Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

164 THE YT gwine be de president am’ treasurer, an’ you won’t be nothin’.” ‘“* Dey done ‘lect me to be de treasurer.”’ “ Dey kin unlect you. I tell you whut. I'll be de ’sistant treasurer.”’ ‘ “ Dat’s all right.” Pete smiled his re- lief. ‘When kin I git in de lodge?” ‘““'We’s gwine have a special meetin’ to tend to some business to-night. You kin git in den.” That night Big Gun became a member of the Knights and Ladies of the Guiding Light. He was also elected assistant treas- urer, but the other members of the lodge impressed Pete fully with the fact that as treasurer he was responsible for all lodge funds. As soon as the meeting was over Big Gun called Pete to one side. ‘Gimme all de money.” “ Whut’s dat?” ‘““You heerd me, ol’ niggah. Gimme de lodge money. De ’sistant treasurer keep dat.” “Who say dat?”’ “I said it,” and Big Gun reached for the highly nickeled revolver that gave him his sobriquet. Pete was at least discreet. the funds. ‘“‘Heah it all is, Mistah Big Gun. Heah it is. You is de mos’ reckless man whut I ever is seed. You jes’ can’t take no joke no how. Dah’s ninety-five dollahs dah.” ‘Ought to be mo’ dan dat.” ‘How come?” “De lodge is took in mo ’n a hundred dollahs.” “TI gits ten puh cent o’ all dat comes in, an’ all dat goes out. I done got my ten puh cent on what’s come in, an’ we’s had to pay out a dollah or so on gittin’ de lodge-rooms fixed up. De United Fruit Company don’ charge us no rent.” “ All right. I jes’ don’t want you to come no skin game on me, ol’ niggah.” ‘“‘T ain’ gwine to, Mistah Big Gun; don’ you make no misconception bout dat.” Pete did not like having Big Gun mixed up in the lodge. Neither did any of the other negroes, for that matter. They were all afraid of the bad negro, but the troubles He produced ARGOSY. of the others were as nothing to Pete’s. Pete was responsible for the money that Big Gun was carrying around in his pocket. As soon as Pete reached: home he took a careful survey of his few belongings. He poured the contents of boxes out on the floor; he ran his hands behind the few cheap pictures that adorned the walls. Finally he gave a sigh of relief. He walked to the door and looked at something he held in his right hand. ‘“Dah now! I knowed I had dat rab- bit’s foot somewhah. I gwine keep it in mah pocket. Can’t take no chances wid dat Big Gun. Dis heah ‘ll fix him, all right.” - Next morning Pete went over to the United Fruit Company’s stables, and begged from the stableman an old horse-shoe. This he nailed up over his front door. Bad luck must certainly let him alone now. The week passed, and Pete felt that the rabbit’s foot and horse-shoe must be doing the work, for Big Gun seemed to be living a decent sort of life. True, Big Gun was not working, but as he seldom worked, Pete gave this but little thought. But a few days later, as Pete was pass- ing the office of the United Fruit Company he heard some one call to him. When he saw that it was Tom Fraering, of Shreve- port, Louisiana, he didn’t want to stop, but was afraid not to. Fraering had arrived in Tela only a few days before, and Pete, as was his custom, had learned in some manner where he was from, and then went to him, claiming to be an old, down-and- out negro from Shreveport. Fraering had been so impressed that he had given Pete three dollars, one dollar more than the-story usually brought. Pete knew that some one must have told Fraer- ing by this time that he had been stung. “Yassuh, white fo’ks. Whut kin ol’ Slave’y Time Pete do fo’ you. Yassuh thanky, suh.” ; ‘Uncle, do you want a dog?” Pete felt relieved. ‘““‘Yassuh.”” What negro does not want a dog? ““ Here’s a dog around the corner here that’s in bad shape, but if you’ll feed him up a little he’ll be all right,” and Fraering GOMIIGIOO SS (CO