LATE LAST NIGHT!"

"That's funny," replied Cleve, without the flicker of an eyelash.

"It's not funny. But it's queer. Gulden hasn't the moral sense to
lie. Bate says he wants to make trouble between you and me. I doubt
that. I don't believe Gulden could see a ghost, either. He's simply
mistaken some miner for Creede."

"He sure has, unless Creede came back to life. I'm not sitting on
his chest now, holding him down."

Kells drew back, manifestly convinced and relieved. This action
seemed to be a magnet for Pearce. He detached himself from the
group, and, approaching Kells, tapped him significantly on the
shoulder; and whether by design or accident the fact was that he
took a position where Kells was between him and Cleve.

"Jack, you're being double-crossed here--an' by more 'n one," he
said, deliberately. "But if you want me to talk you've got to
guarantee no gun-play."

"Speak up, Red," replied Kells, with a glinting eye. "I swear there
won't be a gun pulled."

The other men shifted from one foot to another and there were deep-
drawn breaths. Jim Cleve alone seemed quiet and cool. But his eyes
were ablaze.

"Fust off an' for instance here's one who's double-crossin' you,"