The latter pushed up his goggles, stared at the note for a moment, and then pulled the goggles down over his eyes again.
“That’s the paper, all right,” he observed. “Why wasn’t it presented when due? I had the money to pay it, then, but I’m pretty badly crowded just now.”
“You’ll pay it?” asked Clancy hopefully.
“Always pay my obligations, if I’m given time enough. But I can’t do it right off, Clancy. You’ll have to give me a week or two to round up the money.”
Clancy returned the note to the wallet and the wallet to the breast of his shirt.
“I want to close the matter up as quickly as possible, Mr. Rockwell,” he answered. “You see, I’ve got to find a job right away, and get busy. I haven’t any money to waste loafing around. If there is no garage in Phoenix that can find a place for me, I’ll have to go to some other town.”
Rockwell remained thoughtful for several minutes.
“Ever work in a garage?” he asked.
“No,” was the answer. “Up to now I haven’t had to work. Dad has had plenty of money, and I was attending an academy and getting ready for college. When the crash came, I had to quit school and look for work. The care of the family now falls on me, and—and I’ve got to make good.”