Jess went over and stroked Jerry’s glossy neck, and gave him the last chocolate she possessed. It merely whetted his appetite, and he eagerly begged for more, by pawing the ground and thrusting his nose into the friendly hand.
"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."
"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.
"Are ye goin’ to give me that paper?" Abner asked.
"Certainly," Jess replied as she acceded to his request. "But I think you might tell me what makes it so dangerous, daddy."
"High explosives, that’s what ’tis. It’s worse than nitro-glycerine, which goes off jist as soon as ye look at it."
"But you should not carry it, then, daddy. If it is not safe for me to touch, neither is it for you, so there."
"Oh, I know how to handle it," Abner chuckled, as he thrust the paper back into his pocket. "Climb up now, an’ let’s be off."