“Yessir, an’ that’s truer’n many things ye say, Dan,” grinned a third. He was studying Tom with critical attention. “Yessir, that’s him all right. ‘Kind o’ big mouth,’ says the colonel, an’ ‘cheeky lookin’’—ha, ha, ha, ho. There ain’t a-goin’ to be no get-away for Jimmy Raymond this time.—No siree.”
The men laughed and chuckled in a manner which showed them to be in a most highly pleased state of mind, while Tom, his eyes flashing, looked from them to the complacent, smiling Mexican and back again.
The man’s mysterious ways were all perfectly clear to him now. He, falling into the same error as the cowboys, had taken him to be the young pianist of the Mexican theater. And Tom was forced to admit that the mistake was a natural one, for a description of Jimmy would certainly tally in many respects with his own.
The humor of the situation appealing to him irresistibly he began to roar with laughter, a proceeding which had the effect of promptly sobering the expressions on the cowboys’ faces. They had evidently expected Tom to accept the matter in a very different way, for Blimby broke forth into a string of wondering comments.
“He’s a slick one—ain’t he, boys? Thinks he can fool us, eh? Not much; this outfit’s just as sharp as the Texas Rangers any day. ‘A hard one to manage,’ says the colonel. ‘Not if we ever git our flippers on him,’ says I. So them stage laughs won’t do ye no good, pard—it’s the ‘Eagle Pass’ Ranch for you!”
“The ‘Eagle Pass’ Ranch,” repeated Tom.
“I reckon he never even heard o’ the Eagle Pass!” put in Dan, in a tone which suggested a mixture of scorn and amusement. “Come now, young fellow!” He advanced and shaking his finger under Tom’s nose added almost threateningly, “Own up now! quick! Did ye ever hear of Colonel Brookes Sylvester?”
“Certainly!” answered Tom, his eyes opening wider.
“Wal, that’s a little better. I’ve got good news for ye, Jimmy. The colonel says as how ye can do jist as ye please. Ain’t that fine, boy?” He playfully poked Tom in the ribs. “Ain’t it now?”
“Say! Why is everybody camping on the trail of Jimmy Raymond?” blurted out Tom. “What in thunder has he done? Is this Colonel Brookes Sylvester a relative of his?”