“Durned ef I don’t believe he’s tryin’ to shake us!” cried Serpent Sam; “come on, boys, let’s catch up with him.”
Off they went, yelling like mad, some jumping to their horses, others on foot.
When they had all disappeared around a corner, Patsy took off his beard and went back into Bronco Bill’s.
Bill and his bartender were alone in the place.
“Great Scott!” exclaimed Bill, “where’d you come from?”
“I thought I’d say good-night,” responded Patsy, laughing.
“Didn’t you go with that crowd?”
“You see.”
“Wal, I don’t see how you done it, but you done me and my house a good turn, pardner. Gee! I thought they’d shoot the whole outfit to pieces. Have something?”
“No, thank you. When they find that I’ve given them the shake, they may come back here, and if they find me, it won’t be so easy to get rid of them again. Tell ’em you don’t know where I went.”