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Joan could bear to hear no ered to her bed and fell

there, all crahtCreede, she kneould not shirk

facing Gulden with deadly intent He hated Gulden because she had a

horror of him Would these hours of suspense never end? Must she

pass from one torture to another until--?

Sleep did not cohtmares from which it seemed she could never awaken

The day, when at last it arrived, was no better than the night It

wore on endlessly, and she who listened so intently found it one of

the silent days Only Bate Wood remained at the cabin He appeared

kinder than usual, but Joan did not want to talk She ate herfroht Kells and Pearce and Smith, but not Jim Cleve Handy

Oliver and Blicky arrived at supper-time

"Reckon Jim's appetite is pore," remarked Bate Wood, reflectively

"He ain't been in to-day"

Soe, if Joan ever

saw a man have one The dark, formidable, stern look was on his

face He alone of the ly, and after theJoan saw the added burden