"Howdy boys!" said Kells, wanly.
Gulden cursed in amaze while Pearce dropped to his knee with an
exclamation of concern. Then both began to talk at once. Kells
interrupted them by lifting a weak hand.
"No, I'm not going--to cash," he said. "I'm only starved--and in
need of stimulants. Had my back half shot off."
"Who plugged you, Jack?"
"Gulden, it was your side-partner, Bill."
"Bill?" Gulden's voice held a queer, coarse constraint. Then he
added, gruffly. "Thought you and him pulled together."
"Well, we didn't."
"And--where's Bill now?" This time Joan heard a slow, curious, cold
note in the heavy voice, and she interpreted it as either doubt or
deceit.
"Bill's dead and Halloway, too," replied Kells.
Gulden turned his massive, shaggy head in the direction of Joan. She
had not the courage to meet the gaze upon her. The other man spoke: "Split over the girl, Jack?"
"No," replied Kells, sharply. "They tried to get familiar with--MY
WIFE--and I shot them both."
Joan felt a swift leap of hot blood all over her and then a
coldness, a sickening, a hateful weakness.
"Wife!" ejaculated Gulden.
"Your real wife, Jack?" queried Pearce.
"Well, I guess, I'll introduce you ... Joan, here are two of my
friends--Sam Gulden and Red Pearce."
Gulden grunted something.
"Mrs. Kells, I'm glad to meet you," said Pearce.
Just then the other three men entered the cabin and Joan took
advantage of the commotion they made to get out into the air. She
felt sick, frightened, and yet terribly enraged. She staggered a
little as she went out, and she knew she was as pale as death. These
visitors thrust reality upon her with a cruel suddenness. There was
something terrible in the mere presence of this Gulden. She had not
yet dared to take a good look at him. But what she felt was
overwhelming. She wanted to run. Yet escape now was infinitely more
of a menace than before. If she slipped away it would be these new
enemies who would pursue her, track her like hounds. She understood
why Kells had introduced her as his wife. She hated the idea with a
shameful and burning hate, but a moment's reflection taught her that
Kells had answered once more to a good instinct. At the moment he
had meant that to protect her. And further reflection persuaded Joan
that she would be wise to act naturally and to carry out the
deception as far as it was possible for her. It was her only hope.
Her position had again grown perilous. She thought of the gun she
had secreted, and it gave her strength to control her agitation and
to return to the cabin outwardly calm.