14

Joan's opportunity for watching Kells and his men and overhearing
their colloquies was as good as it had been back in Cabin Gulch. But
it developed that where Kells had been open and frank he now became
secret and cautious. She was aware that men, singly and in couples,
visited him during the early hours of the night, and they had
conferences in low, earnest tones. She could peer out of her little
window and see dark, silent forms come up from the ravine at the
back of the cabin, and leave the same way. None of them went round
to the front door, where Bate Wood smoked and kept guard. Joan was
able to hear only scraps of these earnest talks; and from part of
one she gathered that for some reason or other Kells desired to
bring himself into notice. Alder Creek must be made to know that a
man of importance had arrived. It seemed to Joan that this was the
very last thing which Kells ought to do. What magnificent daring the
bandit had! Famous years before in California--with a price set upon
his life in Nevada--and now the noted, if unknown, leader of border
robbers in Idaho, he sought to make himself prominent, respected,
and powerful. Joan found that in spite of her horror at the sinister
and deadly nature of the bandit's enterprise she could not avoid an
absorbing interest in his fortunes.

Next day Joan watched for an opportunity to tell Jim Cleve that he
might come to her little window any time after dark to talk and plan
with her. No chance presented itself. Joan wore the dress she had
made, to the evident pleasure of Bate Wood and Pearce. They had