The Border Legion

"Kells," began Cleve, in low, hoarse tones, as he stepped forward

with a gun. "I'm going to kill you--and Joan--and myself!"

Kells stared at Cleve. "Go ahead. Kill me. And kill the girl, too.

That'll be better for her now. But why kill yourself?"

"I love her. She's my wife!"

The deadness about Kells suddenly changed. Joan flung herself before

him.

"Kells--listen," she whispered in swift, broken passion. "Jim Cleve

was--my sweetheart--back in Hoadley. We quarreled. I taunted him. I

said he hadn't nerve enough--even to be bad. He left me--bitterly

enraged. Next day I trailed him. I wanted to fetch him back. ... You

remember--how you met me with Robert--how you killed Roberts? And

all the rest? ... When Jim and I met out here--I was afraid to tell

you. I tried to influence him. I succeeded--till we got to Alder

Creek. There he went wild. I married him--hoping to steady him. ...

Then the day of the lynching--we were separated from you in the

crowd. That night we hid--and next morning took the stage. Gulden

and his gang held up the stage. They thought you had put us there.

We fooled them, but we had to come on--here to Cabin Gulch--hoping

to tell--that you'd let us go. ... And now--now--"

Joan had not strength to go on. The thought of Gulden made her

faint.

"It's true, Kells," added Cleve, passionately, as he faced the

incredulous bandit. "I swear it. Why, you ought to see now!"

"My God, boy, I DO see!" gasped Kells. That dark, sodden thickness

of comprehension and feeling, indicative of the hold of drink,

passed away swiftly. The shock had sobered him.

Instantly Joan saw it--saw in him the return of the other and better

Kells, how stricken with remorse. She slipped to her knees and

clasped her arms around him. He tried to break her hold, but she

held on.

"Get up!" he ordered, violently. "Jim, pull her away! ... Girl,

don't do that in front of me ... I've just gambled away--"

"Her life, Kells, only that, I swear," cried Cleve.

"Kells, listen," began Joan, pleadingly. "You will not let that--

that CANNIBAL have me?"

"No, by God!" replied Kells, thickly. "I was drunk--crazy. ...

Forgive me, girl! You see--how did I know--what was coming? ... Oh,

the whole thing is hellish!"

"You loved me once," whispered Joan, softly. "Do you love me still? ...

Kells, can't you see? It's not too late to save my life--and

YOUR soul! ... Can't you see? You have been bad. But if you save me

now--from Gulden--save me for this boy I've almost ruined--you--you. ...

God will forgive you! ... Take us away--go with us--and never

come back to the border."