I bought 'im in for Mr. Fetters, an'
he's the only man that's got any say about 'im."
"Very well," said the colonel as he turned away, "I'll see Fetters."
"I don't know whether you will or not," said Turner to himself, as he
shot a vindictive glance at the colonel's retreating figure. "Fetters
has got this county where he wants it, an' I'll bet dollars to bird
shot he ain't goin' to let no coon-flavoured No'the'n interloper come
down here an' mix up with his arrangements, even if he did hail from
this town way back yonder. This here nigger problem is a South'en
problem, and outsiders might's well keep their han's off. Me and
Haines an' Fetters is the kind o' men to settle it."
The colonel was obliged to confess to Miss Laura his temporary
setback, which he went around to the house and did immediately.
"It's the first thing I've undertaken yet for your sake, Laura, and
I've got to report failure, so far."
"It's only the first step," she said, consolingly.
"That's all. I'll drive out to Fetters's place to-morrow, and arrange
the matter. By starting before day, I can make it and transact my
business, and get back by night, without hurting the horses."
Catharine was called in and the situation explained to her. Though
clearly disappointed at the delay, and not yet free of apprehension
that Bud might do something rash, she seemed serenely confident of the
colonel's ultimate success. In her simple creed, God might sometimes
seem to neglect his black children, but no harm could come to a Negro
who had a rich white gentleman for friend and protector.
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