Apparently to Kells that nugget did not accuse Jim Cleve of
treachery. Not only did this possibility seem lost upon the bandit
leader, but also the sinister intent of Gulden and his associates.
"Then Jim didn't kill Creede!" cried Kells.
A strange light flashed across his face. It fitted the note of
gladness in his exclamation. How strange that in his amaze there
should be relief instead of suspicion! Joan thought she understood
Kells. He was glad that he had not yet made a murderer out of Cleve.
Gulden appeared slow in rejoining. "I told you I got Creede," he
said. "And we want to know if this says to you what it says to us."
His huge, hairy hand tapped the nugget. Then Kells caught the
implication.
"What does it say to you?" he queried, coolly, and he eyed Gulden
and then the grim men behind him.
"Somebody in the gang is crooked. Somebody's giving you the double-
cross. We've known that for long. Jim Cleve goes out to kill Creede.
He comes in with Creede's gold-belt--and a lie! ... We think Cleve
is the crooked one."
"No! You're way off, Gulden," replied Kells, earnestly. "That boy is
absolutely square. He's lied to me about Creede. But I can excuse
that. He lost his nerve. He's only a youngster. To knife a man in
his sleep--that was too much for Jim! ... And I'm glad! I see it all
now. Jim's swapped his big nugget for Creede's belt. And in the
bargain he exacted that Creede hit the trail out of camp. You
happened to see Creede and went after him yourself. ... Well, I
don't see where you've any kick coming. For you've ten times the
money in Cleve's nugget that there was in a share of Creede's gold."
"That's not my kick," declared Gulden. "What you say about Cleve may
be true. But I don't believe it. And the gang is sore. Things have
leaked out. We're watched. We're not welcome in the gambling-places
any more. Last night I was not allowed to sit in the game at
Belcher's."
"You think Cleve has squealed?" queried Kells.
"Yes."
"I'll bet you every ounce of dust I've got that you're wrong,"
declared Kells. "A straight, square bet against anything you want to
put up!"
Kells's ringing voice was nothing if not convincing.
"Appearances are against Cleve," growled Gulden, dubiously. Always
he had been swayed by the stronger mind of the leader.
"Sure they are," agreed Kells.