The Border Legion

Many willing hands made short work of preparation. Gulden insisted

on packing all the gold upon his saddle, and had his will. He seemed

obsessed; he never glanced at Joan. It was Jesse Smith who gave the

directions and orders. One of the stage-horses was packed. Another,

with a blanket for a saddle, was given Cleve to ride. Blicky

gallantly gave his horse to Joan, shortened his stirrups to fit her,

and then whistled at the ridgy back of the stage-horse he elected to

ride. Gulden was in a hurry, and twice he edged off, to be halted by

impatient calls. Finally the cavalcade was ready; Jesse Smith gazed

around upon the scene with the air of a general overlooking a

vanquished enemy.

"Whoever fust runs acrost this job will have blind staggers, don't

you forgit thet!"

"What's Kells goin' to figger?" asked Blicky, sharply.

"Nothin' fer Kells! He wasn't in at the finish!" declared Budd.

Blicky gazed darkly at him, but made no comment.

"I tell you Blick, I can't git this all right in my head," said

Smith.

"Say, ask Jim again. Mebbe, now the job's done, he can talk,"

suggested Blicky.

Jim Cleve heard and appeared ready for that question.

"I don't know much more than I told you. But I can guess. Kells had

this big shipment of gold spotted. He must have sent us in the stage

for some reason. He said he'd tell me what to expect and do. But he

didn't come back. Sure he knew you'd do the job. And just as sure he

expected to be on hand. He'll turn up soon."

This ruse of Jim's did not sound in the least logical or plausible

to Joan, but it was readily accepted by the bandits. Apparently what

they knew of Kells's movements and plans since the break-up at Alder

Creek fitted well with Cleve's suggestions.

"Come on!" boomed Gulden, from the fore. "Do you want to rot here?"

Then without so much as a backward glance at the ruin they left

behind the bandits fell into line. Jesse Smith led straight off the

road into a shallow brook and evidently meant to keep in it. Gulden

followed; next came Beady Jones; then the three bandits with the

pack-horse and the other horses; Cleve and Joan, close together,

filed in here; and last came Budd and Blicky. It was rough, slippery

traveling and the riders spread out. Cleve, however, rode beside

Joan. Once, at an opportune moment, he leaned toward her.

"We'd better run for it at the first chance," he said, somberly.