“How long had he known I was here?” Michael’s face was grave in the darkness. Why had Buck not sent him some word? Made some appointment?
“Since you first cum back.”
“Why—oh, Sam, why didn’t he let me come and see him?”
“It warn’t safe,” said Sam earnestly. “Sure thing, it warn’t! ’Sides—”
“Besides what, Sam?” The question was eager.
“’Sides, he knowed you’d had edicashun, an’ he knowed how you looked on his way o’ livin’. He didn’t know but—”
“You mean he didn’t trust me, Sam?” Sam felt the keen eyes upon him even hi the darkness.
“Naw, he didn’t tink you’d snitch on him ner nothin’, but he didn’t know but you might tink you had to do some tings what might kick it all up wid him. You’d b’en out o’ tings fer years, an’ you didn’t know de ways o’ de city. ’Sides, he ain’t seed you like I done—”
“I see,” said Michael, “I understand. It’s a long time and of course he only knows what you have told him, and if there was danger,—but oh, Sam, I wish he could go down to Old Orchard. Did you ever tell him about it, and about my plans?”
“Sure ting I did. Tole ’im all you tole me. He said ’twar all right. Ef he comes out on dis deal he’ll be back in a while, an’ he’ll go down dere ef you want him. He said he’d bring a little wad back to make things go ef dis deal went troo.”