“Wire for cars tonight, Simmons,” he said.  “But don’t get them to coming too fast.  We’ll make them hold their cattle here, we’ll keep them guessing as to whether you were telling them the truth about cars.  Cars and fools are plentiful, eh, Simmons?”

He got up, donned coat and hat and put out the light.  At the foot of the stairs he parted from Simmons, walked down the street to the Wolf and entered.

He found Singleton in the barroom and drew him into a corner.

“He’s driving his cattle to Red Rock, Singleton.  And he’s the only one.  The others are selling to me.  We’ve got him now, damn him!  We’ve got him!” he said, his eyes glowing with malignant triumph.

CHAPTER X

THE SECOND OBSTACLE

Lawler went outside with Caldwell and the others—­after Caldwell returned from his visit to Gary Warden—­and, standing in the flickering glare of light from inside the hotel, he watched the men ride away.

There was a smile on his lips as he saw them fade into the yawning gulf of moonlit distance,—­going in different directions toward their ranches—­an ironic smile, softened by understanding and friendship.

For he bore the men no ill will because their decision had not agreed with his.  He had not expected them to do as he was determined to do.  And he had not asked them.

Had it not been for the agreement he had made with Jim Lefingwell the previous spring, Lawler might also have accepted Gary Warden’s price rather than face the hazards of the long drive to Red Rock.

Warden’s attitude, however, his arrogance, and the hostile dislike in his eyes, had aroused in Lawler a cold contempt for the man.  Added to that was disgust over the knowledge that Warden, and not Jim Lefingwell, was a liar—­that Warden had no respect for the sacredness of his word, given to Lefingwell.  The man’s honor must be wrapped in a bond or a written contract.

The incident in the Hamlin cabin had contributed hatred to the other passions that contact with Warden had aroused in Lawler; but it had been his visit to Simmons and his talks with Hatfield and the governor that had aroused in him the fighting lust that gripped him now.

The ironic smile had faded when he reached the stable where he had left Red King.  It had set in serious lines and his chin had taken on a pronounced thrust when he mounted the big horse and sent him southeastward into the glowing moonlight.

He brought Red King to a halt at a spot on the plains where the herd of Circle L cattle were being held for the night, with some cowboys riding monotonous circles around them.

Blackburn had seen him coming, and recognizing him, met him near the camp fire.

The range boss listened, his lips grimming, then silently nodded.

It was past midnight when Lawler reached the Circle L. He let himself into the house noiselessly, changed his clothes, donning the corduroy, the woolen shirt, and the spurred boots that he had worn before beginning his trip to the capital.  Then, penning a note to his mother, informing her that he was going to Red Rock with his men, he went out and rode down into the valley, where the other men of the outfit were guarding the main herd, which had been held in the valley at his orders.