The Border Legion

"Where're Beard and Wood?" queried Kells.

"Workin' over Beard's sick hoss," replied Pearce. "They'll show up

by an' by. Anythin' you say goes with them, you know."

"Did you find young Cleve?"

"No. He camps up in the timber somewheres. Reckon he'll be along,

too."

Kells sat down at the head of the table, and, taking up the little

book, he began to finger it while his pale eyes studied the men

before him.

"We shuffled the deck pretty well over at Beard's," he said. "Now

for the deal. ... Who wants cards? ... I've organized my Border

Legion. I'll have absolute control, whether there're ten men or a

hundred. Now, whose names go down in my book?"

Red Pearce stepped up and labored over the writing of his name.

Blicky, Jones, Williams, and others followed suit. They did not

speak, but each shook hands with the leader. Evidently Kells exacted

no oath, but accepted each man's free action and his word of honor.

There was that about the bandit which made such action as binding as

ties of blood. He did not want men in his Legion who had not loyalty

to him. He seemed the kind of leader to whom men would be true.

"Kells, say them conditions over again," requested one of the men,

less eager to hurry with the matter.

At this juncture Joan was at once thrilled and frightened to see Jim

Cleve enter the cabin. He appeared whiter of face, almost ghastly,

and his piercing eyes swept the room, from Kells to Gulden, from men

to men. Then he leaned against the wall, indistinct in the shadow.

Kells gave no sign that he had noted the advent of Cleve.

"I'm the leader," replied Kells, deliberately. "I'll make the plans.

I'll issue orders. No jobs without my knowledge. Equal shares in

gold--man to man. ... Your word to stand by me!"

A muttering of approval ran through the listening group.

"Reckon I'll join," said the man who had wished the conditions

repeated. With that he advanced to the table and, apparently not

being able to write, he made his mark in the book. Kells wrote the

name below. The other men of this contingent one by one complied

with Kells's requirements. This action left Gulden and his group to

be dealt with.

"Gulden, are you still on the fence?" demanded Kells, coolly.

The giant strode stolidly forward to the table. As always before to

Joan, he seemed to be a ponderous hulk, slow, heavy, plodding, with

a mind to match.