“The people of this state trust you, Lawler—­they swear by you.  You’ve got to run—­there’s no way out of it!” He looked keenly at Lawler.  “Man, do you know what McGregor told me the day before he left the capital to come down here and look you over, to see how badly you were hurt?  He said:  ’Metcalf, if Lawler dies we lose the governorship next fall.  He is the only man who can beat Haughton!’”

“Metcalf,” smiled Lawler; “I’ll tell you a secret—­your argument has had no effect upon me.  I decided this thing as far back as the day following the last election.  I am going to run.”

“Then we’ve got Haughton licked!” declared Metcalf, enthusiastically.

Metcalf stayed at the Circle L throughout the day, and in the evening Lawler rode with him to Willets, where he saw him aboard the west-bound train.

“I’m telling you something, Lawler,” grinned the newspaperman as he gripped Lawler’s hand just before the train started.  “McGregor came to me yesterday.  He told me he intended to come to see you, but he was afraid you’d refuse to run.  He asked me if I had any influence with you, and I told him you’d do anything I suggested.  Now, don’t get excited, Lawler,” he laughed as Lawler looked sharply at him.  “I’ve proved it, haven’t I?  You’ve agreed to run!  Lord, man, I’d hate to be an evil-doer and have you look at me like that!” He laughed again, exultantly.  “What was it you said to Warden one day, when Warden refused to keep that agreement you made with Lefingwell?  Oh, don’t look at me that way—­that conversation has been printed all over the state.  I saw to that.  How did I hear of it?  Somebody must have talked, Lawler.  It wasn’t you.  You remember what you told Warden?  It was this: 

“’I’m telling you this, though:  A man’s word in this country has got to be backed by his performances—­and he’s got to have memory enough to know when he gives his word!’

“You’ve given yours, Lawler; and you can’t back out.  McGregor will be waiting for me in the capital.  And when I tell him that I have persuaded you to run, he’ll fall on my neck and weep tears of joy.  Then he’ll hire a special train and run down here to fall on your neck!”

McGregor came the next day.  And he took Lawler back to the capital with him.  Lawler stayed in the capital for a week, and when he returned he went directly to the Circle L.

No word came from him, to Willets, during the summer.  He did not appear in town; though Willets heard that the new Circle L ranchhouse had at last been completed, and that Lawler was living in it.  Also, the Circle L outfit had been recruited to full strength; Blackburn was occupying the new cabin.

When Corwin—­who was chairman of the county committee—­sent out calls for the county primary election—­which convention was also to choose delegates to the state convention, to be held later—­Lawler did not appear.  He sent a note to Corwin, asking to be excused.