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.

Gulden made no attempt to draw. He did not show surprise nor fear
nor any emotion. He appeared plodding in mind. Red Pearce stepped
between Kells and Gulden. There was a realization in the crowd, loud
breaths, scraping of feet. Gulden turned away. Then Kells resumed
his seat and his pipe as if nothing out of the ordinary had