Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/268

264 but before I was born my father persuaded old Bolling, that was Rolfe's father, to sell it outright. He was a man who could be persuaded into anything. My father wanted more land than was mentioned in the lease and while he was buying it he easily bought the other. It wasn't supposed to be valuable land, but my father paid a good price for it. Old Peachy can't beat me remembering. I can remember what happened before I was born."

"I suppose you have the deed, or something with which to combat their evidence?" asked Spot.

"It must have been duly recorded, of course—but, by Jove, when the Yankees tried to burn the court house some of those deed books disappeared! If that particular one was among them then old Rolfe will give me some trouble. I am sure there is nothing among my father's papers in the way of proof."

Major Taylor looked worried.

"They never have been able to trace the deed books that were lost. It would hardly be likely that the Yankees would want to steal such useless treasures as old deed books. There were three of them I believe."

Investigation disclosed that the deed book in which the transaction between the owners of The