The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1926-01-07
SMILIN' THU
BY GORDON COOPER
Copyright 1926 by Gordon Cooper
TELL DE GOOD NEwS~

and Incidence and the mysterious
way in which he always managed to
wear the best of tailored clothing
with no visible means of support.
Tiges mouth widened in grin
that made him look as if his throat
was cut. Jaw, come on now, Doc
he replied in a good natured, wheed-
ling tone. "Yo' knows All amt no
bumi Dey amt niger in Macon
whut dresses ez fine ez All does!
"Yehl" sneered Doc, Oats jes' de
reason All knows dere's a Niger in
de woodpile! "Dey amt nevah no
body whut's seen yo' do a lick O.
wuhk, an how yo' pays fer dem
clo'es de Lawd only knowsl Dat is
less yo' steals 'em!"
Tige only grinned with a self
satisfied smirk, and disdained 10
reply.
can whut's mo-" continued Doc,
"Ah's spectacle niger an de
minister OBJ de Gospel, an All doan
want yo' hangin' roun' dis campus!
SO shake yo' laigs an git often dis
campus!"
Still Tige grinned. obs campus
doan blong ter yo', an Abs free
man." he replied. "Ah's got bizness
'gagement hyah, an right hyah All
stays lessen cop drives me off"
He was sitting on the steps of
Science Hail. and he crossed his legs
and drew the suit case he had been
carrying a little closer to him. Then
he lighted cigarette and leaned
back with his elbows on the step
behind him, continued to regard Doc
with his tantaliZing grin.
Doc nearly choked with rage. He
started to make another acrimonious
retort, thought better of it and then
turned and dumped away. From a
nearby flower bed he cast side-long,
glowering glances at Tige, and oc-
casionally mumbled to himself as he
used his trowel expertly about the
roots of the flowers.
Tige was evidently doing where
he sat in the sunshine, for he had
pulled his hat down over his face
and had slumped down upon the
steps.
Suddenly call from the street
across the hedge drew Docs atten-
ton, and he turned to see an auto
containing two negroes stop at the
curb They were calling to Tige,
and as that sartorial individual stir
red into attention, Doc saw that the
negro driving the car was evidently
disturbed about something, for he
yelled in an excited way for TiGe
to come to the car.
When the "Darktown Dude" reach
ed the auto there ensued a heated
conversation in low but intense tones
which Doc couldn't make out. Finally
Tige tore open the rear door of the
car and sprang in. 1t was already
starting and the driver put on such
speed that Tige was thrown to the
back seat with violence that must
certainly have knocked the breath
out of him. In a moment the car
had disappeared.
Doc stood gazing after it, trying
to comprehend the meaning Of the
sudden departure of Tige. Then rs
he turned he saw that the suitcase
had been left on the steps. He re-
garded it for a minute thru half
closed, calculating eyes. Then he
looked carefully about him. I'll ere
wasn't a soul in sight. 1t was late
afternoon and all classes were over
for the day.
With studied unhurriedness Doc
gathered his gardening tools and
slowly approached Science Hall where
the suitcase lay on the steps. With
an air of Indifference he raised
his rich, mellow voice in a song:
"Doan yo' doubt hit, Brudder,
Doan yo doubt hitl
Doan yo' doubt de Lawd whut f.
do!
Doan yo' doubt de raven wen e
brings yo'
De blessed mamma e feeds ter
yo'."
And as he reached the steps he
didn't vary his gait at all, but stoop-
ed ever so little and grasped the
handle of the suitcase, and con-
tinued ON into the building and
down the cellar stairs through the
lobby. Observers would not have
noticed, unless they watched partic-
ularly, that Doc had added the suit
case to his burden of tools.
Reaching the storeroom in the
cellar Doc carefully fastened the
door, and then turned to his find,
The suitcase wasn't locked, and came
open easily when the catches had
been released. When he swung the
lid back, Docs eyes grew as big
as saucers. Slowly gleeful grin
spread over his wrinkled, kindly old
face.
'Fo' de Lawd!" he gasped. "Ah
wuz singin' truer dan All knowed! De
ravens suttenly has brung me some
mamma in de DESERT"
And with reverent hards he lift
ed, one by one, six quart bottles of
choice Scotch whiskey from the suit
case. Doc could read but very little,
but he recognized at glance the
labels with which he had been fam
iliar for a lifetime.
praise de Lawd fun whom all