Зима тревоги нашей

           "Now,don’tthinksmall.Youhavetolookafternumberone."

           "Numbertwo.It’sMary’smoney."

           "Soitis.Well,whatdidyouhaveinmind?"

           "Well,Ithoughtyoucouldmaybedrawsomepapersupandleavethedateandtheamountblank.ThenIthoughtI’ddrawthemoneyFriday."

           "WhyFriday?"

           "Well,againit’sonlyaguess,buthedidsaysomethingabouthoweverybody’sawayovertheholiday.Ikindoffiguredhemightshowupthen.Don’tyouhavehisaccount?"

           "No,byGod.Hedrewitoutjustrecently.Buyingstocks,hesaid.Ididn’tthinkanythingofitbecausehe’sdonethatbeforeandalwaysbroughtbackmorethanhetookout."Helookedfullintheeyesofahigh-coloredMissRheingoldonthecoldcounter,buthedidn’trespondtoherlaughinginvitation."Youknowyoucouldtakeaterriblebeatingonthis?"

           "Howdoyoumean?"

           "Foronething,hecouldsellittohalfadozendifferentpeopleand,foranother,itmightbeneck-deepinmortgage.Andnotitlesearch."

           "Icouldmaybefindoutinthecountyclerk’soffice.Iknowhowbusyyouare,Mr.Baker.I’mtakingadvantageofyourfriendshipformyfamily.Besides,you’retheonlyfriendIhavewhoknowsaboutsuchthings."

           "I’llcallTomWatsonaboutthetitledeed.Damnit,Ethan,it’sabadtime.Iwanttotakealittletriptomorrownight.Ifit’strueandhe’sacrook,youcouldbetaken.Takentothecleaners."

           "MaybeIbettergiveitup,then.ButgoodGod,Mr.Baker,I’mtiredofbeingagroceryclerk."