"He sure has, unless Creede came back to life. I'm not sitting on
his chest now, holding him down."
Kells drew back, manifestly convinced and relieved. This action
seemed to be a magnet for Pearce. He detached himself from the
group, and, approaching Kells, tapped him significantly on the
shoulder; and whether by design or accident the fact was that he
took a position where Kells was between him and Cleve.
"Jack, you're being double-crossed here--an' by more 'n one," he
said, deliberately. "But if you want me to talk you've got to
guarantee no gun-play."
"Speak up, Red," replied Kells, with a glinting eye. "I swear there
won't be a gun pulled."
The other men shifted from one foot to another and there were deep-
drawn breaths. Jim Cleve alone seemed quiet and cool. But his eyes
were ablaze.
"Fust off an' for instance here's one who's double-crossin' you,"
said Pearce, in slow, tantalizing speech, as if he wore out this
suspense to torture Kells. And without ever glancing at Joan he
jerked a thumb, in significant gesture, at her.
Joan leaned back against the wall, trembling and cold all over. She
read Pearce's mind. He knew her secret and meant to betray her and
Jim. He hated Kells and wanted to torture him. If only she could
think quickly and speak! But she seemed dumb and powerless.
"Pearce, what do you mean?" demanded Kells.
"The girl's double-crossin' you," replied Pearce. With the uttered
words he grew pale and agitated.
Suddenly Kells appeared to become aware of Joan's presence and that
the implication was directed toward her. Then, many and remarkable
as had been the changes Joan had seen come over him, now occurred
one wholly greater. It had all his old amiability, his cool, easy
manner, veiling a deep and hidden ruthlessness, terrible in
contrast.
"Red, I thought our talk concerned men and gold and--things," he
said, with a cool, slow softness that had a sting, "but since you've
nerve enough or are crazy enough to speak of--her--why, explain your
meaning."
Pearce's jaw worked so that he could scarcely talk. He had gone too
far--realized it too late.
"She meets a man--back there--at her window," he panted. "They
whisper in the dark for hours. I've watched an' heard them. An' I'd
told you before, but I wanted to make sure who he was. ... I know
him now! ... An' remember I seen him climb in an' out--"
Kells's whole frame leaped. His gun was a flash of blue and red and
white all together. Pearce swayed upright, like a tree chopped at
the roots, and then fell, face up, eyes set--dead. The bandit leader
stood over him with the smoking gun.