For there was something in Lawler's manner, in the steady, unflagging way he rode; in the set of his head and the cold gleam of his eyes, that suggested more of the kind of violence in which both had participated at the Dickman cabin.
The sun was low when Lawler and Shorty rode into town--Lawler riding ahead, as he had ridden all along; Shorty a few yards behind him, keenly watching him.
There were many men on the street; for word had been brought in regarding the big fight between the Circle L outfit and the rustlers--and a doctor had gone, summoned to the Hamlin cabin by a wild rider on a jaded horse--and Willets' citizens were eagerly curious.

And when they saw Lawler coming, swaying in the saddle as he rode, they began to run toward him.
However, they were brought to a halt by Shorty--who waved a hand savagely at them, his face expressing a cold intolerance that warned them away.

And so they retreated to the sidewalk, wonderingly, to watch Lawler and Shorty as they rode down the street--Lawler looking neither to the right nor left, but keeping his gaze straight ahead as though in that direction lay what he had come to seek.
Shorty's eyes gleamed with understanding when he saw Lawler halt Red King in front of the building in which was Warden's office.

He was out of the saddle before Lawler clambered slowly out of his, and he stood near as Lawler walked to the door of the building and began to mount the stairs--going up slowly, swaying from side to side and placing his hands against the wall on either side of him for support.

And when Lawler finally reached the top of the stairs and threw open the door of Warden's office, Shorty was so close to him that he might have touched his shoulder.
Warden was sitting at his desk when Lawler opened the door, and he continued to sit there--staring hard at Lawler as the latter swayed across the room to bring up with a lurch against Warden's desk, his hands grasping its edge.
"Warden," said Lawler--and Shorty marveled at the cold steadiness of his voice; "I have just killed Antrim.