The Border Legion

ge, and with remorse and dread beginning to knock at her hear

e meant it. He's going straight for t

he rush for gold had peopled California with a horde of lawless men of every kind and class. And the vigilantes and then the rich strikes in Idaho had cau

souri, where her father had been well-to-do and prominent, until, like many another man of his day, he had impeded the passage of a bullet. Th

sted with his vacillations. That had been the trouble-Jim was amiable, lovable, but since meeting Joan he had not exhibited any strength of character. Joan stood beside her horse and looked away toward the dark mountains. She was daring, resourceful, used to horses and trails and taking care of herself; and she did not need anyone to tell her that she had gone

ther young men of the village, a fact she resentfully believed he did not appreciate. Jim was uns

han usual. Very likely, as her uncle had hinted, Jim had tarried at the saloon that had lately disrupted the peace of the village. The village was growing, and Joan did not like the change. There were too many strangers, rough, loud-voiced, drinking men. Once it had been a pleasure to go to the village store; now it was

in a bearish embrace, so that she could neither struggle nor cry out. A dark face loomed over hers-came closer. Swift kisses cl

so dazed she did not recognize the man, if indeed

nerve," he said. "What

elieve she cared. And he had dared-! The hot blood boiled in her cheeks. She was furious with him, but intolerably so with herself, because

out. "Jim Cleve, th

replied, bitterly. "It was worth a good deal..

had grown in the shadowy moonlight. She sense

aid. "I'll have nothing

I'm not, and I

sessed. Remembering his kisses, she knew he had not been drinking. There was a strangeness about him, though, that she could not fathom. Ha

onger," he said. "I love you and I'm no good without y

d, like flint. "You

lost my nerve. I'm crazy for you. You let the other men run after you. Some of them aren't fit t

ou won't work. When you do find a little gold you squander it.

ome in handy," h

t in you even to be BAD,"

Then he loomed over her. "Joan Ha

she had struck fire from him. The fact

rthless, so spineless t

you

of me-after I've ruined

ow strange and hot a glee

show you!" he

do, Jim?" she a

he border. I'll get in with Kells and Gu

ers. More and more rumor had brought tidings of them into the once quiet village. Joan felt a slight cold sinking sensation at her heart. But this was only a magnifice

erve!" she retorted, wi

ithout another word he strode away. Joan was amazed, and a lit

ctors and hunters. There was no danger of her getting lost. What risk she ran was of meeting some of these border ruffians that had o

boy-only a couple of years older than she was. Under stress of feeling he might go to any extreme. Had she misjudged him? If she had not, she had at least been brutal. But he had dared to kiss her! Every time she thought of that a tingling, a confusion, a hot shame went ov

he green. Her heart leaped. It must be Jim returning. After all, then, he had only threat

there. When the horseman approached closer she discerned that instead of Jim it was Harvey Roberts, a man of the village and a good friend of her uncle's. Therefore she

g her way. "Reckon you give me a sc

hen I saw you," she replie

' Jim! W

on the border! I was mad and told him to go.... But I'

n'. Joan, it turns off a few miles back an' takes t

. His scarred and grizzled face se

Jim'll really go?"

' recklessler lately. An', Joan, the times ain't provocatin' a young feller to be good. Jim

she replied. "Tell m

adley talked oncomp

other new and strange emotion. She did not like

ll me?" she querie

Bradley in," replied Roberts, with a laugh. "

and black walls. Something stirred deep within her. Her father in his youth had been an adventure

after him

t overtake him an' get home before sundown," he said, laconically, as he turned his hors

led out to Joan, and, looking down, she saw they had come up with Jim's trail. Here Roberts put his mount to a canter, and at that gait they trailed Jim out of the valley and up a slope which appeared to be a pass into the mountains. Time flew by for Joan, because she was always peering ahead in the hope and expectation of seeing Jim off in th

hes of pine. Deer crashed out of the thickets and grouse whirred up

give it up," called

o on," re

re was water down there. It glinted like red ribbon in the sunlight. Not a living thing was in sight. Joan grew more discouraged. It seemed there was scarcely any hope of overtaking Jim that day. His trail l

ch was his manner of telling how bad the injury was. "Joan, I reckon there'll be so

d Roberts bathe the sprained and swelling joint. In the int

ound. "Lucky I've a pack on that saddle. I can make you comfortable.

o on after Jim. He can't be far ahead now." She was glad

d he was bending over in the act of loosening the cinches of

t's

g toward her. One rider pointed in her direction. Silhouetted against the red of the sunset they made dark and sinister figures. Joan glanced apprehensively at Roberts. H

ule that carried a pack and a deer carcass. Joan had seen many riders apparen

reeted one

ve that the face of Robe