The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-09-17
A SILENT PARTNER.

~ s... A MLENT iyARTNkk. RI I }H
Old Dabbs and Jim Carter, two !
colored men, having grown tired Of
kind of q grocery store. Dabbs was
shrewd, bow-legged man, with broad
feet, and with q nose shaped like the
half Of a pear. Carter WAS young aud
Inexperienced After the sock had
been purchased, Dabbs remarked:
| "Carter, Use do olest. In dis case
hits naisessary fur yer to he Jungier
| podner.''
can right" said Carter, "I don't
half de money whut comes In ober do
counter"
"Dat's fack, Carter; yen make .
sharp business man. Dar's lot OBJ
niggers got dar eyes ON dis sto'. but
we'll fool 'em. Carter, docs yer owe
any debts In dis wurl' ~ ..fy
"Lemme see yes, owes . man for
a saddle blanket" LII. a.
ssHow long hab you owed him ?''
"'Bout five years." ..s..5
&C How much wuz hit wurf?"
"'Bout two dOllars.'' ~E,.35l
ssI.emme count tho intrllst. Two Is
two, added onto dc five, duplex frac-
tions comm in twiXt de two am de Ave
cosnpouu' cathartic fractions cOmln'
twixt de duplex fractions. Nine's, .
nine, with ten as podncr. Teu coca
way an 'leben STAINS up. Mr.. Carter,
yer owes dat man 'leben hundred dol
lars an a quarter"
elbows dat 2" sAs-l
oWhy, corttin' ter dc intrust. De
intrust ia awfully heaby. Hit fairly
makes man sweat. Hit breaks up de
white man and robs de niggah of his
l>l NoA n md
up our stO'. He could sell lls out. l
heard plantation niger talkin' bout
us yesterday. Now ef yer wux dc
signcr partner, which means de olest,
the man couldn't do nothin'. Dis IL =
fault oh de law. De Latgeslature Is q
awful rascal lot of fellers. Well, now,
you must be my silent pOtlner. Does
ye heah ?' HA Dst. 81 0
"I'se lisenin'." &t 'aJ f. on' r
sDen do man can't tech yer.' I'ss
got a head as long as watermilliou 3
Well, now. lemmy read yer dis paper"
Then Dabbs reNd tho following:
"Dis heah is to certify dat Dabbs and
Carter Ia potlners, Dabbs In do action
podner AM Carter ls the silen' podner.
Dis is also ter certify, dat so soon ex
Dabbs quits bein' do action podner de
whole sto' longs to Carter, am when
Carter quits bein' dc silon' potlner,
widout anuder 'greemcnt, do stO' all
longs ter Dabbs."
"Dis wore wrot up by cullud law
yor,'' said Dabbs. s'Sign de paper"
The two men signed the instrument
and called In witnesses. Next Inorn-
ing Dabbs came down to the store
carly, and when Carter arrived all the
witnesses were sitting In the store
room.
"Good morning, Dabbs, !" said Carter.
Dabbs didn't say anything, and Carter
continued: "Why de deuce doesn't
yer speak to lne?''
ssDc sto's all minc," said Dabbs,
arising and turning to the witnesses.
"How's dat ?'' asked Cartor.
cease ycr's no longer silent poCiner.
] Ycr's talkin'. Whom n man talks he's
not silent. Yer'll please leab my sto'
Carter, an go off down in dc country.
If you'd stuck ter do 'grecmcnt cherry
ting would been all right. HITS plain
ter be seed dat yer WON'T"
Carter appealed to the witnesses, but
was informed that he had broken
silence, and of course was no longer
part owner of the store. The discon-
solate man left. He Is now candi.
date for tho Legislature, and swears
that II he Is elected nc will work for
the repeal of the odious law. . .... ..
TIE CROFT. BENHOL TAGGER.''