The Border Legion

"You can't weigh it all on these scales," said Blicky.

"That's sure," replied Kells. "We'll divide the small bags first. ...

Ten shares--ten equal parts! ... Spill out the bags. Blick. And

hurry. Look how hungry Gulden looks! ... Somebody cook your

breakfast while we divide the gold."

"Haw! Haw!"

"Ho! Ho!"

"Who wants to eat?"

The bandits were gay, derisive, scornful, eager, like a group of

boys, half surly, half playful, at a game.

"Wal, I shore want to see my share weighted," drawled Budd.

Kells moved--his gun flashed--he slammed it hard upon the table.

"Budd, do you question my honesty?" he asked, quick and hard.

"No offense, boss. I was just talkin'."

That quick change of Kells's marked a subtle difference in the

spirit of the bandits and the occasion. Gaiety and good humor and

badinage ended. There were no more broad grins or friendly leers or

coarse laughs. Gulden and his groups clustered closer to the table,

quiet, intense, watchful, suspicious.

It did not take Kells and his assistant long to divide the smaller

quantity of the gold.

"Here, Gulden," he said, and handed the giant a bag. Jesse. ...

Bossert. ... Pike. ... Beady. ... Braverman ... "Blicky."

"Here, Jim Cleve, get in the game," he added, throwing a bag at Jim.

It was heavy. It hit Jim with a thud and dropped to the ground. He

stooped to reach it.

"That leaves one for Handy and one for me," went on Kells. "Blicky,

spill out the big bag."

Presently Joan saw a huge mound of dull, gleaming yellow. The color

of it leaped to the glinting eyes of the bandits. And it seemed to

her that a shadow hovered over them. The movements of Kells grew

tense and hurried. Beads of sweat stood out upon his brow. His hands

were not steady.

Soon larger bags were distributed to the bandits. That broke the

waiting, the watchfulness, but not the tense eagerness. The bandits

were now like leashed hounds. Blicky leaned before Kells and hit the

table with his fist.

"Boss, I've a kick comin'," he said.

"Come on with it," replied the leader.

"Ain't Gulden a-goin' to divide up thet big nugget?"

"He is if he's square."

A chorus of affirmatives from the bandits strengthened Kells's

statement. Gulden moved heavily and ponderously, and he pushed some

of his comrades aside to get nearer to Kells.

"Wasn't it my right to do a job by myself--when I wanted?" he

demanded.