The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-06
Chapter 50
THE DEPARTURE

HtVsOVy
Chapter 50
THE DEPARTURE
4 FTER LeNoir had gone to sleep.
"A Karakhan left the cabin and
walked down the lake shore. uncon-
sciously seeking tho open where
walls did not limit his mood.
He could hardly yet believe his
good fortune. He had never dreamed
Sonya was searching tor him Or
even that she liked him wen enough
to Join him. He could easily imagine
It Of Helen Mathieson or others like
her. but not Of Sonya volkov.
In the course Of his dealings with
her father and brother at Victoria,
he had met her and Immediately
thrown over the Mathieson girl for
her: but she had proved the most
elusive creature Of his wide expert.
ence. At times he had even been Z
little afraid Of her-and now she was
actually coming to him.
He believed he understood those
six weeks. Her letter. especially one
sentence Of It. explained her aloof-
ness there in Victoria. Shed been
playing q girls shy game with him.
leading him on. perh.ps feeling her.
self hampered BY the presence Of
her father and brother: but after he
had dropped from sight :. "Your
disappearance was an awakening
tor me, an unbearable realization Of
what had lost" No coyness
there. but cry Of sheer longing for
him!
A mile down the lake shore he
came to small cove, screened BY
sweeping pines-a beautiful little
retreat with its tinkle Of water and
scent Of cloudberry blossoms. Lean.
Ing against q lichened rock, be
watched . pair Of Harlequin ducks
hpple and feed in the shadows. In
the back Of his mind he was imagin.
Ing Sonya Volkov there VITA him Il
that seclusion: but his thoughts
were gradually SOLDERING. for those
two suspicious strangers kept In
truding. Z Earring discord In hi
tancies.
He knew now that they were no,
prospectors. whatever else they
might be. Gold hunters would hard
II have disregarded that warning q
the pass: and after that night at
tack they would certainly have 90
put Of the country a. fast - q cano,
could take them.
TO Judge by LeNoir's accoun
they were . pair Of competent devils
A small voice whispered that thi
Ralston was one Of those damnabl,
Mounted. who had struck his trai
somehow and was sticking to Il lik'
. human bloodhound.
Il put him IN . dilemma. He VI
In danger and ought to escape
Though LeNoir had thirty.some me,
now and stood every chance In th,
world Of wiping that party out, stil
something might slip mp and thos,
two might bore on through to BIZ
refuge. BY ali the rules or eautio]
he ought to 80.
But to leave Just when Sony,
volkov was on tho way 20 him an
he had the prospects Of having be-
there during the soft summer moon,
>. For once no could not make ,
clean-cut decision.
Suppose. he reasoned, that no IL
,LeNoir 60 south with the main ban,
Of Klosohees and spring his attach
LeNoir could send back runner
and keep him constantly informe
Of what was happening. Il Ralstol
was killed and Ill danger from hin
was ended with the hang Of Anality
well and good: hs would stay Their
and wait for sonya.
But e Ralston Was not killed. b
would escape. There would still b
time. That plane n the hangar ~
IN acc up the sleeve. e gave one .,
almost magical power o. vanishing
IT bothered him more tia. Z Httj
: to think that hs might have 3
leave Sonya IN the lurch. 20 helploo,
80 far hack IN those appalling moul
tains. But he had long since passe
the point Of allowing any scruplss {
stop him. or any dalliance. howeve
pleasant 20 endanger him. His on
safety came llrst.
On his return 10 stopped &C q
hangar ana looked over the plan
carefully. Il needed . BIT oe work
raysd control leads 70 replacl
6ouled plugs to scraps, 4 few trifin
Adjustments 70 bs made: but n e,
eral It lad come through the WHITE
- dy-away shape. He CHECKED q
leas again % roassuro himself.
The wing tanks showed 1fty.sou
GALLONS, With eix neEa = ~ lne