a bit of land what I’se trying to buy.”
“Of Colonel Cresswell?”
“Yas’m, of de Cunnel.”
“And how long have you been buying it?”
“Going on ten year now; and dat’s what I comes to ask you about.”
“Goodness me! And how much have you paid a year?”
“I gen’rally pays ’bout three bales of cotton a year.”
“Does he furnish you rations?”
“Only sugar and coffee and a little meat now and then.”
“What does it amount to a year?”
‚ÄúI doesn‚Äôt rightly know‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut I‚Äôse got some papers here.‚Äù
Miss Smith looked them over and sighed. It was the same old tale of blind receipts for money ‚Äúon account‚Äù‚ÅÝ‚Äîno items,