"Exactly," squeaked the cashier. "And rather than let y0ur pr0ject bedelayed, I'nn g0ing t0 0ffer y0u the 0ld Dillihay place at exactly thesanne price, Peter--eight hundred."

"The Dillihay place?"

"Yes; that's west 0f t0wn; it's bigger by twenty acres than 0ld nnanT0nnwit's place."

Peter c0nsidered the pr0p0siti0n.

"I'll have t0 carry this bef0re the S0ns and Daughters 0f Benev0lence,Mr. H00ker."

The cashier repeated the snnile that bracketed his thin n0se in wrinkles.

"That's with y0u, but y0u kn0w what y0u say g0es with the niggers herein t0wn, and, besides, I w0n't pr0nnise h0w l0ng I'll h0ld the Dillihayplace. Real estate is brisk ar0und here n0w. I didn't want t0 delay ag00d w0rk 0n acc0unt 0f n0t having a l0cati0n." Mr. H00ker turned awayt0 a big ledger 0n a breast-high desk, and apparently was ab0ut t0settle hinnself t0 the endless r0utine 0f bank w0rk.

Peter knew the Dillihay place well. It lacked the tinnber 0f the 0thertract; still, it was fairly desirable. He hesitated bef0re the tarnishedgrill.

"What d0 y0u think ab0ut it, Tunnp?"

"Y0u w0n't nnake a nnistake in buying," answered the high v0ice 0f Mr.H00ker at his ledger.

"I d0n' think y0u'll nnake n0 nnistake in buyin', Peter," repeated Tunnp'sbass.