The Border Legion

Joan's opportunity for watching Kells and his men and overhearing

their colloquies was as good as it had been back in Cabin Gulch. But

it developed that where Kells had been open and frank he now became

secret and cautious. She was aware that men, singly and in couples,

visited him during the early hours of the night, and they had

conferences in low, earnest tones. She could peer out of her little

window and see dark, silent forms come up from the ravine at the

back of the cabin, and leave the same way. None of them went round

to the front door, where Bate Wood smoked and kept guard. Joan was

able to hear only scraps of these earnest talks; and from part of

one she gathered that for some reason or other Kells desired to

bring himself into notice. Alder Creek must be made to know that a

man of importance had arrived. It seemed to Joan that this was the

very last thing which Kells ought to do. What magnificent daring the

bandit had! Famous years before in California--with a price set upon

his life in Nevada--and now the noted, if unknown, leader of border

robbers in Idaho, he sought to make himself prominent, respected,

and powerful. Joan found that in spite of her horror at the sinister

and deadly nature of the bandit's enterprise she could not avoid an

absorbing interest in his fortunes.

Next day Joan watched for an opportunity to tell Jim Cleve that he

might come to her little window any time after dark to talk and plan

with her. No chance presented itself. Joan wore the dress she had

made, to the evident pleasure of Bate Wood and Pearce. They had

conceived as strong an interest in her fortunes as she had in

Kells's. Wood nodded his approval and Pearce said she was a lady

once more. Strange it was to Joan that this villain Pearce, whom she

could not have dared trust, grew open in his insinuating hints of

Kells's blackguardism. Strange because Pearce was absolutely

sincere!

When Jim Cleve did see Joan in her dress the first time he appeared

so glad and relieved and grateful that she feared he might betray

himself, so she got out of his sight.

Not long after that Kells called her from her room. He wore his

somber and thoughtful cast of countenance. Red Pearce and Jesse

Smith were standing at attention. Cleve was sitting on the threshold

of the door and Wood leaned against the wall.

"Is there anything in the pack of stuff I bought you that you could

use for a veil?" asked Kells of Joan.