"Signs cost money," he said.

"It takes paint to make a sign, same as it does to keep a henhouse lookin' respectable.
This is the only Sol Cobb in Trumet, fur's I ever heard, and he's well off, sartin.

He ought to be; I never heard of him lettin' go of anything he got hold of.

Maybe you think I'm talkin' pretty free about your relation, Mrs.Barnes," he added, apologetically.

"I hadn't ought to, I suppose, but I've had one or two little dealin's with Sol, one time or 'nother, and I--well, maybe I'm prejudiced.