"Then, it'll have to water. These are for a prettier mouth than yours, let me tell you that. My! you should see her, 'specially when she's eating candy."
"Your wife?" Eben asked.
Grimsby shook with laughter, as he carefully placed the paper back upon the box, and returned it to the grip.
"No, no, no, not for my wife this time, Eben. It's for someone else, a special friend of mine. She's up river now, and I'm going to see her. She's in a class all by herself, though just now, poor girl, she's in trouble."
"She is?" Eben was becoming interested.
"Yes, she ran away from home, you see, and her folks don't know where she is. Why, what's wrong, boy? You look scared."
"D'ye mean Miss Randall?" Eben asked. "Are them choc'lates fer her?"
"Ah, you're a good hand at a guess, Eben," and Grimsby smiled. "Yes,
I'm taking them to her. She'd never forgive me if I forgot them. Why,
I've known Jess Randall ever since she was a baby," he lied. "She
calls me 'Uncle Gabe.'"
"She does!" Eben was more impressed than ever with Grimsby.
"Oh, yes, she's a great friend of mine. She must be waiting for me now, so you can pull up and run me ashore when we get there. She phoned to me to come at once, as she wants to see me on special business."