Mexico Missouri message., 1912-02-29
CHAPTER XXI.
Pretending Reality.


and Jimmy had hung on her front
fence for an hour, watching them with
eager interest. The negroes were
chained together In pairs, and guard.
cd by two, big, burly white men.
Let's us play chain-gang," suggest
ed Jimmy.
Where we goin' to git a chain"
queried Billy; '"t won't be no fun
'thout a lock an chain"
II can get the lock and chain of IN
Sarah James cabin"
"Yo' mama don't low you TO so TO
her cabin" said Billy.
MY mama don't care IL Just bora
a lock and chain; so m going to get
it"
81 m going to be the perlice of the
gang" said Frances.
'Perlice nothing. You all time talk.
ing bout you going to be a perlice, -
scoffed Jimmy. 81 m going to be the
perlice myself"
NO. you are not" interposed Lima.
firmly. Billy and l are the tallest and
we are going to be the guards, and
you and Frances must be the prison
ers."
We'll, l amt going to play 'thout I
can be the boss Of the niggers. 1t g
Sarah James chain and she s my
mama's cook, and I'm going to be what
| please"
Il II tell you what do" was Billy's
suggestion, well take it turn about
mo m, line III Rrot he tbo ,ort;,o , ',
y all be the chain-gang, an then we
| II be the niggers an y all be the
| bosses"
This arrangement was satisfactory
so the younger boy climbed the fence
and soon returned with a short chain
and paddock.
Billy chained Jimmy and Frances to-
gether by two round, fat ankles and
put the key to the lock In his pocket.
we must decide what crimes they
have committed" said Lima.
Frances done got rested fer shoot.
in craps an Jimmy done got rested
fer 'sturbin' public worship" said the
other boss.
Nav, l amt neither" objected the
VI TIC lI-kdIB,
done cut my woman with q razor
cause | see her racking down the
street like proud coon with another
gent, like what Sarah James brother
telled nae he done at the picnic"
The children played happily together
for half an hour, Billy and Lima com.
manding, and the prisoners, entering
thoroughly into the spirit of the game
according prompt obedience to their
bosses. At last the captives wearied
of their role and clamored for an OK
change of parts.
"All right" agreed Lima. Get the
key, Billy, and we II be the chain
gang"
Billy put his right hand in his pocket
but found no key there; he tried the
other pocket with the same success;
he felt in his blouse, he looked in his
cap, he jumped up and down, he near
ly shook himself to pieces all withou
avail; the key had disappeared as /
by magic.
Il berlieve y all done los tina
key" concluded he.
Maybe it dropped on the ground,
said Frances.
They searched the yard over, blu
the key was not to be found.
well, If that amt Just like you
Billy" cried Jimmy, you all time per
posing to play chain-gang and you al
time lose the key"
Lima grew indignant.
You proposed this yourself, Jimm,
Garner" she said; I'VE never woulc
have thought Of playing chain-gan,
but for you"
1T looks like we can't never do any
thing at al" moaned Frances
"thout grown folks We got to know
bout It,"
Eyes, and laugh fit to pop theirselfi
OPEN" said her fellow-prisoner. "a
can't never pass by Owen Gibbs ant
Len Hammer now 'thout they laugh
Just like id1sts and grin just like pole
cats"
i amt never hear tell Of a pole-cat
GRIMM" corrected Billy, "he jes smell
worser n what billy goat do"
1t is Chessy cats that grim" eI
| pAolHCu LIMA.
Look like folks would get 'em lot
OF pole-cats stead o. chillens always
hafto be wearing assfetty bags rounC
their makes, so 3 they can keep of
whooping cough" said Frances.
You cant wear a pole-cat roun' yo
make" grinned Billy.
And Len Hammer all time now ask
ing me-" Jimmy continued, when In
going to wear Sarah James co'set t
Sunday school. Grown folks bout tn,
lunatickest things they is. Amt YOU
going to unlock this chain, Billy?" h
demanded.
What | got to unlock it with p
asked Billy.
AS Jimmy's father was taking the
crestfalien chain-gang to the black
smith shop to have their letters re
moved, they had to pass by the livery
stable; and Sam Lamb, bent double
with intoxicating mirth at their predic
ament, yelled:
"Lordee! Lordeel Y all sho' is d,
outlandishest kids 'twixt de Bad PIac,
an de moon"
ITO be continued.)