Carmella Commands
“That is mine.”
“That’s his land,” said Carmella in English.
Silently the four crossed the cement highway, completed and open for traffic within the week.
“You have a quarter acre?” asked Mr. Hastings. Carmella repeated to Tommaso, and translated his reply.
“Two lots. Eighty by one hundred.”
Mr. Hastings began to chuckle.
“But you said four thousand for it,” he said.
Tommaso looked at Carmella, who repeated in Italian.
“Si!” he said, nodding gravely.
“‘Si’ means ‘Yes,’” said Carmella, solemnly.
“But,” said Mr. Hastings, “we can buy better land a mile beyond for half that.”
Carmella translated.
“Do so, then,” said Tommaso.
“What’d he say?” demanded both men, turning to Carmella in their eagerness.
“He said it was a grand little old idea of yours and to skip to it,” said she.
“Oh!”
For a moment the two men consulted, walking slowly away. Carmella heard them use the name Barrington, and listened eagerly.
“He said get it, up to twice its value,” she heard Mr. Richmond say. “It’s his funeral. He overlooked this plot. And he’s sure got to have it before he can
[45]
