“I shall be glad to know of some of these successful farmers who are using the improved methods.  Will you name one, just as an example, and tell me about what he has done to restore his land?”

“Well,” said the agent, “There’s T. O. Thornton, for example.  Mr. Thornton bought an old plantation of a thousand acres only six years ago at a cost of six dollars an acre.  He has been growing cowpeas in rotation with other crops; and, as I say, he is making money hand over fist.  A few months ago he refused to consider fifty dollars an acre for his land, but still there are some of these old plantations left that can be bought for forty dollars, because the people don’t really know what they are worth.  However, our lands are all much higher than they were a few years ago.”

“Where does Mr. Thornton live?” asked Percy.

“Oh, he lives at Blairville, nearly a hundred miles from Richmond.  Yes, he lives on his farm near Blairville.  I tell you he’s making good all right, but I don’t know of any land for sale in that section.”

“I think I will go out to Blairville to see Mr. Thornton’s farm,” said Percy.  “Do you know when the trains run?”

“Well, I’m sorry to say that the train service is very poor to Blairvile.  There is only one train a day that reaches Blairville in daylight, and that leaves Richmond very early in the morning.”

“That is all right,” said Percy, “it will probably get me there in time so that I shall be sure to find Mr. Thornton at home.  I thank you very much, Sir.  Perhaps I shall be able to see you again when I return from Blairville.”

“When you return from Blairville is about the most uncertain thing in the world.  As I said, the train service is mighty poor to Blairville, and it’s still poorer, you’ll find, when you want to leave Blairville.  Why, a traveling man told me he had been on the road for fifteen years, and he swore he had spent seven of ’em at Blairville waiting for trains.  Better take my advice and look over some of the fine old plantations right here in the next county and then you can take all the rest of the month if you wish getting in and out of Blairville.”

About eight o’clock the following morning Percy might have been seen walking along the railroad which ran through Mr. Thornton’s farm about two miles from Blairvile.  He saw a well beaten path which led from the railroad to a nearby cottage and a knock brought to the door a negro woman followed by several children.

“Can you tell me where Mr. Thornton’s farm is?” he inquired.

“Yes, Suh,” she replied.  “This is Mistah Tho’nton’s place, right heah, Suh.  Leastways, it was his place; but we done bought twenty acahs of it heah, wheah we live, ‘cept tain all paid fo’ yit.  Mistah Tho’nton lives in the big house over theah ’bout half a mile.”

“May I ask what you have to pay for land here?”

“Oh, we have to pay ten dollahs an acah, cause we can’t pay cash.  My ol’ man he wo’ks on the railroad section and we just pay Mistah Tho’nton foh dollahs every month.  My chil’n wo’k in the ga’den and tend that acah patch o’ co’n.”