"Don't be a fool," advised James. "He's all right. Nothing will happen to him."
"I know, but I keep thinking of him. He can afford to lose what he is going to lose, but all the same, he's cold and tired."
"Aw, don't go and do that," pleaded Mike. "He'll have youse arrested—"
"I ain't going to be around here; besides, no one would think of looking for me with the swell bunch I'm going with."
"Maybe not," admitted James gravely, "but there's always the danger that some cop will have brains. And he's bound to get away to-night, all right, and have the bulls on you the minute he does. You had better take all the time you can to get away and don't try to shorten it none."
The Watermelon slowly unwound another bill and nodded. "I know, but I'm sorry for him. A few hours won't make much difference. He hasn't the slightest idea who swiped his clothes. He'll think some tramp did and that the feller is getting out of the country by cross-cuts and as fast as he can. Don't you see? No one will look for me with the general and Bartlett. I'm going to have a week of fun—"
"Maybe," said James gloomily. "Hardly, if you give that bloke his clothes before you need to."
The Watermelon waved the statement aside. "We are going to leave about five," said he. "They are waiting for me, now. It will take you a bit of a walk to find the place. I put the clothes in an empty log near a pile of rocks at the foot of three tall pines, standing together about ten yards from the lake. You can't help but find it. Give him the clothes and this check-book and fountain pen. I can't use them and you two won't get gay with them 'cause Mike's a coward, and James has too much sense."
"You're a damn fool," said James shortly.
"He's all right," argued Mike, meaning the man in the forest shades. "What can hurt him?"