human
Oh, Charlie! Not so cl-close.
gpt
All right now, Pat?
human
I--I think so, she replied, still faintly.
gpt
Now--go--on, Charlie. Tell me. I think I can bear it. I'll try to.
human
Why, said Charlie,
gpt
Who is the--the bailer?
human
One of the other men, Charlie returned glibly.
gpt
He isn't really rich either, so he couldn't very well afford to have me jump it.
human
Jump it?
gpt
Yes, said Charlie impatiently.
human
Haven't you ever heard that expression? It's the legal expression for failing to show up and forfeiting your bail. If I should jump it, that other man would have to pay the amount of my bail.
gpt
Ho-how much is it?
human
One thousand dollars,
gpt
One thousand dollars! repeated poor Patty slowly.
human
One thou--but, Charlie, for a gleam of light had come to her,--
gpt
I haven't done much of anything, really, Charlie protested;
human
An accident!
gpt
Yes, an accident. You see there were four of us that thought it would be fun--and no harm, Pat, really, if things hadn't gone wrong--to take a little run in a motor--an automobile. Fostrow has a car of his own at home, and he was to drive. In fact, he did. Charlie chuckled, as though at the recollection.
human
He did until he had got us arrested twice for speeding. But that was a small matter, only twenty-five dollars a time. Fostrow paid that himself. He said it was worth double the money to see those country-men get out of the way. And we ran over a dog. It turned out to be a very valuable dog. All that is in the day's work, though. We--
gpt
Oh, Charlie, Patty interrupted,
human
I _knew_ you would get into trouble if you went in those _horrible_ machines, at any rate, without a _competent_ and _reliable_ driver. I have always thought that Edward would be the driver I should choose; so steady and--
gpt
Edward! Charlie exclaimed. He had been about to add something further, in the way of comment, but he thought better of it.
human
No doubt, Edward would be very steady, but he is too old, to my way of thinking. Well, we had gone about fifty miles and began to think it was time to go back. So we filled up our gasoline tank, got something to eat, and started back. It was dark by that time. We were rather hurrying over the country roads, when something went wrong with the steering-gear and the next thing I knew I was lying on the other side of a stone wall--
gpt
O-oh!
human
Oh, Charlie! breathed Patty.
gpt
What a mercy you escaped!
human
But, Charlie, Patty continued, after a short silence,
gpt
Humph!