Lawler suspected that Ruth knew her father was a rustler.

In fact, there had been times when he had seen that knowledge lying naked in her eyes when she looked at her parent.

Accusation and disgust had been there, but mingling with them was the persistent loyalty that had always governed the girl; the protective instinct, and a hope of reformation.
The pride that Mrs.Lawler had exhibited was not less strong in the girl's heart.

By various signs Lawler knew the girl loved him; he knew it as positively as he knew she would not marry him while the stigma of guilt rested upon her parent.

And he was convinced that she was ignorant of the fact that Lawler shared her secret.