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The Border Legion

Page 40

"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.

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