"Lawler's here! What in hell is comin' off? Lawler just got off a special train! He looks like he looked that day he rode into town lookin' for Gary Warden!"
Far down the street Ruth saw him coming. He was running, and she leaped to meet him, unaware that Shorty and the other Circle L men had emerged from the front door of the Wolf and were listening to the man who had brought the news of Lawler's arrival.
She was aware of nothing but the fact that Lawler was coming. And when, running toward him, she saw him stop dead short, she cried aloud with joy:
"O Kane! Kane!"
And then his big arms went around her, and she nestled close to him, shuddering, sobbing, laughing.
Excitedly, rapidly, as he held her, she related the story of the night's adventure. Then Shorty and the others came up. She and Lawler were standing in front of a store, in a glare of light that came through a big window; and she saw his lips straighten when she told him what Slade had done.
"Shorty," he said, grimly; "take care of her."
And then, despite her struggles—for she knew that he was going to seek Warden—she found herself a captive in the giant's arms, while Lawler ran down the street toward Warden's office.