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112  The Conjure Woman

one Sad'day. Mars Jim was stan'in' in front er Sandy Campbell's bar-room, up by de ole wagon-ya'd, w'en a po' w'ite man fum down on de Wim'l'ton Road come up ter 'im en ax' 'im, kinder keerless lack, ef he did n' wanter buy a mule.
  "'I dunno,' says Mars Jim; 'it 'pen's on de mule, en on de price. Whar is de mule?'
  "'Des 'roun' heah back er ole Tom McAllister's sto',' says de po' w'ite man.
  "'I reckon I'll hab a look at de mule,' says Mars Jum, 'en ef he suit me, I dunno but w'at I mought buy 'im.'
  "So de po' w'ite man tuk Mars Jim 'roun' back er de sto', en dere stood a monst'us fine mule. W'en de mule see Mars Jim, he gun a whinny, des lack he knowed him befo'. Mars Jim look' at de mule, en de mule 'peared ter be soun' en strong. Mars Jim 'lowed dey 'peared ter be sump'n fermilyus 'bout de mule's face, 'spesh'ly his eyes; but he had n'