“I beg your pardon. I think you are mistaken.”
“What?”
“I made no contracts with you; I simply engaged you. You hold contracts with Parker Folansbee.”
“Folansbee has deserted us, sir,” declared Garland, accusingly. “We have been tricked, fooled, deceived! We hold contracts. You were concerned with Folansbee in putting this company on the road, and you are responsible. We have come to you to find out what you mean to do.”
“I am very sorry——” began Frank.
“Being sorry for us doesn’t help us a bit,” cut in Garland, rudely. “I believe you knew Folansbee was going to skip.”
Frank turned his eyes full on the speaker, and he seemed to look his accuser straight through and through.
“Mr. Garland,” he said, “you are rude and insulting. I do not fancy the way you speak to me.”
“Well, what are you going to do about it?”
“That’s what I’d like to know,” put in Lloyd Fowler. “I want my money. I didn’t come out here to be fooled this way.”