"I w-won't be with the gang," he quavered.
"What?" Bill could scarcely believe his ears. John explained haltingly.
"That kid! I knew she'd make trouble."
The murder was out; the worst was over with. But it would never do to let his chum think that he regretted the choice.
"Oh, I don't know." John gathered courage and glibness as he went on. "Saw two ice cream freezers going in the back way this afternoon, and Jiminy, Silvey, her mother's some cook. Louise says [he hadn't laid eyes on that lady since Friday] she's just baked four chocolate layer cakes with nuts and candies in the frosting. And there's lots of other things. Now, don't you wish you were me?"
Silvey shrugged his shoulders and admitted that the entertainment had its alluring side.
"Chocolate cake," he repeated. "Just think, all you can eat."
There was an envious silence.
"Strawberry ice cream. Three helpings to a fellow; and I'll have more, 'cause I wouldn't let you throw cucumbers at Louise."
His chum's face grew wistful.