"Could pay some at a time?" He frowns and scratches his ear. "Don't wanta short you, but... 's a lot, where'm from."

At that he does pull out his billfold, which looks like it is made from more cardboard and glue than leather, and some coin change. "Gotta dollar sixteen." His expression is just a little sorrowful, because his visions of carnival food are crumpling under this. "Guess I don't need anything else, here."

It is just possible that he is playing up his disappointment slightly. Deliberately.