"Lord, man! you've got this state raving over you! Your fight against the ring is talked about in every corner of the country. And that scrap with Antrim, Selden, and Krell in the old Dickman cabin will go down in history--it will be a classic! What made you rush in on Antrim that way--giving him the first shot?" Lawler smiled faintly. "Shucks, Metcalf, there was nothing to that. Shorty told me what had happened, and as I recollect, now, I was pretty much excited." "Excited, eh?" said Metcalf, incredulously; "I don't believe it. What about your going in to Warden's office, offering to give him the first shot? Were you excited then?" Lawler reddened, and Metcalf laughed triumphantly. "Lawler," he said; "you're too damned modest--but modesty becomes you. I believe you know it. Anyway, this state is raving over you. You're going to be the next governor. You've got to run! This state needs a man like you--it _needs_ you! You know it. Everybody knows it--and everybody wants you. That is, everybody except Haughton, Hatfield, Warden--and that bunch--including the railroad company. Why, look here, Lawler!" he went on, when Lawler did not answer; "the fight you made last fall against the railroad company was made, with variations, by all the courageous cattlemen in the state. If a strong man isn't elected this fall the same fight will have to be made again. Haughton is so rotten that people are beginning to hold their noses! "The people of this state trust you, Lawler--they swear by you. You've got to run--there's no way out of it!" He looked keenly at Lawler. "Man, do you know what McGregor told me the day before he left the capital to come down here and look you over, to see how badly you were hurt? He said: 'Metcalf, if Lawler dies we lose the governorship next fall. He is the only man who can beat Haughton!'" "Metcalf," smiled Lawler; "I'll tell you a secret--your argument has had no effect upon me. I decided this thing as far back as the day following the last election. I am going to run." "Then we've got Haughton licked!" declared Metcalf, enthusiastically. Metcalf stayed at the Circle L throughout the day, and in the evening Lawler rode with him to Willets, where he saw him aboard the west-bound train.