He said, "No, damn you. I've got something else in my craw too. It's Christy. I've seen the way you look at her, and I know that whenever my back is turned you're doing your damnedest to break us up!"
Tom's face turned gray and suddenly his eyes were wide open. Knots stood out on the points of his jaws.
In a strange half choked voice he said, "That's a blasted lie—and you know it. It's an excuse to cover up for your own peculiar behavior lately. I think—"
Christy broke in with. "Bill—Tom, for heaven's sake stop it!" Her beseeching eyes were glancing sharply from one to the other in growing panic.
Bill stood lightly on his feet, his fingers curling and uncurling into balled fists.
Tom went on, a bleak look in his eyes. "I think you've been in a soft berth too long. The monopoly you work for has softened you, taken out the guts a man needs to stand on his own feet—"
Bill suddenly stiffened. His right shot out in a hard, sharp blow that crashed against Tom's chin. Tom grunted, a surprised look in his eyes, and sagged to the floor.
For a moment Bill stood over him, nostrils flaring, his whole body tense and waiting. But Tom was too groggy to get up.
"Oh, Bill, how could you!" Christy cried out, dropping to her knees beside Tom.
Bill strode with measured step to the door. There he turned, and looking back with a sneer, said, "Sweet dreams, Dream Boy!"