The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-04-18
Chapter 32 NEW TRICK

 "CLIM," Judith leaned across the table, "help me out of here pronto, before that couple there, the girl in red dancing with the gringo, gets back"
 Sanford asked no questions. Quickly, his height shielding her. he helped her through the crowds, through the maze of tables where slightly ribald couples from the States sang an anglicized version of "Celito Lindo."
 Outside, protected from curious eyes by an ell of the building, she explained, That man is Scathborne, one of Morton Lampere's urder- cover men,"
 Do you think he saw you?" Slim asked
 No, I'm sure he didn't. He wouldn't have licked my seeing him if he had seen and recognized me What Pm wondering is what hes doing in this part of the country. Slim, how far are we from LareGo?"
 Not far. This is a logical place for man in your section of Texas to come, if that's what you mean"
 Tt is. We'd better find Cumard and leave. I'll wait here while yGa go in and Slim" she held onl a detaining hand, T do apprecia what you've said. I've never thoughi of wavering in my loyalty to Ncr man, but" she hesitated then. "Ta. . Slim, it's been T most glamOrous evening and do like you lot."
 Sanford bent over the hand arl brushed it with his lips in manner that did not seem grotesque in him A moment later he was gone.
 Cunard came back with him nervous haste in his manner. hat not until they were in the ship did he speak.
 You must have thought me most unmannerly this evening"" he apol ogized to Judith, "but I've been on the trail of something which may be important to us. Scashborne has been over here hiring Mexican la bor. 1 talked to one of the men he hired. He said he was going to work Oh a dam northwest of Laredo.
 Miss Judith, l believe we have work cut out for us. think Mot ton Lampere has started some thing"
 Do you think Scathborne saw ei ther one of us?"
 I'm sure he didn't. Slim, it's two o'clock now. Can we letter some place and go back about day break? I want to look that Diablo valley over again .. I've hunch.
 And, Miss Judith. if you can snatch a little sleep I'd advise you to. I'm going to want stenogra pher whom can trust"
 Judith was sure she couldn't sleep. She curled into the nest of coats Slim made for her in the ships cab in, eyes wide. watching the stars zip pa-t the cabin windows as the plane started it's homeward flight. And then she sat up.
 She had slept. She was tired. stiff from her cramped position. Slim. his head cooked slightly towards Cunard, who sat beside him, was in, tent upon his work. Cunard was looking over the side. Now they were banking.
 JUDITH peered out of the window O Tn the sun flushed basin below tiny pygmies were running about. A few tents, one new and white, the ot hers small and khaki colored, almost invisible on the brown field grass, were clustered about a fork of the upper Rio Diablo.
 She sat protestingly erect. Lam rere couldn't do that; he couldn't build dam there and intercept the flow of the river or divert it. There was such thing as riparian rights.
 The ship had banked around, strengthened out, and they ware fly. ing due east Half an hour later tLey had circled their own small field and had landed.
 Miss Judith. can you take cat nap, have breakfast and he ready to take dictation at nine o'clock? Slim will rest up and be ready to fly back with the letters and reports have in mind"
 Judith was sure she couldn't, but she didn't admi. it. She was tired, much too tired to. think of Lampere, the dam or even Slim. The glamor of the previous evening had been dispelled with the dawn, she wanted a warm bath and soft bed, even a cup of Delphy's chocolate. She re-