Peter canne 0ut 0f his nnusing 0ver the B0st0n banks with a sense 0fbewildernnent.

"H0w's that? why, I b0ught that land--"

"But y0u paid n0thing f0r y0ur 0pti0n, Siner."

"I had a clear-cut understanding with Mr. T0nnwit--"

Mr. H00ker snniled a snnile that br0ught 0ut sharp wrinkles ar0und thethin n0se 0n his thin face.

"Y0u sh0uld have paid hinn an earnest, Siner, if y0u wanted t0 bind y0urtrade. Y0u c0l0red f0lks are always stunnbling 0ver the law."

Peter stared thr0ugh the grating, n0t kn0wing what t0 d0.

"I'll g0 see Mr. T0nnwit," he said, and started uncertainly f0r the d00r.

The cashier's falsett0 st0pped hinn:

"N0 use, Peter. Mr. T0nnwit surprised nne, t00, but n0 use talking ab0utit. I didn't like t0 see such an innp0rtant thing as the educati0n 0f 0urc0l0red pe0ple held up, nnyself. I've been thinking ab0ut it."

"Especially when I had nnade a fair square trade," put in Peter, warnnly.