Where...?” “Here, Ma’am. Ruth. I couldn’t stand them. Your coins are all there, except two.” She opened a small door into a closet. My skirt and blouse hung there, clean, and my underskirt was folded. I put on my undergarment, then the dress she had ironed. It was light after the heavy traveling outfit. “Your coins show, Ma’am. Ruth. This won’t hide them.” “What do people do?” “Gents wear a money belt. Women carry a purse and aren’t expected to have much. You could put it in the bank, but that money won’t go far, here. Things cost. Most things come by ship or overland.” “Thank you. I used one to pay my landlady in Memphis. The other is still in my purse, in case I needed it on the journey.” “Take a couple in your purse and have Mrs. Jones put the rest in her safe.” She helped me take the coins out. I had ten in all, what seemed a lot to me in the mountains. Lila took me to Mrs. Jones’ area of the house and that woman put them away for me and gave me a paper saying how much I had.
