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Joan saith startling distinctness the bits of balsarass, and then the dry

withered boughs She was in the cabin

"Girl!I'

her toward hie and he

had to use a savage force

If Joan struggled at all, it was only slightly, when she writhed and

slipped, like a snake, to get her aro He crushed her to hier hand Like alips, he kissed her She felt blinded--scorched

But her purpose was as swift and sure and wonderful as his passion

ild The first reach of her groping hand found his gun-belt

Swift as light her hand slipped down Her fingers touched the cold

gun--grasped with thrill on thrill--slipped farther down, strong and

sure to raise the ha intensity that

un She raised it while her eyes were

shut She lay passive under his kisses--the devouring kisses of one

whose lory, the fire,

the life of woman's lips It was a moment in which she met his

primitive fury of possession with a woainst his side and pulled the

trigger