“It will cost you fifty dollars an acre,” he said finally. Zora looked disappointed and figured out the matter slowly.
‚ÄúThat would be one thousand down and nine thousand to pay‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
“With interest,” said Cresswell.
Zora shook her head doubtfully.
“What would the interest be?” she asked.
“Ten percent.”
She stood silent a moment and Colonel Cresswell spoke up:
‚ÄúIt‚Äôs the best land about here and about the only land you can buy‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI wouldn‚Äôt sell it to anybody else.‚Äù
She still hesitated.
‚ÄúThe trouble is, you see, Colonel Cresswell, the price is high and the interest heavy. And after all I may not be able to get as many tenants as I‚Äôd need. I think though, I‚Äôd try it if‚ÅÝ‚Äîif I could be sure you‚Äôd treat me fairly, and that I‚Äôd get the land if I paid for it.‚Äù
Colonel Cresswell reddened a little, and John Taylor looked away.
“Well, if you don’t want to undertake it, all right.”
Zora looked thoughtfully across the field‚ÅÝ‚Äî
‚Äú Mr. ¬ÝMaxwell has a bit of land,‚Äù she began meditatively.
“Worked out, and not worth five dollars an acre!” snapped the Colonel. But he did not propose to hand Maxwell a thousand dollars.