But he could not now hesitate in his plan of provoking Phil into disarming himself.
"You're something of a four-flusher yourself, aren't you ?" he mocked.
"You know I have no gun.

Your brave pose is very effective.

I would congratulate you, only, you see, it doesn't impress me in the least." With an oath Phil snatched his gun from the holster, and threw it aside.
"Have it any way you like," he retorted, and started toward Patches.
Then a curious thing happened to Honorable Patches.

Angry as he was, he became suddenly dominated by something that was more potent than his rage.
"Stop!" he cried sharply, and with such ringing force that Phil involuntarily obeyed.

"I can't fight you this way, Phil," he said; and the other, wondering, saw that whimsical, self-mocking smile on his lips.