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"Howdy boys!" said Kells, wanly

Gulden cursed in amaze while Pearce dropped to his knee with an

exclaan to talk at once Kells

interrupted the--to cash," he said "I'm only starved--and in

need of stied you, Jack?"

"Gulden, it was your side-partner, Bill"

"Bill?" Gulden's voice held a queer, coarse constraint Then he

added, gruffly "Thought you and hiether"

"Well, we didn't"

"And--where's Bill now?" This time Joan heard a slow, curious, cold

note in the heavy voice, and she interpreted it as either doubt or

deceit

"Bill's dead and Halloway, too," replied Kells

Gulden turned his y head in the direction of Joan She

had not the courage to irl, Jack?"

"No," replied Kells, sharply "They tried to get familiar with--MY

WIFE--and I shot them both"

Joan felt a swift leap of hot blood all over her and then a

coldness, a sickening, a hateful weakness

"Wife!" ejaculated Gulden