In mark twain's narrative "i sell a dog," why are the narrator and his friend william swinton short on money?

The reason why the narrator and his friend, William Swinston is short in money because of the reason that Swinston has the habit of buying whiskey in which he loves dearly that he almost spends the money they have on it. This gives the effect on their lives in which instead of having money to save and used in their needs, they lack and are short on it.

The man thinks she's the lady he's trying to find. she then lifts the veil and he announces that he'd made a mistake and that he'd thought she was the woman, but had been wrong. truthfully, though, he'd been right. this reveals that the he didnt recognize her (though he said he would recognize her voice or her build) and that he's still looking for the girl. he doesnt find the woman appealing or attractive, and is more or less disgusted by her appearance. he didn't understand what the lady meant when she told him the story about her "friend"