human
Holy mackerel!
gpt
Thanks, Clemmie. 'Twill help, I cal'late. You're a good woman, he finished, taking her hand between both of his.
human
You're smart, too. You've helped me more than you know, and God bless you!
gpt
I want to see Mr. Fox.
human
He's not in, sir. Will you leave any----
gpt
Who is it, Debbs?
human
Captain Pott, sir. I thought you was to see no one to-night, sir.
gpt
That's all right. Send him right up to my room.
human
Right in here, Josiah. We shall be more private here than down-stairs.
gpt
I was very busy, and told Debbs I was not to be disturbed, but I recognized your voice, and--er--wanted to see you. It has been quite a long while since we have had a friendly chat, Josiah. I wish you would come more often. I get very lonesome in this big place. Have a cigar? No? I shall, if you don't mind.
human
We ain't been none too neighborly, as you might say.
gpt
Why don't you come up once in a while?
human
Cal'late for the same reason you don't get over to the other end of the road. For one thing, I'm too busy paying off debts.
gpt
That is true. We--er--are busy, too busy for our own good. We ought to be more sociable here in Little River. We need something to stir us up.
human
We're too damn selfish, if you ask me. As far as stirring goes, I cal'late we've got as much of that as any town along this coast. About all a feller can do is to set his teeth against the hurricane and grin.
gpt
You'd best be careful with them delicate blood-vessels,
human
True, Josiah. But that was a good joke, a very good joke. One can take it in two ways.
gpt
Not the way I mean it. There's enough gossip----
human
Yes, we are too selfish, broke in the Elder,
gpt
How long ago that all seems! Yet how--er--happy were those days. No cares. No sorrows. No troubles. No misunderstandings. Excuse me, Josiah. I don't know why it is that I hark back like this when we get together. But it does me a world of good.
human
Maybe you've got another fish to fry, suggested the Captain, wholly untouched by the Elder's memory picture.
gpt
That was the way you done when you wanted us boys to do something for you, and you ain't got over it with age.
human
I was quite a diplomat in those days, wasn't I? But we can't bring them back. No, sir, we can't. They are--er--gone forever.
gpt
I ain't sartin I want to fetch 'em back. Leastwise, that wa'n't my purpose in coming here to-night. I come over to see you about that mortgage you slipped over on me.
human
Mortgage?
gpt
Yes, mortgage.
human
Oh! You refer to that little loan I made you some time ago? That was--er--real humor calling it a mortgage.
gpt
It may be funny to you, but it ain't to me.
human
I hope that little matter isn't bothering you.
gpt
It ain't, but a feller from the city is. He told me you was intending to take my place.
human
I'm sorry he told you that. I do not know what I should do with it if I had it.
gpt
I don't know what I'd do without it, Jim.
human
I think it can be arranged without difficulty. It is such a small matter.
gpt
It may look small to you, but it looks a heap sight different to me.
human
I know, Josiah. It is very opportune that you have come to me to-night. Not more than an hour ago I was thinking of you, and wishing I might--er--see you. I have been thinking, too, of others, some who stood by me in time of peril and poverty. I feel greatly indebted to them, and since they were members of your family, I must now show my appreciation for their kindness.
gpt
I cal'late you're referring to them you served a dirty trick over in Australia.
human
Why, Josiah! I have told you a hundred times that I was never in Australia,
gpt
That's so, you have, Jim. Excuse me.
human
As I was saying, he continued, showing great relief,
gpt
I feel indebted to them, and I want to pay back----
human
Look here, Jim, you needn't offer none of your blood money. It don't look good to me.
gpt
I have no intention of offering you charity.
human
You know damn well you dasn't. I'm not speaking of charity, and you know that, too, Jim. I'm speaking of blood money, and I mean just what I say.
gpt
You are still the same doubting Thomas, I see. Do you recall how you were always the last one--er--to be won over to a new enterprise?
human
I had good reason to go slow. A mite of caution is a purty fair endowment of nature where some people's schemes is concerned. If I'd used a little of it last spring I'd not be in the fix I am to-day.
gpt
But that bump of caution on your head is pretty hard on your friends.
human
I cal'late it won't hurt my friends none. We wa'n't speaking of them just then. Anyhow, it's kept me with a clean conscience to sleep with, and I'd a heap sight rather ship with clear rigging than be ballasted with some people's money and have to make bedfellows with their conscience.
gpt
Yes,--er--ahem--quite true, was the hasty reply.
human
What can I do for you, Josiah? If I can be of the least service,--er--I shall be only too glad.
gpt
It depends on what you've got to offer me. The fust thing I'd like to suggest is that you stop that there er-ing and hem-ing. There ain't no one here but me, and it don't make no impression. Being that you're so infernal anxious to get back to boyhood days we might just as well go all-hog on it. You didn't try none of that foolishness then.
human
What you say is quite true.
gpt
You didn't have them things to pet, neither. You might just as well stop that. It makes me nervous.