“‘Yours truly,
“TOM.’
“I had scarcely finished reading the letter when a little negro boy—a servant belonging to the household—came in and handed me a note.
“‘Here, boss,’ he exclaimed, as he shoved the paper in my face, ‘dar is de letter what de lady axed me to fetch to you.’
“‘What lady are you talking about?’
“‘How you ’spect dis nigger to tell de lady’s name ’cept he knowed it?’
“‘When and where did you see the lady who gave you this letter?’
“‘I was gwine to de drug-store to fetch missus some ‘scription for dat sick nigger what had de ager, and de lady cotch me by de arm and told me to give de letter into your own hand; den she give dis nigger a whole dollar and went off.’
“‘What street were you in when you met the lady?’
“‘Squeal street, close to de church.’
“‘Beal street you mean.’