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Every night Joan had her whispered hour with Cleve, and each

succeeding one was the sweeter Ji Joan to steady hiaenerous to his

comrades He pretended to drink, but did not drink at all Jiood fortune as Joan's also He believed if he

struck it rich he could buy his sweetheart's freedoamble away Joan let Jim talk, but

she coaxed him and persuaded him to follow a certain line of

behavior, she planned for hireater part of his gold-dust, and let it be known

that he wore no gold-belt She had a growing fear that Jim's success

was likely to develop a te,

tolerant policy needed to outwit Kells in the end It seeold Jim acquired the more passionate he became, the otten into his

blood, and it was Joan's task to keep hi herself to Jim's caresses than by any direct advice

or adht, the instant their hands reatly excited or perturbed

"Joan," he whispered, thrillingly, with his lips at her ear, "I've

made myself solid with Kells! Oh, the luck of it!"

"Tell ainst those lips