Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16

- "Keezie," he breathed-'T got
- bunch" The portly custodian of
the Atlanta Pullman looked into Epic's some
what Saturnine countenance.
How Gomez" he inquired.
"See that white gemmum which just arrived
ca'yin' his own suit case?"
"Uh-huhi What about him?"
Epic placed his lips close to Keezie's ear.
THAT" he announced, in an impressive whtS-
per, "aint none other than Mistuh Ellis War
Eenl"
Keezie was unimpressed-at first.
"Ain't it?" he inquired. How stradinaryi"
Then suddenly his own eyes popped open and
he looked into EpicS face with keen interest.
"You don't mean"
"YassuhI Tha's the very felerF
'Big Sufferin' Mracles!" breathed KeeZe,
properly impressed. "On yo carp"
"Uh-huh. And not nowhere else He's got
lower 2"
where's he ticketed fo'2"
charlotte, Nawth Ca1ina Boyl Amt It
eomethin' to have . Teller like that on 20
Putnam"
"Yeh But Ise as glad you has him, Epic
Me- I never was fond Of white folks which
toted guns and always is tryin' to kin some
body"
"Who's always tryin' to kin somebody" de-
manded Epic Indignantly.
"kGistuh Warren, what's IN 20 car"
''Who says SOP"
''Wen, wasn't it only yestiddy afternoon that
him an Mstuh Donegan met right IN the
middle Of cunningham an started shootn
at each other? An wouln't they maybe both
of been kilt. II the law hadn't stopped 'em?
An didn't they swear afterwards that they
was gwiae start shootin again the minute they
saw each other?"
Epic was forced to nod agreement 10 the
others indictment Of the new passenger.
"Tha's all true. Keezie. But that don't say
my passenger is always tryin' to kin some
body"
"Humphl Once is too often. Ise heard bout
that Teller, Epic. He amt bad-he's terrible
Mos likely he's gwine spend all day tomorrow
dom target practice In the car. B1ieve me-
Brother Peters, whatever tips you get fun
havin' q Teller like that ridin' with you,
claim you earn"
EPIC smiled with a superior disdain which
he did not precisely feel. He knew many
things that could arouse greater enthusiasm
than having Mr. Ellis Warren as passenger.
Not that he anticipated trouble, exactly; but
then one had q sort of uncomfortable feeling
cooped up with a white gentleman who was
inclined to shoot quickly and with lethal In
tent when affairs were not to his liking.
Consider the battle of the previous day, for
instance. This very same Mr. Warren had
met q certain Mr.. Donegan on a busy down.
town corner; two prominent men, persons
whom one would credit with being law-abiding
citizens. And then-Whami Bang! Two
guns, half dozen shots and only the
prompt and efficient Intervention Of an IN
trepid policeman had prevented q couple Of
fatalities Epic found small solace in the fact
that both had been hailed into court, where
they were fined and admonished. He knowed
that they was gemmum, an when white GEM
mum was inclined 10 kill each other, they didn't
much care bout what jedges had done told
them.
But since there was admiration In the eyes
of the shrinking Keezie, Mr.. Peters felt that
it would never do to admit his own tTepidation.
He strolled on with impressive insouciance to
greet two ladies who were struggling toward
his car with heavy SuitcaSes. He conducted
them to their section and noticed with some
satisfaction that the dueling gentleman In
lower was already well along in the process
OF undressing. Let sleeping white folks Lie,
was Epic's present motto, and he knew that
nothing could give him greater pleasure than
the thought of having Mr.. Warren sleep all the
way to Charlotte-which prospect he knew
was well nigh physical imposSibility.
On one point Epic was firmly resolved
whatever service lower demanded would he
given in q spirit Of eager friendlineSs. There
amt airy solitary thing" he reflected, that
Mistuh Warren could ask me to do which
would refuse. Ise gwine treat that Teller with
puheck responsibility"
Three minutes before train time some one ap-
peared on the platform; an unformidable look
ing gentleman whose presence-however inno-
cent-caused Mr.. Peters to consider an instant
and comprehensive resignation from service.
At sight Of the new passenger, Mr.. Peters
Jaw dropped. He knew that he should move
but he couldn't.
oh goIlaI" he murmured, "heah comes the
other half Of that shootin' scrapeI"
There was no doubt In Epic's mind that this
was indeed Mr.. Leslie Donegan, the person who
had attempted to exterminate Mr.. Warren the
previous afternoon. Like Mr.. Warren, the new
gentleman gave no hint Of his humiliation
urge.
"Here porter" he said pleasantly extending