human
Thank you kindly, Mr. Bolton. I won't take any just now; but I'll remind you of your offer another day.
gpt
Have it your own way, Mrs. O'Keefe. And now, what can I do for you and Miss Linden?
human
Oh, Mr. Bolton, broke in Florence, unable to bear the suspense longer,
gpt
Dodger! he repeated.
human
How should I know? I supposed that you had lured him away from me.
gpt
He didn't like the business you were in. He preferred to make a living in some other way.
human
Then why do you ask me where he is?
gpt
Because he did not come home last night. Shure he rooms at my house, put in Mrs. O'Keefe,
human
And you thought I might have got hold of him?
gpt
Then you are mistaken. I haven't seen the boy for weeks.
human
When he was living with you, Mr. Bolton, continued Florence,
gpt
No, answered Bolton.
human
Dodger was always very regular about comin' home.
gpt
Then something must have happened to him,
human
He might have got run in, suggested the apple-woman.
gpt
Some of them cops is mighty officious.
human
Dodger would never do anything to deserve arrest,
gpt
Thrue for you, Florence, but some innersent parties are nabbed. I know of one young man who was standin' on a strate corner waitin' for the cars, when a cop came up and arristed him for disorderly conduct.
human
But that is shameful!
gpt
Thrue for you, my dear. We might go round to the police headquarters and inquire if the boy's been run in.
human
What do you think, Mr. Bolton?
gpt
I begin to see through it.
human
I believe Curtis Waring is at the bottom of this,
gpt
My cousin!
human
Yes, your cousin, Miss Linden.
gpt
But what can he have against poor Dodger! Is it because the boy has taken my part and is a friend to me?
human
He wouldn't like him any better on account of that; but he has another and a more powerful reason.
gpt
Would you mind telling me what it is? I cannot conceive what it can be.
human
At present, answered Bolton, cautiously,
gpt
I prefer to say nothing on the subject. I will only say the boy's disappearance interferes with my plans, and I will see if I can't find out what has become of him.
human
If you only will, Mr. Bolton, I shall be so grateful. I am afraid I have misjudged you. I thought you were an enemy of Dodger's.
gpt
Then you were mistaken. I have had the boy with me since he was a kid, and though I've been rough with him at times, maybe, I like him, and I may some time have a chance to show him that old Tim Bolton is one of his best friends.
human
I will believe it now, Mr. Bolton,