Page 122 (1/2)

When he had gone Joan spoke without looking at Cleve, though she

held fast to his arm

"Jim, it could be dreadful here--all in a minute!" she whispered

"You've struck it exactly," he replied "All Alder Creek needed to

"

"Thank Heaven I turned you back in tione the pace here"

He nodded grih the

room to another door where spectators were fewer Joan saw perhaps a

dozen couples of rough, whirling, jigging dancers in a half-circle

of watching men The hall was a wide platfor a canvas roof The sides, were open; the lights were

situated at each end-huge, round, circus tent ladrunk or dead in the

sawdust Her eyes were drawn back to the dancers, and to the dance

that bore some semblance to a waltz In the din the music could

scarcely be heard As far as the men were concerned this dance was a

bold and violent expression of excitement on the part of soht of the woave Joan's

curiosity a blunt check She felt queer She had not seen wo, their actions, their looks, were beyond