Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 159: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

laughter and singing came from most of the camp-cars that stood on the siding west of the station. The car that stood nearest to the depot was that wherein Steamboat Jackson and some of his special cronies abode. Andy paused and hstened for a few moments. From this Jast car came the loudest of the sounds—and the sounds were neither those of laughter nor singing. High, declamatory voices sounded there, _ and the words that floated out were plenti- fully besprinkled with oaths. ~ A voice came from the rear corner of the station, close at hands “Mistuh Agent!” “Ves?” answered Andy. The voice, though low-pitched, was unmistakably that of Memphis Joe. “What is it, Memphis?” “Step over close here, please. I don’ _ want none them other steel gangers see me | talkin’ to you.” Wondering, Andy moved over into the gloom of the corner. “‘What’s the matter, Memphis?” “Mistuh Agent, I don’ like the way that Steamboat man is actin’!”’ Memphis spoke with swift earnestness. ‘‘He’s done _ got sev’ral bottles gin some’eres, an’ he’s _ been settin’ up the drinks to that crowd I; of his in his camp-car. They all cert’nly Is been talkin’ high an’ free this las’ hour or so. I been listenin’.” — “IT was trying to hear them myself just - now,” said Peck. “What they talking about, Memphis—you know?” “They’s aimin’ to make big trouble, Mistuh Agent—an’ that’s a fact! Some _ folks, white an’ colored, bound to git hurt _ if Steamboat’s crowd do whut they’s blowin’!’’ “And what’s next?” ? “Whut I tol’ you las’ night—like Steam- boat an’ his gang done up at Scanlon’s s‘loon las’ pay-day. They’s blowin’ they’s goin’ back up there tonight an’ make the townfolks stan’ round!” “You don’t say!’ exclaimed Andy. “But do you think they'll really try it?” ) Memphis spoke with conviction. ; “They got lot o’ gin in ’em,” he declared. “An’ some colored folks li’ble do most anything w’en they gits the booze. They'll t’s bad!’ said Andy, frowning in es aid Andy, frowning in the _ “Yes, suh!” affirmed Memphis. “Goin’ “* = * + 4 > « > re ’ _ make big trouble for lot 0’ us colored folks. J rs ers Sin al Agent Andy 149 whut don’ want no trouble. W’en Steam- boat an’ his crowd goes up-town, folks there most likely’ll chase *em down here to the camp-cars. Then there'll be a mix—an’ all colored folks’ll look alike!” “By Jove, Memphis!” ejaculated Andy. “T believe you’re not far wrong. First thing we know there’ll be a race war on!” ‘Ves, suh, that’s jest whut I figger. - But T’se not said nothin’ yet to nobody but ou.”” : “Can’t some of you stop Steamboat and his bunch?” “No, suh, boss, I’se ‘fraid not. Ain’t no colored man goin’ tackle Steamboat— not no time, an* least of all w’en he’s drinkin’!” The door of Steamboat’s car was flung open while Andy stood considering, and a broad beam of light shone out. A roaring voice—Steamboat’s—reached them. “‘T’se not goin’ ‘low nobody interfere inmy bizness! No, suh! If I want go up an’ buy me a lil drink, tha’s my bizness, an’ ain’t no white folks goin’ stop me! Can’t nobod fy The door was slammed shut again, and the roaring voice and the howls of approval were partially shut off. Andy looked around to where Memphis Joe had been standing. But Memphis Joe was moving away—a deeper shadow in the shadows that lay along the side of the depot. That roaring voice obviously had been too much for his nerves. | ‘“‘Memphis!”’ called the agent. But Memphis paused not. “You do whut you kin, Mistuh Agent.” The words floated back from the rétreating steel ganger pleadingly. ‘Might be yo’ could call on the company fo’ help.” Memphis Joe faded around the far corner of the building and was gone. Andy, worried and perplexed, hauled the truck out to the front of the station and then entered his office. He went to the key of the train wire and called Dis- patcher Potts, whose office was at Wharton. _ “Some of the steel gang men are threaten- ing to make trouble tonight,” he said when the dispatcher had answered his call. “Could you get some police officers out here soon?” : 2 “Why, yes—likely,” replied Potts. What seems to be the matter, Andy?” They got some booze and are showing si ~~ —*. a es... ae 2 * ’ ~ 7 Mb ree CE cv, ee eae J gns of going on the war-path. Liable.