"Jim," said Kells, earnestly, "take my hunch. Hide your nugget.
Don't send it out with the stage to Bannack. It'd never get there. ...
And change the place where you sleep!"

"Thanks," replied Cleve, brightly. "I'll hide my nugget all right.
And I'll take care of myself."

Later that night Joan waited at her window for Jim. It was so quiet
that she could hear the faint murmur of the shallow creek. The sky
was dusky blue; the stars were white, the night breeze sweet and
cool. Her first flush of elation for Jim having passed, she
experienced a sinking of courage. Were they not in peril enough
without Jim's finding a fortune? How dark and significant had been
Kells's hint! There was something splendid in the bandit. Never had
Joan felt so grateful to him. He was a villain, yet he was a man.
What hatred he showed for Gulden! These rivals would surely meet in
a terrible conflict--for power--for gold. And for her!--she added,
involuntarily, with a deep, inward shudder. Once the thought had
flashed through her mind, it seemed like a word of revelation.

Then she started as a dark form rose out of the shadow under her and
a hand clasped hers. Jim! and she lifted her face.

"Joan! Joan! I'm rich! rich!" he babbled, wildly.

"Ssssh!" whispered Joan, softly, in his ear. "Be careful. You're
wild to-night. ... I saw you come in with the nugget. I heard you. ...
Oh, you lucky Jim! I'll tell you what to do with it!"