The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-13
fl FORBIDDEN VALLEY
g. uj;l;a,. Bqsow l'lovS4

!, frightened o. night shut down. Eli
tering through the pine branches, IL
cast filigree shadows on the woods
floor and lay In = wan ghostly Hood
over Ralph and the wolf-foot and the
plot OF black lilies. Far away, so tar
it seemed q mere pinpoint Of sound
in the night silence crescendoI
wailing arose, and was taken up and
answered from q dozen mountain
peaks. !,
In the last two hours, since fealis-
ing that Ralph was not to be with
them, Curt had made up his mind
to 60 back north and try to capture
Karakhan. Tenn-Og could take
them to that headwater lake. Il
Smash had kept his rendezvous,
they would have . plane and could
make the trip in less than three
hours.
With any luck at al, he would not,
only end his long hunt then ana
there. but he could shield Sonya and
bring her out. In spite Of her associa-
ton with Karakhan he felt It his
duty, as a man, to look after her,
safety. She was q white girl. she had
shot square with him and helped
him and Paul ont Of q desperate
plight.
Besides, he was vaguely beginning
to suspect that there was something
to her relations with the Russian
which he knew nothing about. Her
letter to the man and her talk with
LeNoir stood as mountainous facts
against her. but still he was
troubled. His bad mistake about
Tenn-Og, OF whose treachery he had
been so sure. made him wonder
whether he might not be partly mis-
taken about Sonya too.
THE time verged on midnight.
= Red Antares. glittering In the
southwest, hung low over the dis
tant peakline. Through the trees he
watched it sink and vanish. When
he glanced again at Ralph he was
surprised to see that the latter's
eyes were open.
He took Ralph's hand. to let him
know that q friend was with him.
Ralph looked around. evidently look
ing for Sonya. The delirium had
passed. he seemed to be In no pain
whatever: but he was not altogether
clear.headed. and his consciousness
was the last faint flare-up.
He gazed up at Curt for a moment.
His lips parted. Curt bent lower.
where are-we, Curt?s
"Down river, Ralph. Back It the
lskitimwah."
you thought-could get me-
QUIT"
Curt nodded. not trusting his
voice.
"Where's sonya, Curt! I'd like
her-a little talk"
Curt started to say that sonya
was on her way to Karakhan. but
he checked himself. No need 70 ~
call that painful fact to Ralph'g
wandering mind.
shes sleeping, Ralph. I'll wake
her before long. She asked mo to-
"Then she didn't try-to reach
him. Curt3" Ralph asked. struggling
weakly against the fog IN his brain.
Curt could see him cropping to recall
the happenings Of that dim time b,
fore he was stricken. II thought-
she did 60"
mo. she gave that over, Ralph
I'm glad. Shed have been left
alone in herewith those Indians..J
tried to tell her so-but she b.
neved she could get out-somehow
-afterward."
Curt thought that Ralph's mind
must be wandering badly. What did
he mean By ''left alone In there's
She would be with Karakhan
wouldn't she? And what did Ralph
mean BY shed get ont, somehow
afterward"? After what?
~You'u watch out for her now
Curt7" Ralph begged. "Sho likes you
more than she-lets herself think
You'll take care Of her. won't you3"
Curt promised. He felt himself On
the verge Of something portentous
. discovery Of the whole truth about
Sonya's trip. Very plainly she had
told Ralph.
Before he could word the ouee
tons IN his mind. Ralph's lips were
moving again.
~shs wanted to-trust you, Curt
Wanted to tell you. and AK your
help. But she felt shs-didn't dare.
She wasn't surs-just Who ron
were; ana she was afraid you'd
Judge her harshly. Afraid you'd
send her back QUIT you knew.
That would have been-e terrible
blow 70 her. She couldn't rsyt,
couldn't Twelfth she'd hunted him
down."
Ralph sank back. limp and quiet
A tremor passed through him. For I
moment Curt thought It was the
end. But then came Z faint rally.
The incoherent words he had 1ust
listened to bewildered Curt. Ralrh
VISA distinctly implying that when
sonya reached the headwaters lake
she would BE- exposed to some great
danger.
f0osytsht. 1855. wAlssm D. xovsryy
3 Gun $50 =; 1890 49, ,A