"Singleton, I ought to kill you. I will kill you if you ever tell that girl that you know her father is a rustler. Damn your hide, she knows it now--and it's breaking her heart! "I'm warning you. Don't you ever go near the Two Bar again. Don't you ever buy another steer from Hamlin. Don't even speak to him. I'll kill you sure as hell if you do!" Ruth reeled away from the window. She got on her pony somehow, taking care to make no sound, for she did not want Lawler to know that she had heard. Once on the pony she sent the little animal rapidly away, toward the Two Bar--away from Lawler and from that happiness for which she had hoped despite the hideous knowledge which for months had tortured her. Inside the schoolhouse Singleton was standing, beaten by the man over whom he had thought to triumph easily; by a man whose pallid face and blazing eyes conveyed to Singleton something of the terrible power and energy of him when aroused. Singleton did not think of his guns, now; he was aware of nothing but the great awe that had seized him. And as Lawler watched, saying nothing more, Singleton turned from him and slunk out through the door. CHAPTER V A MAN'S WORD When Lawler finally emerged from the schoolhouse door there was no one about. Far down the street, in front of a building, he saw a group of children. Lawler recognized the building as the Wolf Saloon--so named because of the river that ran through the town. He had no doubt that Singleton had entered the building--that would explain the presence of the children in front of it. But Lawler merely glanced toward town; he turned instantly and gazed long into the great stretch of plain that ran eastward. He caught sight of a dot on his right, so far away that it was dim in the haze of distance, and he knew Ruth had followed his advice. Lawler watched the dot until it vanished, and when he turned again--to mount Red King--his color had returned, though something of the mighty passion that had gripped him was still swimming in his eyes. He sent Red King into town at a slow lope, not even looking toward the Wolf as he passed it, but hearing subdued voices that seemed to die away as he drew close. He brought Red King to a halt in front of the brick building in which Gary Warden had his office, dismounted, tied the horse to a hitching rail and strode to an open doorway from which ran the stairs that led to the second floor. A gilt sign on the open door advised him of the location of Warden's office. With one foot on the stairs, ready to ascend, Lawler heard a woman's voice, floating downward, coming from the landing above: "Well, good-bye Gary," said the voice; "I'll see you tonight." Lawler heard a man's voice answering, the words unintelligible to him; then the woman laughed, banteringly. Then came the sound of a door closing, and the light tread of a woman's foot on the stairs.