“Then that’s what Hop Wong means by ‘boy-pain’ tree,” declared Luke.
“Where’s the connection?” demanded Neale.
“I see!” exclaimed Hal. “And if you need a dictionary, Neale, to trace the parallel between boys and pain and an apple tree——”
“Oh, now I see!” laughed Neale. “Hop Wong didn’t know how to spell apple tree, but he knew the effects of green apples on boys, and he went from cause to effect. Pretty good, that!”
“Do you suppose that’s what it is?” asked Nally.
“It would seem so,” answered Luke. “Now the question is—do you girls think it worth while to humor him, to meet him in this midnight tryst? You needn’t be afraid, if that’s what you’re thinking of,” he went on, as he saw Ruth about to demur. “We boys will all be within call.”
“Brave boys!” joked Agnes, and Ruth gave her another warning look.
“What do you think, Luke?” Ruth appealed to her friend. “Would you if you were us?—I mean Agnes and myself. Of course we won’t ask Nally to share the danger.”
“Oh, I like that!” cried the Boston girl. “Here you invite me to the Corner House, and as soon as a first-class mystery—better than any moving picture—crops up, you want to shut me out! No, indeed! Let me help you keep the tryst. Hop Wong won’t know but what I am a regular Corner House girl.”
“Yes, I don’t suppose three will make any difference,” replied Luke. “Hop Wong isn’t likely to be fussy about that. Well, will you go? You have about an hour to make up your mind,” he went on, as he looked at his watch, noting that it was nearly eleven o’clock.