If he "got mad" he was to be regarded as not sufficiently well acquainted for banter and he was at once in hot water; if he took it good-naturedly he was one of the crowd in spirit; but in either case he didn't get his hat without begging or fighting for it.

This was a recognized custom among the O-Bar-O outfit and was not intended as an insult.
Frenchy grabbed at the empty air and arose.

Punching Lefty playfully in the ribs he passed his hands behind that person's back.

Not finding the lost head-gear he laughed and, tripping Lefty up, fell with him and, reaching up on the table for his glass, poured the contents down Lefty's back and arose.
"Yu son-of-a-gun!" indignantly wailed that unfortunate.

"Gee, it feels funny," he added, grinning as he pulled the wet shirt away from his spine.
"Well, I've got to be amblin'," said Frenchy, totally ignoring the loss of his hat.