Mother and Ruth--and Shorty," he repeated; and then, in a lower voice, that trailed off into a murmur as he closed his eyes and appeared to be falling asleep: "Good old Shorty!" Ruth and Mrs.Lawler were clasped in each other's arms, joy unutterable in their eyes.

It was some time before they turned, to look at Shorty.
The tawny giant was standing near the foot of the bed.

His lips were quivering, his eyes were wet, his whole body seemed to be racked with emotion that he could not suppress.

He was making an heroic effort, though--an effort that made the cords of his neck stand out lividly; that swelled his muscles into knotty bunches.
"Damn it!" he growled as he turned his head away from Ruth and Mrs.
Lawler, so that they might not see what was reflected there; "there ain't no sense of him gettin' mush-headed about it!".