However, you want to know how Wilkinson stands?
Well, it's a sure thing he finds dollars tight." "Anyhow, a man can't disown his debts in this country." "That's so; but if he's a farmer, the homestead laws stop your seizing his house and land and part of his stock, unless he has mortgaged them to you.

If somebody else holds a mortgage, you generally get stung." "The trouble is that if you're too hard on a customer, he tells his friends, and the opposition gets his trade and theirs." "Sure," said Sadie, "Keller's let the opposition have that kind of trade.

A crook's friends are generally like himself, and there's not much profit in selling goods to folk who don't mean to pay." "Has Wilkinson given a mortgage ?" the man asked.
"If he had, it's got to be registered.

You can find out at the record office, and I guess it would pay you to go and see." "Well, I hear he's just sold a good bunch of horses.

That means he'll have some money for a while." "Then you had better take your bills over and get them paid before the money's gone," Sadie answered in a meaning tone.
"If you had the store, would you risk his being able to pay all right and afterwards dropping you ?" "I certainly would," said Sadie.