Evening star., 1925-03-29

to the rambling frame structure
across the road. To his ears came
the soothing symphony of silver, ant
the eyes of the emaciated little
negro glistened as he grew more GER
rainly certain that this latest-ano
riskiest-of his business ventures was
re ceiving the accolade Of success.
His eyes were focused upon the
ornate sign which hung above the
portals of the eX-warehouse:
NIAGARA FALLS SKATING RINK
Good Skates For Good Scouts"
Come & Enjoy the POETRY of Motor
Constant Music
Admission Fifty Cents Whether You
Is or Amt Got Skates
PROF ZERO HARRIS
World Champeen Colored Skater
Will Give Moderate Lessons at
Moderate Prices
From within came the mournful
wall of once-proud orchestrton
now sadly in need of the mintstra-
tions Of some kindly mechanic. This
was accompanied by the rhythmic
srsssh-shrrrrsh of wooden-rollered
skates upon the well-chalked floor
The floor was whirling mass of
color Birminghams very bestest
colored society was repre- sented by
an overwhelming majority, giving
mute testimony to the fact that the
recrudescence of the skating craze
had swept the city by storm.
Semore's gaze feasted upon the
reyelers and he felt his money-pocket
growing heavier in anticipation.
Now the orchestrion wheezed away
to a sickening pause, then burst
Trec n tn n
an agreed signal the skaters aban-
doned the floor and 1.-THE and grace
full figure tipped to the center and
contorted itself into series of amaz-
ing figures.
At the crest of the wave of popu-
larlty which had greeted the return
of roller-skating rode Professor Zero
Harris. until recently a stranger to
the city.
Zero Harris could skate. He
whirled and pirouetted upon one
wheel; he spun and glided and tipped
about the smooth floor like black
bird on wheels.
Zero's personality had put across
the Niagara Falls venture just as his
unf1agging optimism. mbined with
that personality, had persuaded the
canny Semore Mashby into making
the necessary original investment.
Zero Harris. it appeared. had Ia
bored for many years In and around
skating rinks at the time when the
roller sport was at its zenith. He
came to Birmingham with the idea
of securing a position in his profess
sion of barbering, but an acquaint-
anceship with Semore Mashby, re-
puted to be the wealthiest man of
color in Birmingham, and his old
love for the rink sport prompted him
to unde rtake the task Of interesting
the Mashby capital in the venture.
1t required all of Zero's spellbind-
ing art. and a readiness to risk a
large percentage Of his own modest
capital. to bring Semore in. They
divided the expense of equipment,
which under the terms of co-part-
nership, was owned in common. The
building had been secured by Semore
"a rambling structure, in the re-
cesses of which Mr.. Mashby had con-
Quoted a desultory warehouse busi-
ness for a number Of years.
x x x
DUT now as Semore surveyed the
- scene of jollity he found in his
heart a sentiment which was not en-
tirely happiness. Each skater rep
resented so cents to the Mashby eye.
and Semore felt within himself keen
regret that only a moiety of that sum
was finding it's way into his own
pocket. 1t annoyed him that Prof.
Harris was sharing the financial sue
cess of the enterprise.
Too, there was a more personal
angle to Semore's reluctance to share
his profits with Zero Harris. And
that angle was even at the moment
gliding out onto the floor, hands out
stretched toward Zero.
Miss Ammonia Minis had for some
time been the apple Of Mr.. Mashby S
matrimonial eye. He was pleased by
her reputation for frugality and do
meStic alertness. Nor was her beauty
entirely wasted upon Semore. He had
proceeded methodically about his
courtship, quite convinced that any
moment he cared to lay his fortune
at her feet she would plunge willing
ly into the matrimonial sea. And SO
she most probably would have done
had not Prof. Zero Harris appeared.
Ammonia ranked as the best skater
among the colored feminine citizenry,
and that distinction marked the bond
of friendship between herself and
Zero
The orchestrion stumbled to a halt.
Zero and his lady friend glided the
length of the floor and paused before
the thin figure of the co-owner of the
Niagara Falls. They were palpitsnt
with the joy and excitement of the
moment.
"Evenin', partner
"'I.o, Zero" Then, with his most
radiant smile. "An' how you is, Miss
Ammonia?"
She dimpled bewitchingly. "Tor-
able, thank you"
From the other side of the floor
came a terrific crash and a shrill,
plaintive feminine voice = "Mistuh
Harris-O-o-ohi Preferrer Harrtsi'
Zero was off like streak, but when
the fair Ammonia would have pursued
him Semore detained her.
"Jes' minute. Ammonia. 1 Graves
to make talk with you"
"Yessuh, Brother Mashby. Shoot"
IT'S about that Zero Harris feller,
Ammonia How come you to be SO
fntrusted in him?"
A blush of pale lavender suffused
her cheeks. law. you g'wan, Mistuh
Mashby. 1 amt intrusted in Zero
Harris"
Her coy manner gave the lie to her
words, and Semore was not pleased
You suttinly ac's like he was the
fondest man you is Of"
Amt he yo' partner in the Nj
agra Falls an amt you all two
maxim a heap of money!"
Semore squirmed. This was rub
bing it in with vengeance. SO Ze-
ro's stock scared high with the young
lady by reason of their co-partner-
shipl
He amt no kind of man fo' you
to make ma'iage with, Ammonia. He
amt nothin' on'y shifless, none
thinkin' skater, which if 1 hadn't been
good enough to staht him off in this
rink business he wouldn't hahdly
have a job
AS he discerned the flying figure OF
Zero Harris once again in search OF
Ammonia he turned away with a last
hikkar nf ad1-ina-aXn11 O ir TIN IN