They pushed their way through the curious crowd which had invaded the house. When they were quite away from the neighborhood, Sydney broke down.
“You’re mighty good to me, Ben,—I don’t deserve it!”
“It’s nothing at all,” Ben replied. “Isn’t your good name worth a little forbearance from one who’s known you all your life? How’d you come to be in that place?” he sharply questioned.
“I didn’t know where else to hide. I was afraid I’d killed you and I got Ng Quong to let me stay there and make out some bills and accounts for him.”
“Then, you’ve earned your keep—honestly?”
Syd looked him squarely in the face. “Yes,” he said.
Ben gave a sigh of relief. “It might have made a fuss,” he remarked.
“Why,—did they try to find me?”
“No; because your mother said she felt sure you had gone to San Jose.”