He walked to the closed door and stood before it, his lips set in grim lines, his eyes somber.
"Ruth!" he called, lowly.
There was no answer; and again he called.

This time a smothered voice reached him, quavering, tearful: "Please go away, Kane; I don't want to see you.

I'm so upset." "I reckon I'll go, Ruth." But still he lingered, watching the door, now smiling faintly, understandingly.

Beyond the door were the sounds of sobbing.
Lawler folded his arms over his chest and with the fingers of one hand caressing his chin, watched the door.
"Ruth," he said, finally; "where is your father ?" "I--I d-don't know.

And I don't c-care." Lawler started, and his eyes narrowed with suspicion as he looked at the door--it seemed that he was trying to peer through it.
"Ruth," he said slowly; "I saw you looking into the schoolhouse through the broken window, after I hit Singleton the second time, and while I was talking to him.