"Kells, don't let him see me!" entreated Joan.
The bandit appeared not to catch the fear in Joan's tone and look.
She had been only a listener. Presently with preoccupied and gloomy
mien, he left her alone.
Joan did not see him again, except for glimpses under the curtain,
for three days. She kept the door barred and saw no one except Bate
Wood, who brought her meals. She paced her cabin like a caged
creature. During this period few men visited Kells's cabin, and
these few did not remain long. Joan was aware that Kells was not
always at home. Evidently he was able to go out. Upon the fourth day
he called to her and knocked for admittance. Joan let him in, and
saw that he was now almost well again, once more cool, easy,
cheerful, with his strange, forceful air.
"Good day, Joan. You don't seem to be pining for your--negligent
husband."
He laughed as if he mocked himself, but there was gladness in the
very sight of her, and some indefinable tone in his voice that
suggested respect.
"I didn't miss you," replied Joan. Yet it was a relief to see him.
"No, I imagine not," he said, dryly. "Well, I've been busy with men
--with plans. Things are working out to my satisfaction. Red Pearce
got around Gulden. There's been no split. Besides, Gulden rode off.
Someone said he went after a little girl named Brander. I hope he
gets shot. ... Joan, we'll be leaving Cabin Gulch soon. I'm
expecting news that'll change things. I won't leave you here. You'll
have to ride the roughest trails. And your clothes are in tatters
now. You've got to have something to wear."
"I should think so," replied Joan, fingering the thin, worn, ragged
habit that had gone to pieces. "The first brush I ride through will
tear this off."
"That's annoying," said Kells, with exasperation at himself. "Where
on earth can I get you a dress? We're two hundred miles from
everywhere. The wildest kind of country. ... Say, did you ever wear
a man's outfit?"
"Ye-es, when I went prospecting and hunting with my uncle," she
replied, reluctantly.
Suddenly he had a daring and brilliant smile that changed his face
completely. He rubbed his palms together. He laughed as if at a huge
joke. He cast a measuring glance up and down her slender form.
"Just wait till I come back," he said.
He left her and she heard him rummaging around in the pile of
trappings she had noted in a corner of the other cabin. Presently he
returned carrying a bundle. This he unrolled on the bed and spread
out the articles.