human
I suppose it's getting harder and harder for them to get credit,
gpt
Harder, returned Amidon.
human
I guess it is. I had it from Strauss this morning, that he wouldn't let them have a pound of beef without cash, and I know that Abbot stopped giving them anything some time ago.
gpt
How do they manage, then?
human
Strauss says sometimes they send a little money and get a little, the rest of the time he guesses they go without; live on garden-sauce--they've got a little garden, you know, or grocery stuff.
gpt
Can they get trusted at the grocer's?
human
Ingram won't trust 'em, but Anderson lets 'em have all they want, they say.
gpt
S'pose he knows what he's about.
human
Lawyers generally do,
gpt
He wasn't much of a lawyer, anyhow,
human
That's so. He didn't set the river afire,
gpt
I don't believe, if Anderson trusts him, but he knows what he is about, said the druggist.
human
I guess he knows he's goin' to get his pay.
gpt
Mebbe some of those fine securities of his will come up sometime, Amidon said.
human
I heard they'd been slumpin' lately. Guess there's some Banbridge folks got hit pretty bad, too.
gpt
Who?
human
I heard Lee was in it, for one, and I guess there's others. I must light out of this. It's dinner-time. Where's that arrow-root? My wife's got to make arrow-root gruel for old Mrs. Joy. She's dreadful poorly. Oh, there it is!
gpt
Suppose you knew Carroll was away?
human
No,
gpt
Yes, he's been gone a week; ain't coming home till the day before the wedding. Their girl told ours. We've got a Hungarian, too, you know. Carroll's girl can't get any pay. It's a dam'ed shame.
human
Why don't she leave?
gpt
Afraid she'll lose it all, if she does. Same way with the coachman.
human
Where's Carroll gone?
gpt
Don't know. The girl said he'd gone to Chicago on business.
human
Guess he'll want to go farther than Chicago on business if he don't look out, before long. I don't see how he's goin' to have the weddin', anyway. I don't believe anybody 'll trust him here, and, unless I miss my guess, he won't find it very easy anywhere else.
gpt
They say the man the girl's goin' to marry is rich. Maybe he'll foot the bills,
human
Mebbe he is,
gpt
Look at here, said Amidon, mysteriously, as the two men separated on the next corner.
human
I'll tell you something, if you want to know.
gpt
What?
human
I believe Drake trusts those Carrolls a little.