought you weren't coming"
 Curt disarmed her with kiss. "I had to wait several minutes. and then swung out around the Indian tepees so those folks wouldn't know I'd followed you"
 He linked his arm through hers and they started out the path toward the old fort.
 Does AK still think I'm an ad venturess. Curt?"
 When told him how you trailed Karakhan, he wanted to sign you up for the Mounted
 "Oh, that'd be fun. 1 think I'll do it."
 You will not! You're going to cast | your lot with the Provincial Police '