Occasionally a canvas-covered wagon rumbled over the frozen windrows of the town's one street, and rumbled out again, loaded with supplies for a distant ranch; or a group of cowboys, in search of diversion, came into town for a night.

But these visitations were so infrequent as to create no disturbance in the dull, slumberous routine of Willets' citizens.
Warden and Della Wharton, accompanied by Aunt Hannah, had taken a west-bound train shortly after Miss Wharton's adventure in the Circle L line cabin.

It was whispered they had gone to the capital for the winter.
Sheriff Moreton had ridden over to the Circle L, to quiz Lawler about the killing of Link and Givens.
"The coroner's verdict didn't incriminate no one," said Moreton.

"I told him some Two Diamond men had found the bodies down south a ways, an' that they wasn't no evidence to show who'd done for 'em.

Now, Lawler, if you'd give me a straight story I'd be obliged to you." Lawler gave him a "straight" story, merely omitting mention of Miss Wharton.
"Cut your fence, eh ?" muttered the sheriff, gruffly; "well, I reckon they got what was comin' to 'em!" Lawler had ridden over to the Hamlin cabin twice, making his visits short, for he saw the embarrassment in Ruth's eyes, over what he had done for Hamlin.
A change had come over Hamlin.