, 1923-10-31
CHAPTER xIII-contlnued.

amt there9isn't there-Mr. Gael
Why. there's books about lovin' an
sickness an about cattle an what-not.
an about women IN children" She
was Sinking the knowledge of her
cease" but at last she pressed her
lips together and opened the book.
She fell to reading; growing anxiety
possessed her face; she sat down on
the nearest chair; she turned page
nfter page. Suddenly she gave him a
look Of anger.
81 amt Tor Of this, Mr.. Gael" she
said. smote the page. rose with dig
nifty. and returned the book.
He laughed so long and heartily
that she was mt last forced to Join
him. you was-you were-jobbin'
me. wasn't your" she said, signing
relief. did you know what that vol
ume said? 1t said like this-IIl read
you about 1t" She took the volume,
found the place and read In a low tone
of horror. he helping her with the
hard words: "'One of the most fire.
quent forms Of phobia, common In
cases of psychic neurasthenia. is agro-
phobia in which patients the moment
they come into an open space are OPP
pressed by a exaggerated feeling of
anxiety. They may break into a pro-
fuse perspiratlon and assert that they
feel ms II chained to the ground . ;
And here, listen to this, 'batophobia,
the fear that high things will fall /;
strophobia. fear of thunder and light
ming; p~antophobia, the fear Of every
thing and everyone . Well, now,
amt that too AWFUL An you mean
folks really get hat wayT"
Their talk was for some time Of
nervous diseases. Joan's horror In
creasing.
well, SIR" mid she. lead me out
an shoot me II I get anyways like
thatl l believe it's caused by all that
queer dressin' an what-not. I feel like
somethin' real today in this shirt an
all, an when I get through some work
III feel a whole lot better. Don't you
say I'm one Of those nervou break
downs again, though, will your" she
pleaded.
mo, I won't. Joan. But don't make
one Of me, will your"
"How's that?'
by wearing those clothes all day
and half the night. II you expect me
to teach you, you'll have to do some
thing for me. to make up for running
away. You might pu. On pretty things
Tor dinner, don't you think7 Your
nervous system could stand thatr'
My nervous system" drawled Joan,
md addad farflIn1lv Cor ohn ala NOT
often swear. "G-di" It was an oath
OF scorn, and again Prosper laughed.
But he heard with a sort of terror
the sound Of her "Dan's work." to
which she theoretically applied her
telf. 1t e the return Of her
strength, of her Independence. It
meant the shortening of her captivity.
Before long spring would rush up the
canyon in a wave of melting snow,
crested with dazzling green. and the
valley would lie open to Joan. She
would go unless-had he really failed
20 utterly to touch her henrt7
Was she without passion, this woman
with the deep. savage eyes. the lips, so
tensuous and pure. the body SO magnin'
Gently made for livingf She was not
defended by any training. she had no
moral standards. no prejudices. none Of
he Ideals" She was completely open
10 approach, n savage. II he failed. II
was n personal failure Perhaps he
nsd been too subtle. too restrained.
she did not yet know, perhaps, what he
ueslred OF her. Put he was afraid Of
rouslng her hatred. which would be