You're home, old boy, and presently you can have a drink of water you'll remember." In the voice Jane knew the rider to be Venters.

He tied Wrangle to the hitching-rack and turned to the court.
"Oh, Bern!...

You wild man!" she exclaimed.
"Jane--Jane, it's good to see you! Hello, Lassiter! Yes, it's Venters." Like rough iron his hard hand crushed Jane's.

In it she felt the difference she saw in him.

Wild, rugged, unshorn--yet how splendid! He had gone away a boy--he had returned a man.