wench land right in front of his door. He meant to rent her the land and sign a receipt for rent paid in advance. I will not worry your honor by a long argument to prove this, but just call one of the witnesses well known to you‚ÅÝ‚Äî Mr. ¬ÝJohn Taylor of the Toomsville mills.‚Äù
Taylor looked toward the door and then slowly took the stand.
‚Äú Mr. ¬ÝTaylor,‚Äù said the lawyer carelessly, ‚Äúwere you present at this transaction?‚Äù
“Yes.”
“Did you see Colonel Cresswell sign this paper?”
“Yes.”
“Well, did he intend so far as you know to sign such a paper?”
“I do not know his intentions.”
“Did he say he meant to sign such a contract?”
Taylor hesitated.
“Yes,” he finally answered. Colonel Cresswell looked up in amazement and the lawyer dropped his glasses.
‚ÄúI‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI don‚Äôt think you perhaps understood me, Mr. ¬ÝTaylor,‚Äù he gasped. ‚ÄúI‚ÅÝ‚Äîer‚ÅÝ‚Äîmeant to ask if Colonel Cresswell, in signing this paper, meant to sign a contract to sell this wench two hundred acres of land?‚Äù
“He said he did,” reiterated Taylor. “Although I ought to add that he did not think the girl would ever be able to pay. If he had thought she would pay, I don’t think he would have signed the paper.”