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Joan returned to consciousness with a sense of vague and unlocalized

pain which she thought was that old, farief But

once fully awakened, as if by a sharp twinge, she became aware that

the pain was some kind of muscular throb in her shoulder The

instant she was fully sure of this the strange feeling ceased Then

she lay wide-eyed in the darkness, waiting and wondering

Suddenly the slight sharp tas repeated It seemed to co it ht be a

centipede When she reached for her shoulder her hand came in

contact with a slender stick that had been thrust through a crack

between the boards Ji to rouse her This had been his

method on several occasions when she had fallen asleep after waiting

long for hiing old-belt

Jim rose out of the shadow and felt for her, clasped her close Joan

had none of the old thrill; her hands slid loosely round his; and

every second the weight inwardly grew heavier

"Joan! I had a ti you," whispered Jim, and then he kissed