"You have a sweet tooth, haven't you, old boy?" and Jess again patted his neck. "You shall have two pieces of candy when I get more, though dear knows when that will be," she regretfully sighed. "I am hard up, Jerry, as I spent my last cent on these chocolates, and don't like to ask daddy for any more money, for I know how difficult it has been for him to pay my bills at the Seminary. But, never mind, when I get to work I shall have plenty. But here comes daddy now."
Abner approached, trundling Jess' trunk upon a truck he had procured from the station agent. He dumped his load upon the ground at the rear of the wagon, and then stooped to lift the trunk up into the express. As he did so, the copy of The Live Wire slipped from his coat pocket and fell at his feet. Jess at once stepped forward and picked it up.
"Hi, there; what are ye doin'?" Abner enquired, as he suddenly straightened himself up, and looked quickly around.
"You dropped this, that's all," and Jess held up the paper as she spoke.
"Here, give me that," was the peremptory order. "It's dangerous."
"Dangerous! What do you mean?"
"It'll cause an explosion, if ye'r not careful, 'specially if ye open it. 'Taint safe."
"Why, it's only The Live Wire, daddy! It surely can't do any harm."
"Yes, it will, jist as soon as ye open it. There'd be sich an explosion that it 'ud fairly take me head off."
Into the girl's eyes came a mingled expression of fear and surprise. What did her father mean by such words? Could there be anything wrong with his brain? He had never acted so strangely before.