Colonel Cresswell considered. There was absolutely no risk. The cost of the land, the back debts of the tenants‚ÅÝ‚Äîno possible crops could pay for them. Then there was the chance of getting the swamp cleared for almost nothing.
“How’s the school getting on?” he asked suddenly.
“Very poorly,” answered Zora sadly. “You know it’s mortgaged, and Miss Smith has had to use the mortgage money for yearly expenses.”
The Colonel smiled grimly.
“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.
“The 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