As he told them briefly of his days and nights alone, they needed no minute details to understand what it had meant to him.
"It wasn't the work of catching Nick in a way to ensure his conviction that I minded," he said, "but the trouble was, that while I was watching Nick day and night, and dodging him all the time, I was afraid some enthusiastic cow-puncher would run on to me and treat himself to a shot just for luck.

Not that I would have minded that so much, either, after the first week," he added in his droll way, "but considering all the circumstances it would have been rather a poor sort of finish." "And what about Yavapai Joe ?" asked Phil.
Patches smiled.

"Where is Joe?
What's he been doing all day ?" The Dean answered.

"He's just been moseyin' around.

I tried to get him to talk, but all he would say was that he'd rather let Mr.Knight tell it." "Billy," said Patches, "will you find Yavapai Joe, and tell him that I would like to see him here ?" When Little Billy, with the assistance of Jimmy and Conny and Jack, had gone proudly on his mission, Patches said to the others, "Technically, of course, Joe is my prisoner until after the trial, but please don't let him feel it.