"Good!" John Steele spoke almost listlessly. "Always stick by any one who sticks to you,--whether a friend, or a pal, or a patron."
"A patron!" From the other's lips fell an oath; he seemed about to say something but checked himself; the seconds went by.
"But even if there had been something not quite--strictly in accord--which there wasn't"--quickly--"a man couldn't gainsay what had been said," Dandy Joe began.
"He could," indifferently.
"But that would be--"
"Hold on, Mr. Steele!" The man's eyes began to shine with alarm. "I'm not on the---"
"I know. And it wouldn't do any good, if you were."
"You mean--" in spite of himself, the fellow's tones wavered--"because he's under the water?"
"No; I had in mind that even if he hadn't been drowned, your---"