human
I knew well enough it was that dirty rascal who did the job! cried Hodge, springing up.
gpt
The cur!
human
Waal, dinged if he hadn't oughter be shot! burst from Gallup.
gpt
An' he knows Folansbee's gone back on ye.
human
It's no use, Frank, said Hodge, disconsolately;
gpt
He has not skipped us. He's simply decided to go out of the theatrical business. It was a fad with him, anyhow. As long as everything was going well, he liked it; but I see he is a man who cannot stand hard luck. He is changeable and that makes him a mighty poor man to back a venture. It takes a man with determination and a fixed purpose to win at anything. Changing around, jumping from one thing to another, never having any clear ideas is enough to make a failure of any man. Folansbee doesn't need to follow the show business for a living. He went into it because it fascinated him. The glamour is all worn off now, and he is ready to get out if it. Let him go.
human
It's all right to say let him go, but what are you going to do without him? You are talking about putting your play out again, but how will you do it?
gpt
I'll find a way.
human
That is easier said than done. You have been lucky, Frank, there is no question about that. You can't be that lucky all the time.
gpt
There are more ways than one to catch an angel.
human
I rather think you'll find that angels are not so thick. Once in a while there is a soft thing who is ready to gamble with his money by putting it behind a traveling theatrical company, but those soft things are growing scarcer and scarcer. Too many of them have been bitten.
gpt
Still, I have a feeling that I'll find a way to succeed.
human
Of course you can advertise for a partner to invest in a 'sure thing,' and all that, but those games are too near fraud. Rascals have worked those schemes so much that honest men avoid them.
gpt
I shall not resort to any trickery or deception. If I catch an 'angel' I shall get one just as I obtained Folansbee, by telling him all the risks and chances of failure.
human
Well, you'll not get another that way.
gpt
Darned if I ain't afraid now! nodded Ephraim.
human
But Mr. Folansbee's goin' to take keer of this comp'ny, ain't he? He's goin' to take it back to Denver?
gpt
He has agreed to do so.
human
For Old Eli,
gpt
Well, what do you think of him?
human
Of whom--Havener?
gpt
No, Folansbee.
human
What about him?
gpt
He's skipped.
human
Skipped?
gpt
Sure thing. Run away.
human
Impossible!
gpt
It's a straight fact,
human
There's no doubt of it,
gpt
Waal, may I be tickled to death by grasshoppers!
human
This caps the whole business!
gpt
I can't believe that, said Merriwell, slowly.
human
How do you know, Havener?
gpt
His baggage is gone. Garland and Dunton traced him to the station. They were just in time to see him board an eastbound train as it pulled out. He has deserted us.
human
I can't believe it, he repeated.
gpt
Folansbee would not do such a thing.
human
You have altogether too much confidence in human nature, Merry, he said.
gpt
I never took much stock in this Folansbee. He is just the sort of person I would expect to do such a trick.
human
The company is hot, Merriwell, said Havener.
gpt
They're ready to eat you.
human
Me?
gpt
Yes.
human
For what?
gpt
For getting them into this scrape.
human
I don't see how they can blame me.