"There!" exclaimed Jeduthun, a few minutes after he had gone. "Mr. Antis has left his pocket-book and papers behind him, after all—the very thing he was going for. I don't know what ails him this morning. He kind of goes round like a hen with her head cut off."
"So many people were wanting to see him," said Eben; "but what shall we do?"
"There's Jem Carter going by; I dare say he has started for the Springs. Hallo, Jem!" shouted Jeduthun from the window. "Going to the Springs?"
"Ay! Want anything?" was the answer that came back.
"Can you take Eben over? I want to send a message to the boss if I can catch him. Get your hat, boy, and button the things up in your inside pocket. You mustn't let Jem see 'em."
"I understand," said Eben. "But give me a message, if Jem asks me about it."
"Oh, well, tell Mr. Antis not to forget the new belt and the wrought nails. Jem will drive fast if you coax him. He likes to show off that mare of his'n, and I don't think he can be drunk by this time in the morning."
Jem was not drunk. On the contrary, he was as straight as possible, and in a very good humour. He was the son of a wealthy farmer, and had come into possession of quite a large property at twenty-one, since which time he had been good for very little. "A goodhearted fellow—nobody's enemy but his own," was the remark many people made about him, but unluckily no man can be his own enemy without being the enemy of others besides himself, and that good-heartedness which is perfectly consistent with breaking a mother's heart and robbing orphan sisters is not very valuable. Jem was, however, as I said, quite straight this morning, and very willing to oblige Eben by catching the train.
"Get on first-rate with Antis, don't you?" asked Jem.
"Oh yes," replied Eben. "He's a very easy man to get on with."