“And if we do give you a hundred dollars will you show us where we can find more than that?” asked Agnes, thinking it wise to show that Ruth was not in supreme authority.
“That what Hop Wong do.”
“But if you know where there is a lot of money, why don’t you go and get it for yourself, and not let us take it?” asked Ruth. “Why don’t you get this big sum yourself, Hop Wong?”
“No can do,” was all he said. “Only Clorner House gals git much money. Hop Wong git one hund’ed dollals. No can do.”
He seemed quite downcast about it, and to the girls he was rather a pathetic figure.
“Why don’t you tell us first where this money is, and then let us pay you the hundred dollars if we find it?” asked Agnes. “Don’t you trust us, Hop Wong? You have known us long enough to know we are honest and that we’ll pay you if we find any such large sum as you tell about. Where is it? Tell us, and if we get it we’ll pay you—maybe two hundred dollars.”
“No can do,” was all Hop Wong said.
Further arguments seemed to be useless, yet Ruth made one more attempt. But when Hop Wong stubbornly, or perhaps uncomprehendingly, repeated:
“No can do! Give Hop Wong one hund’ed dollals.”
Ruth exclaimed: