"Well, that's where I broke my word with you, but I couldn't very well get around it. I did Mr. Thornton a favor, he told me he wanted to reward me. I told him I was in trouble, I owed money and I had no way to pay it and I would apply whatever he gave me on the note. He gave me an order for a suit of clothes but he never mentioned the note. I am as much surprised as you; I never dreamed he would pay the note for me."
"Then you did not borrow the money from Thornton?"
"No sir, I did not."
"Well, I would not contract the borrowing habit. The borrower is always a servant to the lender."
The mother was troubled. "How did it come that Eli paid for services in advance? Others never paid their employes until they performed their labor."
Alfred airily informed her that it was the custom in the show business to pay in advance, that is, the good actors always drew their pay in advance. In fact, he assured the mother that it was the only way to keep good actors, keep them in debt to you; even then, sometimes, they'll run off with another troupe.
"Well, what do you purpose doing with this money Mr. Eli left here for you?" enquired the mother.
"Oh, I want you to keep it for me. I'm going to send you all my money; you use whatever you please, use it all if you want to."
"I will keep this money for you," she said, "something seems to tell me you will need it later on."
Lin allowed that Alfred would never need money thereafter. "Ef ye git a good start ye'll jes hev cords of greenbacks, an' I believe yere on the right road. I jes tol' yer muther, I ses, 'Mary,' ses I, 'Alfurd ain't fit fer nuthin' only minstrel showin', he's gittin' more un more like a nigger every day.'"