Them boys from the other outfits bested him, all right.

But Slade will be back--you'll see.

An' when he comes we'll be squarin' things with him--an' don't you forget it!" * * * * * It was after Lawler had been occupying the cabin for a month that Metcalf made his second visit.

He rode down the slope of the valley on a horse he had hired at Willets, and came upon Lawler, who was standing at the corral gates, looking across the enclosure at the workmen who were bustling about the ranchhouse.
Metcalf regarded Lawler critically before he dismounted; and then he came forward, shook Lawler's hand and again looked him over.
"A little thin and peaked; but otherwise all right, eh ?" he smiled.
"It's hard to kill you denizens of the sagebrush." He followed Lawler into the shade of the cabin, remarked to Mrs.Lawler that her son would need someone to guard him--if he persisted in meeting outlaws of the Antrim type single-handed; and then turned to Lawler--after Mrs.Lawler had gone inside--and said lowly: "Lord, man! you've got this state raving over you! Your fight against the ring is talked about in every corner of the country.

And that scrap with Antrim, Selden, and Krell in the old Dickman cabin will go down in history--it will be a classic! What made you rush in on Antrim that way--giving him the first shot ?" Lawler smiled faintly.