Somebody had put them on his track and he suspected Mrs.Charnock.He meant to punish her if he could.
"I've certainly got to sell off a bunch of young horses sooner than I meant; I expect you've seen the notices," he said, and added with a sneer: "They'd have made a much better price if I could have kept them until the spring, and now's your chance if you have any dollars to invest.

It's a sure snap for anybody who'll help me hold them over." One of the men laughed ironically and another asked: "Why don't you try Charnock?
He used to be a partner of yours, and he's more money than the rest of us." Wilkinson saw his opportunity.

His companions were loafing gossips, and those who were married would tell their wives.

In a very short time the rumor he meant to start would travel about the neighborhood, and there was enough truth in it to make it dangerous and hard to deny.
"Charnock's deadbeat.

He's as poor as you." "His wife has plenty dollars, anyhow." "That's so, but she's not going to give him any more," Wilkinson rejoined.