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For a space he stood where she had left hione The nearness of her in those last few seconds of her presence, the caressing touch of her hands, what he had seen in her eyes, her pros, and the thought of the splendid courage thather to face Kedsty now, made him blind even to the door and the wall at which he was apparently looking He saw only her face, as he had seen it in that last moment--her eyes, the tremble of her lips, and the fear which she had not quite hidden from him She was afraid of Kedsty He was sure of it

For she had not smiled; there was no flicker of humor in her eyes, when she called him Jeems, an intimate use of the names Jim and James in the far North It was not facetiously that she had proic seriousness had possessed her And it was that seriousness that thrilled hi frankness hich she had coupled the name Jeems with the promise of her lips Once before she had called him Jeems But it was M'sieu Jeehter in her voice Ji, but Jeems--He had heard mothers call little children that, in moments of endearment He knew that wives and sweethearts used it in that same way For Jim and James were not unco the half-breeds and French, and Jee bred of it

His heart was thu riotously as he went to the door and listened A little while ago, when she faced hi him not to question her, he had felt an abyss under his feet Noas on a mountain And he knew that no matter what he heard, unless it was her cry for help, he would not go down

After a little he opened the door a ht coh the crack he could see a diht in the lower hall But he heard no sound, and it occurred to hiht be some time before Kedsty would arrive

As he waited, he looked about the room His first i time It was a woman's room, without the newness of sudden and unpremeditated occupancy He knew that for of Kedsty re eyes beheld the nificance He no longer doubted that Marette Radisson was of the far Northland His faith in that was absolute If there had been a last question in his mind, it iped away because she called hiive the lie to his faith Fascinated by his discovery of things, he dreay fro-table in front of the mirror