“Crickey-Jiminy!” he exclaimed. “But if they tell him?”
“Telegraph operators are not supposed to tell. Instruct this one not to do so, Nat. Now, I dare you!”
“You can’t dare me,” boasted Nat, and hurried back to the station. When he returned they strolled on to the Oriental Lunch Room once more and rejoined Ned and Dorothy.
“Now! whatever have you been doing, Tavia?” demanded Dorothy.
Tavia could not help giggling. “Just you wait and see,” she said.
“I hope you didn’t let her do anything very bad,” Dorothy said to Nat.
“I helped her do something mighty smart,” returned her cousin, looking with admiration at pretty Tavia.
Just then a boy with a Western Union cap came up and went into the little restaurant. “Say!” he demanded of the black-browed man. “Are you Pike?”
“Am I what?” asked the man, in a hoarse voice.
“Cunnel Pike’s the name,” said the boy. “And right at this restaurant.”