th nonchalantly, so nonchalantly as to
irritate the colonel. The colonel's impatience was not lessened by the
fact that Fetters waited several seconds before replying.

"Well, Mr. Fetters, what say you?"

"Colonel French," said Fetters, "I reckon you can't have the nigger."

"Is it a matter of money?" asked the colonel. "Name your figure. I
don't care about the money. I want the man for a personal reason."

"So do I," returned Fetters, coolly, "and money's no object to me.
I've more now than I know what to do with."

The colonel mastered his impatience. He had one appeal which no
Southerner could resist.

"Mr. Fetters," he said, "I wish to get this man released to please a
lady."

"Sorry to disoblige a lady," returned Fetters, "but I'll have to keep
the nigger. I run a big place, and I'm obliged to maintain discipline.
This nigger has been fractious and contrary, and I've sworn that he
shall work out his time. I have never let any nigger get the best of
me--or white man either," he added significantly.

The colonel was angry, but controlled himself long enough to make one
more effort. "I'll give you five hundred dollars for your contract,"
he said rising from his chair.

"You couldn't get him for five thousand."

"Very well, sir," returned the colonel, "this is not the end of this.
I will see, sir, if a man can be held in slavery in this State, for a
debt he is willing and ready to pay. You'll hear more of this before
I'm through with it."

"Another thing, Colonel French," said Fetters, his quiet eyes
glittering as he spoke, "I wonder if you recollect an incident that
occurred years ago, when we went to the academy in Clarendon?"

"If you refer," returned the colonel promptly, "to the time I chased
you down Main Street, yes--I recalled it the first time I heard of
you when I came back to Clarendon--and I remember why I did it. It is
a good omen."

"That's as it may be," returned Fetters quietly. "I didn't have to
recall it; I've never forgotten it. Now you want something from me,
and you can't have it."

"We shall see," replied the colonel. "I bested you then, and I'll best
you now."

"We shall see," said Fetters.

Fetters was not at all alarmed, indeed he smiled rather pityingly.
There had been a time when these old aristocrats could speak, and the
earth trembled, but that day was over. In this age money talked, and
he had known how to get money, and how to use it to get more. There
were a dozen c