"I need it badly enough, Giles, but having given all my money to Eben Jackson, I did not feel able to buy new clothes."
"You won't have occasion to complain of being without money long."
"Thank you, Giles. It has been a great relief to me, your purchasing the note, but I don't want you to lose money."
"I don't intend to. Eben Jackson may swindle you. He will find it harder to get the advantage of me."
Eben Jackson was standing at the desk in his store when Giles and John Plympton entered. Eben took no particular notice of the middle-aged and rather rough-looking stranger, whom he did not recognize, but frowned perceptibly when he saw John Plympton.
"You here, Uncle John?" he said, roughly.
"Yes," answered the old man, meekly.
"Where have you been?"
"I went to Chicago."
"Didn't you find anything to do there?"