“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.
“Well, he swore right!... Now what's it to you?”
Apparently the fact and its confession were nothing particular to Gulden, or else he was deep where all considered him only dense and shallow.
“It's done. Bill's dead,” continued Gulden. “But why do you double-cross the gang? What's the game? You never did it before.... That girl isn't your—”
“Shut up!” hissed Kells. Like a flash his hand flew out with his gun, and all about him was dark menace.