For reply McCartney stepped into the office, pushing Hurley before him, and closed the door behind him.
"This ain't an old man's town—that's what's wrong," he said.
Hurley expressed his astonishment.
"Well, but—an old man can live here as well as anywhere else, can't he?" he protested.
"All depends," McCartney replied, smiling cynically. "We'll settle that some other time. Just now I have business with Keith McBain."
"It's time to settle," he said, looking at McBain who, for a moment, seemed beaten in the struggle that was raging within him.
Suddenly he stood up and looked at McCartney, his eyes burning with the fierce hate that was in his soul. When he spoke his voice seemed a little uncertain, as if he were struggling to keep back the tears from his eyes. But almost immediately he mastered himself and spoke deliberately enough, if not quietly.
"What is it, McCartney?" he asked.
"Gabe Smith was here to announce to you that the new buildings an' the outfit is all goin' down stream before daybreak unless they're moved," McCartney replied.
"And is nothing going to be done?" asked McBain.