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

"Bill?" Gulden's voice held a queer, coarse constraint. Then he
added, gruffly. "Thought you and him pulled together."

"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 massive, shaggy head in the direction of Joan. She
had not the courage to meet the gaze upon her. The other man spoke:

"Split over the girl, 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.

"Your real wife, Jack?" queried Pearce.

"Well, I guess, I'll introduce you ... Joan, here are two of my
friends--Sam Gulden and Red Pearce."