Ah Cum was himself puzzled.

Why hadn't he admitted that he recognized the photograph?
What instinct had impelled him swiftly to assume his Oriental mask?
"Why ?" asked O'Higgins.

"What's the particular dope ?" "If I told you, you would laugh," answered Ah Cum, gravely.
"No; I don't think I'd laugh.

You never saw him before yesterday.
Why should you want to shield him ?" "I really don't know." "Because he said he was a Yale man ?" "That might be it." "Treated you like a white man there, did they ?" "Like a gentleman." "All right.

I had that coming.