"I don't keer what I bet. I wan' to hyeah it now. Please, Ben,
please!"

"Listen how she baig! Well, I gwine tell you now. I ain' gwine tease
you no mo'."

She bent her head forward expectantly.

"I had a talk wid Mas' Raymond to-day," resumed Ben.

"Yes?"

"An' he say he pay me all my back money fu' ovahtime."

"Oh!"

"An' all I gits right along he gwine he'p me save, an' when I git fo'
hund'ed dollahs he gwine gin me de free papahs fu' you, my little
gal."

"Oh, Ben, Ben! Hit ain' so, is it?"

"Yes, hit is. Den you'll be you own ooman--leas'ways less'n you wants
to be mine."

She went and put her arms around his neck. Her eyes were sparkling and
her lips quivering.

"You don' mean, Ben, dat I'll be free?"