The Washington herald., 1922-06-20

caIly into Birmingham. and. as the
result Of timid inquiry. eventually
made meek application for admis-
sion into the home of Sis Callie
FIukers in the capacity of paying
guest
Sis Callie eyed the applicant
skeptically. Lymus. n d g
awkwardly and uncertainty, was
nothing to grow enthusiastic over.
He reminded Sis Callie of an acci-
dent which had long since had it's
day, and might possibly have an
other. So she .stiffened her at
tenuated figure and shifted a query.
How come you to git heah?"
Lymus' voice was pitifully thin.
.Feller toll me this was a good
boa'din' place. Miss Flukers."
"Feller toP you?"
"Un-huhr'
What his name wasF
Lymus bent his head in deep
thought Then he looked up
brightly. Il got it. He lowed his
name was Florian Slappey."
The light of battle hared in Sis
Callie's eyes. ''Florian always was
tryin' to make jokes on me-"
LyhuS OuCheu hastily. ANCOhOu
I'd oughter be goin."
Wait a minute"
"Yas m."
Sis Callie scrutinized the cringing
figure. Lymus wiggled nervously
under inspection. Neither was
making a pronounced hit with the
other. As for Sis Callie. she was
thinking: she needed boarders-
somehow her acid tongue made her
establishment not overly popular.
and here was a man who promised
permanency IL nothing more.
True, he was not the man she
would have selected. He was small
and skinny and very, very black.
In his right hand he clutched a
near leather handbag and in the left
an appallingly creaky tin box. Still,
he didn't appear to be the sort or
person to assume a board bill and
then elude the financial obligation.
Sis Callie delved deeper into the
matter.
what yo' name is?"
L~L-Lymus Johnson"
Where you is from?"
'wh-where is i from?'
You echoed me-"
Dunno. Reckon you might say
/ is from Knoxville. or Pensacola,
or sumthin' like'n to that"
You travels?"
Il has. Some. But 1 aims to
stay in Bummin-ham from now on
hencefor'd."
Hmm! What you does fo' a
livin'."
The stranger at the gates glanced
affectionately at the tin box. 81
paints"' he announced modestly.
You whiches?"
Il paints"'
Sis Callie was enveloped by a
sudden warm glow of interest.
You paints?"
"Yas'm."
"fou-you mean you is a artist?''
'Uh-huh. i soht O. aims to be-"
The front door gaped invitingly.
"Cmon," commanded Sis Callie. a.
culver with excitement. "C'mon in
an sillec' yo room"
Twenty minutes later Sis Callie
reverently closed the door of the
best room in her home and walked
& weakly to the parlor, where she
sank into an easy chair to reflect
intensively upon the deceptive
qualities OF personal appearance.
She sighed with relief in contempla-
ton OF the fact that she had OBJ
tanned as boarder the first Negro
artist in Birmingham's social his
tory. Truly. Sis Callie had all un-
Willingly annexed a plume for her
society cap.
AS for the newly arrived celeb
rlty. he'rescued a veteran pipe from
the depths of frayed pocket.
tamped down the tobacco. and held
match to it. A few deep puffs
served to soothe his shaken nerves.
lie stretched out on the bed and
gave himself over to some careful
thought. And gradually there
Seeped through his brain the vague
idea that somewhere. somehow.
there had arisen a misunderstand-
ing. Finally he sat up straight on
the bed and put his findings into
words.
'Dawg-gawn!" exclaimed Lymus
johnson. that woman is done gone
and gotten herself the idee that 1
Is a regular artist"
And at the thought even Lymus
johnson smiled. An artist, He
opened his tin case and inspected
the layout within. There, spread
before his eyes. was the complete
paraphernalia of the sign painting
craft.
But events were transpiring that
were destined to affect Mr.. John