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. “Now, see here, I’ll treat you as well as anybody, and you know it.”
“I believe so, sir,” acknowledged Zora in a tone that brought a sudden keen glance from Taylor; but her face was a mask. “I reckon I’ll make the bargain.”
“All right. Bring the money and we’ll fix the thing up.”
“The money is here,” said Zora, taking an envelope out of her bosom.
“Well, leave it here, and I’ll see to it.”
“But you see, sir, Miss Smith is so methodical; she expects some papers or receipts.”
“Well, it’s too late tonight.”
‚ÄúPossibly you could sign a sort of receipt and later‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
Cresswell laughed. “Well, write one,” he indulgently assented. And Zora wrote.