“Aw-w-w, is that a fact, Magpie?”
Magpie nods and jerks his head toward Holt’s place. Scenery nods, and they starts for the hotel, with me and Telescope, Art, Muley, Hen, “Half-Mile” Smith, “Doughgod” Smith, “Tellurium” Woods, “Mighty” Jones and Pete Gonyer.
Magpie leads Scenery to a window of the dining-room, and they both peers in. Scenery looks at Magpie, kinda queer-like and nods his head. Then he tries to go in the door, but it’s locked. Mrs. Holt comes to the door and scowls at Scenery.
“You can’t come in,” says she, and starts to shut the door; but Scenery shoves a foot inside and blocks it.
“Mrs. Holt,” squeaks Scenery, “yo’re defyin’ the law. Actin’ thataway puts yuh liable for contempt of court.”
“Well,” says she, kinda dubious-like, “mebbe that’s so, Scenery. I’ll let you in, but the rest of you snake-hunters’ll have to stay outside.”
“We bows to superior intelligence, ma’am,” says Magpie.
In about a minute here comes Chuck Warner with his hands in the air, and behind him marches Scenery with a gun poked into Chuck’s back. Chuck looks at us and says—
“What’s the matter with this ⸺ fool?”
“Head for the jail!” squeaks Scenery. “Head for the jail!”