Hopalong dug up a handful and threw one on the counter, lighting another: “Yu light a Cortez panatella with me,” he said, pocketing the remainder. “That's five simoleons she didn't get. So long.”
He journeyed to Tom Lee's and found his outfit making merry. Passing around his cigars he leaned against the bar and delighted in the first really good smoke he had since he came home from Kansas City.
Johnny Nelson blew a cloud of smoke at the ceiling and paused with a pleased expression on his face:
“This is a lalapoloosa of a cigar,” he cried. “Where'd yu get it, an' how many's left?”
“I got it from Charley, an' there's more than yu can buy at fifty a shot.”
“Well, I'll just take a few for luck,” Johnny responded, running out into the street. Returning in five minutes with both hands full of cigars he passed them around and grinned: “They're birds, all right!”
Hopalong smiled, turned to Buck and related his conversation with Chancy. “What do yu think of that?” He asked as he finished.
“I think Charley oughter be yore guardian,” replied the foreman.
“He was,” replied Hopalong.
“If we sees Tex we'll all grin hard,” laughed Red, making for the door. “Come on to th' contests—Lanky's gone already.”