Finally he said carelessly: "Seems to be something more in this trip of the doctor's than he wants to let on."
It had an electrical effect on Joe. His breath hissed through his teeth. His face purpled. "You're right, there's something more!" he cried with an oath. "There's a woman behind it!"
"So!" said Stack, remembering the emerald pendant.
"He took her from me by a low trick," Joe went on. "By playing the snivelling preacher, blast him! They went away together a month ago. By gad! I'll pay him out if it takes the rest of my life!"
"He's got a boat in his baggage," said Stack softly. "Maybe he's on his way back to her now."
"Sure he's going back to her!" said Joe, adding with drunken mysteriousness: "I'm just waiting for him to start!"
Stack bethought himself how he could learn more. "He makes me sick!" he said suddenly, genuine hatred making his pale eyes snap. "He thinks himself such a wonder! Treats me like dirt, he does. I wish I could bring him down a peg!"
Joe leaned over the table and extended his hand. "Put it there, pardner," he said thickly. "It does my heart good to hear you say it. Gad! I hate him till it's like an indigestion in my stomach that won't give me no rest. To think of a smooth-face kid like him getting the best of Joe Mixer drives me wild. I won't never rest easy till I do for him!"
One more drink and they were sworn allies.
"What are you going to do?" asked Stack.