"You heard what I said, didn't yuh?" asked Bud.
Joe shook himself together and tried to edge away, but Bud blocked him.
"Well," Joe shrugged his shoulders, "you might ask her; mebbe she be glad to take you—now."
The sneering words were hardly out of Joe's mouth before Bud smashed him full in the face. It was a punch with every ounce of Bud's muscled body behind it, and Joe went down backward, slithering his shoulders against the counter as he fell.
For a moment it seemed that Bud was going to follow up the blow, but the doctor sprang in front of him. The blow had landed a trifle too high for a complete knockout, but Joe's face was a sight to behold as he got to his feet. For a moment he steadied himself and then staggered straight out of the door.
"I'm sorry you did that, Conley," said the doctor.
"Y'betcha!" grunted Bud. "I should have used an ax."
"It does not help matters," sighed the doctor sadly. "It will not help Marie Beaudet, and will only make you an enemy of Joe Burgoyne."
Norah had moved in beside old Louie and now they turned and went out through the door that led to the Beaudet living quarters. Bud looked after Norah, but she did not turn her head.
"You will leave here soon?" questioned the doctor.