"Yes, ah, hah. So I've got another plan."
"Oh, I don't reckon you're slow, Lije, when it comes to gittin' up plans."
"That's true. An' I'm jest a little slow about askin' favors, but I want to borry a thousand dollars, an' I don't want no time sot when it must be paid back, nuther. I want that understood."
"Why, that's what they call blackmail, ain't it?"
"Oh, I don't care whut they call it, but I want you to git it fur me. That p'int is settled. You've got to git it, an' git it quick."
"Why, Peters, I'd have to sell my land."
"Better do that than to throw away yo' liberty. You know that it means ruin for you an' yo' wife an' a broken heart fur yo' girl. All I've got to do is to act, an' you go to the penitentiary."
Upon Starbuck's face there was an expression of keen suffering. Pleadingly he put up his hands, looking toward the door leading into the kitchen and exclaimed. "Hold on. Somebody mout hear you."
"Oh, got you to thinkin', have I?"
"Yes, an' a man thinks better when he's by hisse'f."