"He's not hurt so bad," said Joe quickly. "I leave de doctor with you, while I go after wagon to bring you back, and I find that Pierre is much better."
"Was Marie hurt much?" asked Bud.
"Not badly," replied the doctor. "The blow on her head caused a bad swelling, but she is very ill today from the shock."
For several moments no one spoke, and then the doctor said softly, "And she was to marry Joe Burgoyne next week."
Bud turned and looked at Joe, who had come back between the counters and was leaning an elbow on a pile of colored blankets.
"And now he won't marry her, eh?" queried Bud.
Joe's eyes flashed to Louie Beaudet, and then he looked away. It was evident that Joe was not going to keep his part of the marriage compact. Old Louie bowed his head and turned toward the rear of the room. The disgrace of it was too much for the old man to face them now.
Joe turned away, too, as though to leave the store, but Bud caught him by the shoulder and whirled him around.
"You won't marry her, eh?" questioned Bud. "Your honor is so damn clean that she ain't good enough for you now. Listen to me, you breed coyote." Bud grasped Joe by both shoulders and shoved him back against the counter. "It was no fault of hers that this thing happened. I don't know her very well, and you know as well as I do that I never harmed her. But by God, if you don't marry her, I will!"
Joe clawed backward for support, as Bud shook him violently.