“All right—here goes,” and Luke printed with the bamboo brush on a piece of laundry wrapping paper a request in as simple words as he could for Hop Wong to call at the Corner House as soon as he returned.
“There! Give it to Hop Wong as soon as he comes in,” said Luke. “Pronto! Quick, you know!”
“Pronto is Spanish—not Chinese,” chuckled Neale.
“Oh, well, what is it you say when you want a Chinese to hurry?”
“Chop-chop!” declared Hal.
“All right—chop-chop it is,” said Luke. “You give Hop Wong this chop-chop,” and he handed the other the message.
“All lite,” was the bored answer, and they filed out, leaving Hop Wong’s partner gravely trying to read the note which he held upside down.
“I only hope he doesn’t think ‘chop-chop’ means that he’s to bring up a bowl of rice and chop sticks,” said Neale, as they were on their way back.
“We’ll have to trust to luck,” replied Luke.
They found the girls eagerly and anxiously awaiting their return.