"How are we going to explain our action to Mr. Penton?"
"I shall not try to do so."
"But if he asks?" persisted Bob.
"I can't answer that beforehand. My answers must depend upon circumstances."
The boys turned in soon after that, but Steve Rush lay awake for a long time, thinking over the events of the evening. He was wondering whether he had done right; wondering whether the officials of the company, who had been so kind to him, would misconstrue his motives and no longer take their former keen interest in him.
"I've done the best I know how, and I'm not done yet," muttered the boy, as he turned over, buried his head in the pillow and tried to go to sleep.
CHAPTER XII
MINERS MEET IN SECRET