The Enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 192?-1930, 1926-10-08
BURSTING BONDS
The Heir of Slaves
BY William Pickens

tomorrow, you come in here and see
us about tiff General spent that
money well take it out of his wages
Saturday.-Maybe he gave it to some
other woman that looks like your
wife.-You stop in here tomorrow"
You might ask the boy about it
and settle it up with him. All we
know is we never got the money
never intended to stop in," and
| had better sense than to say
never intended to do so. had never
seen that woman. / meant never to
see her.
1t should be noticed that did not
fall into any little trap. | did not
Sass" this white woman. | did not
even say mo" or Eyes" to her, and
yet / did not say "No, Ma'am" or
Eyes, Ma'am." | did not notice her
implications that was trying to be
paid twice, and | did not call her a
liar, even indirectly. | made no i'm
plications. did not say or show
that | had had no dealing with her
that | had never seen her, that it
was none of her business, and that
Mr.. A. should speak to me
about the matter. No, did not Gin
suit white woman" as | might
have been expected to do.
Several days passed. | forgot the
matter, as never expected the mon
ey after that. When hope is lost
interest is lost. But as we played in
tennis tournament on the campus,
was informed by some of the stu
dents that an auto had stopped in
front of my house and that some
one evidently wanted to see me. Co
ing toward the machine and observ-
ing white man and white woman,
| greeted them politely. had never
seen either of them before and could
not connect them with any affairs of
mine. Hanging up behind the road
ster was colored boy, whom had
not observed yet. So I'waited for a
moment with some curiosity to learn
their business. The man said moth
ing. The woman spoke.
81 am Mrs. A., an this is
my son, lawyer, an we have come
to see about that money we sent
you"
| was on my guard.-"Well-."
Still looking, | said only that one
word, but with an infection which
meant: / am ready and willing to
have a settlement.
Then in a more aggressive and
less friendly tone she continued:
"We've brought General here, an
he says be paid the money"
| looked at the boy: "Why this
is the boy who came the other day
and said that Mr.. A. had in
structed him to say that he would
send the money Saturday"
Then for the first time the young
white man spoke up: "Come round
here, General. The. boy came
dropping around, looking down, as
if unable to face anybody. The
lawyer proceeded to ask the 'Gener-
al some direct questions, which
sounded like a rehearsal:
"Did you come up here Monday ?"
"Naw-Sir."
"Did you say the money would be
sent Saturday,"
"Naw-Sir."
did you give 'em that money!"
''Yaas-Sir."
My first reaction was that the boy
had stolen and was trying thus to
cover the theft. said to the child ::
"Son, wouldn't lie and soil my soul
even if | lost my job"
Then the real purpose and tenn
| per of this little mission showed it
self. The white man snarled: Don't
you try to bully him! That money
was given to you an we are not 60
ing to have any big talk!'
To this | replied holly, of course ::
"Wait a minute! Which of us is
trying the bullying? Who owes the
due? Where is the evidence of its
payment? Have | bothered you for
it? Have come to see you about
| it, or have you come to see me?
thought you came to find out. We
have not got the money. The boy
is living"
Then a ludicrous thing happened,
| which almost made me laugh out, in
! spite of the situation. The white
man leaned over toward me and
said under his breath, with threat
ening CLEAN in his eye: "Well. don't
you talk so loudp' Why did he say
that? Because by that time all the
,colored people around had come as
near as they dared-to listen. And
Texas white man, of all disgraces,
was most ashamed for colored peo-
pie, whom he had bullied often be-
fore, to hear some newcomer Negro
talking back to him defiantly.
understood his predicament but
did not act upon the hint. And in
an effort to "save his face" he did q
desperate thing, which usually works
in Texas, he threatened me with
bodily harm on the spot: 81 am go
ing to get out o. this car and smash
your FACET He made a quick stage
movement, as if to get out. | was
expected to run or apologize. | was
not in that mood, and pointing to
the ground ] suggested: There is
plenty of room" / placed my arms
akimbo for the attack. He was arm
1 ed. of course. He was in Texas. He
had come out especially to humble
a Negro. He did not get out He