"Please don't be mad with me," he begged. "I love you ever since you come here. You no love me, eh? I know." Joe's voice was so wistful that Norah's anger faded and she turned to him. "Why don't you go back to Marie?" she asked. "Louie Beaudet is broken-hearted. Marie is a good woman." Joe laughed bitterly and shook his head. "No, I never go back to her. Good woman, eh? How could she be good woman?" This time Norah could not hold her temper nor her tongue and Joe retreated out of the door. "You soulless little rat!" she called him. "You are not even half-a-man! In spite of anything she has ever done, Marie Beaudet is many times too good for you! Now get out of here and stay out!" Norah slammed the door shut, knocking Joe into Dr. Clarey, who was coming up behind him. The doctor grasped Joe to keep him from falling, but Joe, with a snarling curse, tore away from him, went out to his horse and rode away. Her father opened the door and almost became a victim of Norah's broom. He stepped back quickly, but she dropped the broom and laughed hysterically. "I thought he was coming back," she explained. "The little snake tried to make love to me." "Now, would ye believe that!" exploded the doctor. "That--well, now, it's all right. He has a grand taste, so he has, Norah; and I give him that much credit. But I have some bad news for ye. McKay and his Indian were killed in Kingsburg, and last night someone broke into Louie's safe and stole all his money." Norah stared at him and her hands clutched at her apron. "Jimmy McKay and his Indian killed?" "Aye. Henderson brought them in last night." "And Louie was robbed, you say?" "He was. They took everything in his safe." Norah stared out of the open door. She had known McKay for a long time. "And it's worse and more of it," volunteered the doctor. "Bud Conley's gun was on the floor beside the safe." Norah turned and looked dumbly at him. "Bud's gun?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Bud's gun?" "Aye. Henderson identified it, Norah. Ah, I'm sorry." She bit her lips and shook her head. "You don't need to be sorry for me, daddy. Be sorry for poor Bud Conley." "Aye, that's true. He left a note for Henderson, saying that he was leaving. Things are in a bad shape around here, my dear. The inspector's face looks like it was petrified, Angus MacPherson is swearing incessantly and old Louie is crying into his beard. Aye, there's a deal of sorrow. "And now Joe Burgoyne is blaspheming because you won't love him," added the doctor after a moment. "Sure, this sorrow is contagious. There's no doubt of the truth that single misfortunes never come alone." Norah shut her lips tightly and turned back to her sweeping. The doctor studied her for a moment, shook his head and crossed the room to his desk. CHAPTER IV A CAPTIVE COWBOY