There was a note saying that enclosed he would please find a bill for the current year's taxes on the 75,000 acres of Tennessee Land belonging to the estate of Silas Hawkins, deceased, and added that the money must be paid within sixty days or the land would be sold at public auction for the taxes, as provided by law.

The bill was for $180--something more than twice the market value of the land, perhaps.
Washington hesitated.

Doubts flitted through his mind.

The old instinct came upon him to cling to the land just a little longer and give it one more chance.

He walked the floor feverishly, his mind tortured by indecision.