A "NORTHER" When Lawler returned to the Circle L ranchhouse he found that Mary had gone East, to school.

She had left for Willets on the second day following Lawler's departure; and Mrs.Lawler had already received two letters from her.

Mrs.Lawler watched her son keenly when she told him that Joe Hamlin had brought a letter stating that Hamlin was to be permitted to take a number of mixed cattle from the Circle L--and that he had driven away one hundred.

She smiled gently when she told Lawler that on the day before her departure Mary had visited Ruth Hamlin--had spent the whole day with her, and had come home, mysteriously delighted.
Ruth had given up the school.
"Mary loves her, Kane," said Mrs.Lawler.And she smiled again when she saw a flush reach Lawler's face.
Lawler intended to ride to the Hamlin cabin this morning.

It was the third day following his arrival at the ranch; and until now he had had no time for anything except to attend to the many details of work that had been neglected during his absence.
There were still three thousand head of cattle on the Circle L range--the men had held them in the valley for a time during his absence on the trail, but the grass had grown sparse, and the herd was now grazing on the big plain beyond the northern slope of the valley.
During the time he had been home the outfit had been busy.