The Border Legion

"He sure has, unless Creede came back to life. I'm not sitting on

his chest now, holding him down."

Kells drew back, manifestly convinced and relieved. This action

seemed to be a magnet for Pearce. He detached himself from the

group, and, approaching Kells, tapped him significantly on the

shoulder; and whether by design or accident the fact was that he

took a position where Kells was between him and Cleve.

"Jack, you're being double-crossed here--an' by more 'n one," he

said, deliberately. "But if you want me to talk you've got to

guarantee no gun-play."

"Speak up, Red," replied Kells, with a glinting eye. "I swear there

won't be a gun pulled."

The other men shifted from one foot to another and there were deep-

drawn breaths. Jim Cleve alone seemed quiet and cool. But his eyes

were ablaze.

"Fust off an' for instance here's one who's double-crossin' you,"

said Pearce, in slow, tantalizing speech, as if he wore out this

suspense to torture Kells. And without ever glancing at Joan he

jerked a thumb, in significant gesture, at her.

Joan leaned back against the wall, trembling and cold all over. She

read Pearce's mind. He knew her secret and meant to betray her and

Jim. He hated Kells and wanted to torture him. If only she could

think quickly and speak! But she seemed dumb and powerless.

"Pearce, what do you mean?" demanded Kells.

"The girl's double-crossin' you," replied Pearce. With the uttered

words he grew pale and agitated.

Suddenly Kells appeared to become aware of Joan's presence and that

the implication was directed toward her. Then, many and remarkable

as had been the changes Joan had seen come over him, now occurred

one wholly greater. It had all his old amiability, his cool, easy

manner, veiling a deep and hidden ruthlessness, terrible in

contrast.

"Red, I thought our talk concerned men and gold and--things," he

said, with a cool, slow softness that had a sting, "but since you've

nerve enough or are crazy enough to speak of--her--why, explain your

meaning."

Pearce's jaw worked so that he could scarcely talk. He had gone too

far--realized it too late.

"She meets a man--back there--at her window," he panted. "They

whisper in the dark for hours. I've watched an' heard them. An' I'd

told you before, but I wanted to make sure who he was. ... I know

him now! ... An' remember I seen him climb in an' out--"

Kells's whole frame leaped. His gun was a flash of blue and red and

white all together. Pearce swayed upright, like a tree chopped at

the roots, and then fell, face up, eyes set--dead. The bandit leader

stood over him with the smoking gun.