hadn't been for Red Pearce."

Kells seemed gloomy and concentrated on his situation and he talked
naturally to Joan, as if she were one to sympathize. A bandit, then,
in the details of his life, the schemes, troubles, friendships,
relations, was no different from any other kind of a man. He was
human, and things that might constitute black evil for observers
were dear to him, a part of him. Joan feigned the sympathy she could
not feel.

"I thought Gulden was your enemy."

Kells sat down on one of the box seats, and his heavy gun-sheath
rested upon the floor. He looked at Joan now, forgetting she was a
woman and his prisoner.

"I never thought of that till now," he said. "We always got along
because I understood him. I managed him. The man hasn't changed in
the least. He's always what he is. But there's a difference. I
noticed that first over in Lost Canon. And Joan, I believe it's
because Gulden saw you."

"Oh, no!" cried Joan, trembling.

"Maybe I'm wrong. Anyway something's wrong. Gulden never had a
friend or a partner. I don't misunderstand his position regarding
Bailey. What did he care for that soak? Gulden's cross-grained. He
opposes anything or anybody. He's got a twist in his mind that makes
him dangerous. ... I wanted to get rid of him. I decided to--after
last night. But now it seems that's no easy job."