"I want it to disguise you, but not to hide your youth--your good
looks," he said, and he arranged it differently about her face.
"There! ... You'd sure make any man curious to see you now. ... Put
on the hat."

Joan did so. Then Kells appeared to become more forcible.

"You're to go down into the town. Walk slow as far as the Last
Nugget. Cross the road and come back. Look at every man you meet or
see standing by. Don't be in the least frightened. Pearce and Smith
will be right behind you. They'd get to you before anything could
happen. ... Do you understand?"

"Yes," replied Joan.

Red Pearce stirred uneasily. "Jack, I'm thinkin' some rough talk'll
come her way," he said, darkly.

"Will you shut up!" replied Kells in quick passion. He resented some
implication. "I've thought of that. She won't hear what's said to
her. ... Here," and he turned again to Joan, "take some cotton--or
anything--and stuff up your ears. Make a good job of it."

Joan went back to her room and, looking about for something with
which to execute Kells's last order, she stripped some soft, woolly
bits from a fleece-lined piece of cloth. With these she essayed to
deaden her hearing. Then she returned. Kells spoke to her, but,
though she seemed dully to hear his voice, she could not distinguish
what he said. She shook her head. With that Kells waved her out upon