Neale, who had started toward her, turned aside with a disappointed air.
“I thought you were going to say—kiss!” he sighed.
“There is a time and place for everything!” Agnes told him.
“Go on with your theory, Agnes,” begged Luke. “It sounds interesting, to say the least.”
“Well, couldn’t it be that Hop Wong wants to do more business?” asked the girl. “You know how those Chinese are. They come over here, start a little place, and then get in a partner who does most of the work. I think Hop Wong wants to expand—to get in a partner—and he needs a hundred dollars to finance it. If we advance it he’ll give us a share in his laundry—make us stockholders, perhaps. Fancy being in the Chinese laundry business, Ruth! Wouldn’t it be grand?”
“I don’t know,” and Ruth spoke doubtfully. “If I thought he meant that I’d try to help him get a partner.”
“It would be just like your unusual kind spirit,” said Luke. “But I am not sure it does mean that. Read it again, Neale, just as it sounds.”
Neale read:
“‘Korner House gals pay Hop Wong 100 dols——’”
He was stopped by a cry from Dot.