The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-11-12

join In the rabble. The men dropped
their work and crowded into COM
pact group from which came suddenly
Il cry that startled Andrea and jcrked
her around to face it as though she
had been yanked by string.
The cry was shrill, high, continuous,
1t was produced by rounding the
open mouth and working the tongue
latcrally in n vibration us rapid as
that of q serpcnts. 1t was CHASTITY to
watch. incredible in the rupidity Of the
ululation, but once heard, unforget-
able. 1t lasted much longer than
Andrea could have held her breath, let
alone used it, and ceased as suddenly
as it had begun.
"All very interesting" said Andrea
turning to her companion, "but why
didn't they do it bcforc?"
He looked ut her abscntly. "Thcrc
is a ccrcmoninl," hG said, "a dignity,
about the African that is absurd till
you've known it for years"
"For ycars?" repeated Andrea. EFT
is this your homer
lie shook his head. "No, Africa
this sort of thing-is never home to
white man. It's place where he
goes to forget his sins. I've been
using it-whcncvcr life has given nc
a chancc-as sun bath for the soul"
Andrea stared ut him, puzzled
, frOwn on her brow. She wondered
why his bluntncSS did not offend her
wondered If it would ever fall to her
lot to hear him say Il scnsclcss thing
or laugh aloud. While she still won.
dered he turned from her and began
calling out meaningless words: "Shil.
ling! Five! Tin hat! Bathtub
Ovcrcoat! !"
At each name, for names they were
; a native stepped forward. They were
all bright-faccd youngsters, fourteen
or fifteen years Of age, and their garb
made UP of Il clean cloth bound tightly
around slim hips and falling to the
knees, and red fcz with tassel in
tact marked them as houscboys-
!. trusted pickaninniCS who alone hat
! the right to enter the white man:
quarters and were collectively his rec
l.. ognizcd mOuthpicccs in conveying or
, derS.
I. "Bathtub !" repeated the white man
A youngster quickly saluted ant
: ear to ear ut being distinguished ever
: for a moment above his fellows
With jerk Of his head toward An
I drea the white man began to talk rap
= idly. Bathtub's eyes rolled from hi
- face to Andrea'S and back again. The
l widcncd. they narrowed, and, each o
:, the three times the white man sni
"Kiboco" with peculiar emphasis
', they seercd to vince.
Andrea interrupted, "What doe
Kiboco' mean, pleaseW
d 'Tt means a whip OF raw rhin'
o hide" said the man. "An impiemen
n shat draws blood with q whisper"
d Andrea went white; her eyes blazet
s $50 you whip your sevants?" sh
k said with curled lips.
o II have whipped boy once" ar
: swered the man coOlly. "They hav
never forgotten" He turned to hel
d "This boy, Bathtub, Is yours. If h
Q ever fails you I shall thrash him will
It in an inch OF his nine lives" He dis
'. missed the boy with nod.
Bathtub stepped before his mil
n trcss, salutcd, grinned the broades
n most friendly grin Andrea had eve
ID seen, and without waiting for til
8 smiling answer of her eyes was o
g like an arrow.
y SO taken up was Andrea with watcl
80 ing the white man as he issued a rapl
T. fire of orders to his remaining lie
at tenants that when Bathtub rct,!rne
s. salutcd, and led her beneath the lie
ser Of the acacia trees she could NJ
!, Continued on fifth page, this scctio