“Then he should have been taught not to play tricks,” and Luke’s tone was a bit severe.
“Do you think this is a trick, Luke?”
“I’m sure of it! Aren’t you?”
Ruth paused a moment before replying. She again read the note.
“No,” she answered, “I think it is genuine.”
“You mean he isn’t trying to play a joke, perhaps put up to it by some one else?” demanded Luke.
“I think Hop Wong is in earnest,” said Ruth, simply.
“Well,” began Luke, “I——Let’s take this up and see what the others think,” he said, with a change of thought.
“Perhaps we’d better look about and see if Hop Wong has really gone,” suggested Ruth. “His courage may have failed him at the last moment. See if he’s hiding in the bushes. Sammy, please call him again. He seemed to trust you.”
But neither hails nor search revealed the Chinese, and after a short period the party returned to the piazza.