"A crust crowbar. For openin' one of them cast-iron pies same as you
made for us last week. You drill a hole in the crust nigh the edge of
the plate and then put that thing in and pry the upper deck loose. Good
idea, Isaiah! I--"

"Aw, go to grass!" interrupted the indignant Mr. Chase. "I notice you
always eat enough of my pies, decks--yes, and hull and riggin', too."

Then there was THE great surprise, that which the partners had prepared
for their idolized niece. Mary found beside her plate a small, oblong
package, wrapped in tissue paper and labeled, "To Mary-'Gusta, from
Uncle Shadrach and Uncle Zoeth, with a Merry Christmas." Inside the
paper was a pasteboard box, inside that a leather case, and inside THAT
a handsome gold watch and chain. Then there was much excited exclaiming
and delighted thanks on Mary's part, and explanations and broad grins on
that of the givers.

"But you shouldn't have done it! Of course you shouldn't!" protested
Mary. "It's perfectly lovely and I wanted a watch more than anything;
but I KNOW this must have cost a great deal."

"Never, neither," protested the Captain. "We got it wholesale. Edgar
Emery's nephew is in the business up to Providence and he picked it out
for us. Didn't begin to cost what we cal'lated 'twould, did it, Zoeth?
When you buy things wholesale that way you can 'most always cal'late to
get 'em lower than you cal'late to."

Mary smiled at this somewhat involved statement, but she shook her head.