“I leave that for you to decide, gentlemen. But, good night.”
She grasped the hand of each in her frank way, and they left her.
When they went to pay their score, the clerk told them that there was no charge against them, as they were the guests of the fair mistress of the Frying Pan. They could but accept the courtesy, and the clerk said that an early breakfast had been ordered for them.
And so the next morning they turned their backs upon Pocket City, and took the trail for Pioneer Post.
Their way led by the Hangman’s Gulch, and they turned in there to have a look at the numerous graves of the victims who had suffered there, dying at the end of a rope. The two freshly made graves of Tom and Jerry were there, and, as he looked at them, Buffalo Bill said:
“Twice have I come very near being placed here, Frank.”
“You have indeed, Bill.”
“Once Deadshot Dean saved me from Powder Face Pete and his gang, and you saved me the next time by your timely arrival, for those fellows intended hanging me.”
“And Bonnie Belle saved us both, Bill,” was the answer.
As they neared the fort they came in sight of the stage-trail, and upon reaching it heard the rumbling of the coach behind them.