Yet the impulse which was driving him had made him reckless; it had dulled his sense of responsibility; had swept away all considerations of caution.

When he saw there was no one on the street he walked eastward to the livery stable where he kept his horse, saddled and bridled it, mounted and rode away.
His ranch, the Two Diamond, was fifteen miles southwestward.

Warden rode directly east, bearing a little south after he had traveled some distance from town, striking a narrow trail that wound a sinuous course over the plains.
The passion that had seized Warden still held him.

He told himself that he really intended merely to call upon Ruth professionally, in his role of school commissioner; he assured himself that she must be made to understand that the forcible disciplining of her pupils would not be tolerated.

Yet as he rode he kept glancing backward apprehensively, though he knew that if he made his visit merely official he need have nothing to fear from anyone.
Twice, as Warden rode, he halted his horse and debated the wisdom of returning.