The Border Legion

"Say youngster," he said, genially, "you said you were just as lucky

in love. ... Now I had a hunch some BAD luck with a girl drove you

out here to the border."

Kells spoke jestingly, in a way that could give no offense, even to

the wildest of boys, yet there was curiosity, keenness, penetration,

in his speech. It had not the slightest effect upon Jim Cleve.

"Bad luck and a girl? ... To hell with both!" he said.

"Shore you're talkin' religion. Thet's where both luck an' gurls

come from," replied the unlucky gamester. "Will one of you hawgs

pass the whiskey?"

The increased interest with which Kells looked down upon Jim Cleve

was not lost upon Joan. But she had seen enough, and, turning away,

she stumbled to the bed and lay there with an ache in her heart.

"Oh," she whispered to herself, "he is ruined--ruined--ruined! ...

God forgive me!" She saw bright, cold stars shining between the

logs. The night wind swept in cold and pure, with the dew of the

mountain in it. She heard the mourn of wolves, the hoot of an owl,

the distant cry of a panther, weird and wild. Yet outside there was

a thick and lonely silence. In that other cabin, from which she was

mercifully shut out, there were different sounds, hideous by

contrast. By and by she covered her ears, and at length, weary from

thought and sorrow, she drifted into slumber.

Next morning, long after she had awakened, the cabin remained quiet,

with no one stirring. Morning had half gone before Wood knocked and

gave her a bucket of water, a basin and towels. Later he came with

her breakfast. After that she had nothing to do but pace the floor

of her two rooms. One appeared to be only an empty shed, long in

disuse. Her view from both rooms was restricted to the green slope

of the gulch up to yellow crags and the sky. But she would rather

have had this to watch than an outlook upon the cabins and the

doings of these bandits.

About noon she heard the voice of Kells in low and earnest

conversation with someone; she could not, however, understand what

was said. That ceased, and then she heard Kells moving around. There

came a clatter of hoofs as a horse galloped away from the cabin,

after which a knock sounded on the wall.

"Joan," called Kells. Then the curtain was swept aside and Kells,

appearing pale and troubled, stepped into her room.

"What's the matter?" asked Joan, hurriedly.