human
I see you're involved in another hotel proposition,
gpt
I hope involved is not the word,
human
Is your company fully organized?
gpt
I think not, answered Courtney.
human
I'm not in a position to state, however, as the matter is out of my hands. I am taking some stock in it, of course; but I have nothing to do with the organization of the company, since I have sold the ground to Mr. Gamble.
gpt
Gamble? repeated Gresham.
human
Oh, is that so?
gpt
Do you know anything against Gamble?
human
Not a thing, Gresham hastily assured him.
gpt
Anyhow, you have sold him the property and are fully secured?
human
I've sold it to him under contract,
gpt
Of course, if anything happens you can reclaim the property, Gresham considered.
human
It forms its own security; but still, any one holding a private claim against Gamble might try to attach it and give you a nasty entanglement.
gpt
There doesn't seem to be any danger of that, argued Courtney, looking worried, nevertheless.
human
He was able to show me an extremely clean bill of health. The only drawback I could find in his record was the payment of some debts which were not rightly his and which he might have evaded.
gpt
Did he refer you to the Fourth National Bank?
human
No. Say, Gresham, what have you up your sleeve? Gamble paid me fifteen thousand dollars this morning, as per agreement. I would scarcely think he would risk that much money on a bluff.
gpt
He paid you the fifteen thousand, then? said Gresham with a smile.
human
Mr. Courtney, one does not like to mix in these affairs; but you and my father were friends and, though I regret to do so, I feel it my duty to advise you to call up the Fourth National Bank.
gpt
Thanks! gratefully acknowledged Courtney, and hurried down to the telephone booth. He came back in a few moments, and his manner was distinctly cool.
human
I 'phoned to Mr. Close, he stated.
gpt
He tells me that an attachment was laid against Mr. Gamble's account at his bank yesterday for fifteen thousand dollars, and was returned to the server marked 'no funds'; but that this morning the executor of Mr. Gamble's interests in the Gamble-Collaton Irrigation Company deposited fifteen thousand dollars for the specific purpose of meeting this attachment. Mr. Close informs me that, though he could not, of course, guarantee Mr. Gamble's solvency, he would take Mr. Gamble's unsupported word on any proposition. I have known Joe Close for years, and I never knew him to be so enthusiastic about any man who possessed no negotiable securities. I thank you for your well-intentioned interference in my behalf, Mr. Gresham, but I think I shall cling to Mr. Gamble nevertheless.
human
I certainly should if I were in your place, Gresham hastily assured him with such heartiness as he could assume.
gpt
I am delighted to learn that the rumor I heard of Mr. Gamble's insolvency is unfounded.
human
By the way, where did you hear the rumor?
gpt
Really, I've forgotten,
human
One should not forget such things if one repeats such rumors,