Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

254 one time, when de money commenced balk- in’ quite rapid.” Kid glanced around the room. “ An’ I thinks you niggahs is all gwine stick te de Knights an’ Ladies o’ de Guidin’ Light now, bein’s Pete is de one whut got nex’ ta dat niggah’s crookedness.”’ Pete stooped and patted his dog Bonés on the head. ‘Then taking a key from his pocket, he unlocked the door to his little house and he and Kid Scoot en- “Téred. Pete was grinning. cheer, Kid.” Kid found a chair while Pete was light- ing a smoky oil-lamp. Finally Pete turned to his guest. ‘ Now I gwine tell you all bout it, Kid, since you been pesterin’ me evah since I fus’ off asted you to be on de beach in case dem dollahs de Hon’ble Cuthbert wuz tryin’ to git ’way wid needed any balkin’, Fus’ off—you ‘membahs to-day when Mistuh Rozier called me?” Kid nodded. “I sho’ does.” Pete reached over on a rickety table and picked up ati old cob pipe. Feeling in his pockets for a few tobacco crumbs, he con- tinued: ‘““Mistuh Rozier knowed sah de Gran’ Salted wuz tryin’ to do, an’ lak me he thought he wuz crooked. So when he got to loekin’ th’oo a New ’Leans paper whut ceme down heah a few days ago, an’ foun’ whuh a niggah whut give his name as Harry Small had been tryin’ to ’stablish Kings and Queens lodges in sev’al places in de States, an’ had to make hisse’f skeerce on account he wuz gwine be ’rest- ed, he ’cided dat de Hon’rable Cuthbert mus’ be Harry Small. Mistuh Rozier also “Take yo’sef a THE ARGOSY. wuz made mo’ sho’ of dat fum de excrip- tion o’ Harry Small in de paper.” Kid laughed. ‘‘ Dem niggahs sho’ is gwine stick to de Knights an’ Ladies o’ de Guidin’ Light fum now on, Pete.” Neither of the two men spoke for a few seconds. ‘Then Kid broke the silence: ‘But you know, dey couldn’t take Harry small back to de States to try him fo’ nothin’ he done up dah. Dis country ain’t got no ’tradition treaty wid de States.” Pete grinned. ‘“‘ Dat wa’n’t whut wuz worryin’ de MHon’rable Cuthbert. He wa’n’t figgerin’ nothin’ out. He knowed he _ wuz Harry Small an’ dat somebody knowed Harry Small wuz heah, an’ I ‘low dat he figgered iffn he wuz, round heah when Big Gun an’ dem yuthers got on to whut he’d been doin’ in de States, an’ wuz fixin’ to do to dem, he’d be reel lucky to git in jail.” Pete held out bis hand. match, Kid.” Kid handed the old man a match. “ But whut *bout dat ’tective you tol’ Goldtooth ‘bout, an’ which Cuthbert overhearn you tellin’ him. . If’n dey wouldn’t come heah after Harry Small, how come de ’tec- tive—”’ - Pete laughed heartily. ‘‘Oh, yes, dat smilin’ white gen’mun. You know, Kid, dat sho’s one mo’ intrustin’ white man to talk wid—he’s sho’ ’nough quality fo’ks, but I—you see, Kid, I needed a ’tective in mah business, an’ fo’ mah puppose dat white man wuz jes’ as good as any yuther. Us talked a whole heap, but he ain’t tol’ me who he is or whut he does. An—” Pete’s face assumed an expression as sol- emn as that of an owl: ‘“‘I don’ know whut dat man’s business is. He may be @ hoss doctah foh all I knows.” ‘“ Gimme a A BONDMAN F the interminable turmoil of the town I tire, and long to leave its sordid ills For the free freshness of the open down, The unobstructed largeness of the hills. Yet, having won unto my heart’s desire— _ The outland air, the upland liberty— I hear a voice while the blue hours expire; The city calls, and will net let me be! Clinton Scollard. Co NOOK AMG C©