The Border Legion

While she gazed there had been further exchange of speech between

Kells and Cleve, and she had heard, though not distinguished, what

was said. Kells was unmistakably friendly, as were the other men

within range of Joan's sight. Cleve was surrounded; there were

jesting and laughter; and then he was led to the long table where

several men were already gambling.

Joan dropped the curtain, and in the darkness of her cabin she saw

that white, haunting face, and when she covered her eyes she still

saw it. The pain, the reckless violence, the hopeless indifference,

the wreck and ruin in that face had been her doing. Why? How had Jim

Cleve wronged her? He had loved her at her displeasure and had

kissed her against her will. She had furiously upbraided him, and

when he had finally turned upon her, threatening to prove he was no

coward, she had scorned him with a girl's merciless injustice. All

her strength and resolve left her, momentarily, after seeing Jim

there. Like a woman, she weakened. She lay on the bed and writhed.

Doubt, hopelessness, despair, again seized upon her, and some

strange, yearning maddening emotion. What had she sacrificed? His

happiness and her own--and both their lives!

The clamor in the other cabin grew so boisterous that suddenly when

it stilled Joan was brought sharply to the significance of it. Again

she drew aside the curtain and peered out.

Gulden, huge, stolid, gloomy, was entering the cabin. The man fell

into the circle and faced Kell with the fire-light dancing in his

cavernous eyes.

"Hello, Gulden!" said Kells, coolly. "What ails you?"

"Anybody tell you about Bill Bailey?" asked Gulden, heavily.

Kells did not show the least concern. "Tell me what?"

"That he died in a cabin, down in the valley?"

Kells gave a slight start and his eyes narrowed and shot steely

glints. "No. It's news to me."

"Kells, you left Bailey for dead. But he lived. He was shot through,

but he got there somehow--nobody knows. He was far gone when Beady

Jones happened along. Before he died he sent word to me by Beady. ...

Are you curious to know what it was?"

"Not the least," replied Kells. "Bailey was--well, offensive to my

wife. I shot him."

"He swore you drew on him in cold blood," thundered Gulden. "He

swore it was for nothing--just so you could be alone with that

girl!"

Kells rose in wonderful calmness, with only his pallor and a slight

shaking of his hands to betray excitement. An uneasy stir and murmur

ran through the room. Red Pearce, nearest at hand, stepped to

Kells's side. All in a moment there was a deadly surcharged

atmosphere there.