FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190  
191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   >>   >|  
's the only one not here who knew." "Wal, I always said thet youngster was slick," replied Budd. "Will you accuse him to his face?" "I shore will. Glad of the chance." "Then you're drunk or just a fool." "Thet so?" "Yes, that's so," flashed Kells. "You don't know Cleve. He'll kill you. He's lightning with a gun. Do you suppose I'd set him on Gulden's trail if I wasn't sure? Why I wouldn't care to--" "Here comes Cleve," interrupted Pearce, sharply. Rapid footsteps sounded without. Then Joan saw Jim Cleve darken the doorway. He looked keen and bold. Upon sight of Joan in her changed attire he gave a slight start. "Budd, here's Cleve," called out Red Pearce, mockingly. "Now, say it to his face!" In the silence that ensued Pearce's spirit dominated the moment with its cunning, hate, and violence. But Kells savagely leaped in front of the men, still master of the situation. "Red, what's got into you?" he hissed. "You're cross-grained lately. You're sore. Any more of this and I'll swear you're a disorganizer.... Now, Budd, you keep your mouth shut. And you, Cleve, you pay no heed to Budd if he does gab.... We're in bad and all the men have chips on their shoulders. We've got to stop fighting among ourselves." "Wal, boss, there's a power of sense in a good example," dryly remarked Bate Wood. His remark calmed Kells and eased the situation. "Jim, did you meet Gulden?" queried Kells, eagerly. "Can't find him anywhere," replied Cleve. "I've loafed in the saloons and gambling-hells where he hangs out. But he didn't show up. He's in camp. I know that for a fact. He's laying low for some reason." "Gulden's been tipped off, Jim," said Kells, earnestly. "He told Bate Wood you were out to kill him." "I'm glad. It wasn't a fair hand you were going to deal him," responded Cleve. "But who gave my job away? Someone in this gang wants me done for--more than Gulden." Cleve's flashing gaze swept over the motionless men and fixed hardest upon Red Pearce. Pearce gave back hard look for hard look. "Gulden told Oliver more," continued Kells, and he pulled Cleve around to face him. "Gulden swore he saw Creede alive last night.... LATE LAST NIGHT!" "That's funny," replied Cleve, without the flicker of an eyelash. "It's not funny. But it's queer. Gulden hasn't the moral sense to lie. Bate says he wants to make trouble between you and me. I doubt that. I don't believe Gulden could see a ghost, either. He'
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190  
191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Gulden

 

Pearce

 
replied
 

situation

 

tipped

 
reason
 

laying

 
remarked
 
remark
 

calmed


earnestly
 

loafed

 

saloons

 

gambling

 

queried

 

eagerly

 

motionless

 

hardest

 

flashing

 
Creede

Oliver
 

continued

 

pulled

 
responded
 
eyelash
 

flicker

 

Someone

 
trouble
 

interrupted

 

sharply


wouldn
 

footsteps

 

changed

 
attire
 

sounded

 

darken

 

doorway

 

looked

 

suppose

 
accuse

youngster

 
flashed
 

lightning

 
chance
 
slight
 

disorganizer

 
fighting
 

shoulders

 

dominated

 
spirit