Part 39 (1/2)
”I am beyond your threats,” he said, now with calmness. ”I can't marry you to a woman who already has a husband.... But I don't see that husband here.”
”You don't see that husband here!” echoed the bewildered Kells. He stared with open mouth. ”Say, have you got a screw loose?”
The preacher, in his swift glance, had apparently not observed the half-hidden Cleve. Certainly it appeared now that he would have no attention for any other than Kells. The bandit was a study. His astonishment was terrific and held him like a chain. Suddenly he lurched.
”What did you say?” he roared, his face flaming.
”I can't marry you to a woman who already has a husband.”
Swift as light the red flashed out of Kells's face. ”Did you ever see her before?” he asked.
”Yes,” replied the preacher.
”Where and when?”
”Here--at the back of this cabin--a few nights ago.”
It hurt Joan to look at Kells now, yet he seemed wonderful to behold.
She felt as guilty as if she had really been false to him. Her heart labored high in her breast. This was the climax--the moment of catastrophe. Another word and Jim Cleve would be facing Kells. The blood pressure in Joan's throat almost strangled her.
”At the back of this cabin!... At her window?”
”Yes.”
”What were you there for?”
”In my capacity as minister. I was summoned to marry her.”
”To marry her?” gasped Kells.
”Yes. She is Joan Randle, from Hoadley, Idaho. She is over eighteen. I understood she was detained here against her will. She loved an honest young miner of the camp. He brought me up here one night. And I married them.”
”YOU--MARRIED--THEM!”
”Yes.”
Kells was slow in a.s.similating the truth and his action corresponded with his mind. Slowly his hand moved toward his gun. He drew it, threw it aloft. And then all the terrible evil in the man flamed forth. But as he deliberately drew down on the preacher Blicky leaped forward and knocked up the gun. Flash and report followed; the discharge went into the roof. Blicky grasped Kells's arm and threw his weight upon it to keep it down.
”I fetched thet parson here,” he yelled, ”an you ain't a-goin' to kill him!... Help, Jesse!... He's crazy! He'll do it!”
Jesse Smith ran to Blicky's aid and tore the gun out of Kells's hand.
Jim Cleve grasped the preacher by the shoulders and, whirling him around, sent him flying out of the door.
”Run for your life!” he shouted.
Blicky and Jesse Smith were trying to hold the lunging Kells.
”Jim, you block the door,” called Jesse. ”Bate, you grab any loose guns an' knives.... Now, boss, rant an' be d.a.m.ned!”
They released Kells and backed away, leaving him the room. Joan's limbs seemed unable to execute her will.