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Joan ran on, stu over rocks and brush, with a darkness before

her eyes, the terror in her soul She was out in the cedars when

sorasped her from behind She felt the hands as the coils of

a snake Then she was ready to faint, but she led away, stood free It was thethat was unintelligible She reached for the snag

of a dead cedar and, leaning there, fought her weakness, that cold

black horror which see in her mind, her blood,

her h for the thickness to leave her sight she

saw Kells coht of hih her Then she was confounded with

the thought of Roberts

"Ro--Roberts?" she faltered

Kells gave her a piercing glance "Miss Randle, I had to take the

fight out of your friend," he said

"You--you--Is he--dead?"

"I just crippled his gun arm If I hadn't he would have hurt

somebody He'll ride back to Hoadley and tell your folks about it

So they'll know you're safe"

"Safe!" she whispered