Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-03

mpaClenLly. EVy Clme you gu WHEELS un0eI
you, you gifts unconscious. Yo brains is all
brakes. Dey's big money ahead if us work hit
right. Us got to study out how to git hit An
sides, whut de use ridin' wild big Niger If Us
amt gwine parade round none an let de town
niggerS see us aftwahdS?"
them with cigars-"new ones" as Glad
stone delightedly discovered and proclaimed
How de lodget gittin on in D'mop1is?" Mr.,
Toombs wished to know next.
"Ain't but one portant lodge heah, an hit
all busted out wild bills" observed Latham
cannily. Dat whut me an Gladstone talkin
bout when you driv up. Us de officers. o.
lodge sho is crave financin'."
MIR. Toombs surveyed the situation and lodge
officials through his cigar smoke, and bright
ened. Both seemed made for his purpose
especially just now when 1t appeared best for
Mr.. Toombs to forego the bright lights Of
Birmingham until certain matters died down
somewhat in the minds of public and police.
"Gittin' a lodge back on hits wheels Is whar
shines like de mawnin' star" admitted Mr..
Toombs modestly. Money folers me into de
lodge room an stays dar; an mo- money
sticks to de officers whut run de lodge"
The longer Gladstone listened the farther
his mouth hung open. Yet he had that funny
feeling that always came over him just before
some one In the room got swindled out Of his
eye teeth. But as for Latham, he could not
even swallow for fear of causing static. For
every time he missed q syllable now he felt
he was missing money. Gold, glory and hon.
ors were right around the corner. All q
couple Of smart lodge officers had to do was
watch their step. and everybody would be
rich, MIR. Toombs said to himself. At o pause
in the regal now Of out-of-town eloquence
Latham pressed for details.
How us gwine make de lodge financial?'
was foremost in his mind and mouth.
Easy" chuckled Mr.. Toombs You ever
heah bout no raffie?"
Latham chilled in his tracks Amt no luck
in o rafae" he demurred "Us cit up one
once, an Gladstone git mix up an put out
two tickets Wild de same winnin' number on
EN-. Us wuz raf1in' of hawg Took Glad
stone most week to steal mother shoat de
right size To- de extra winner"
Mr.. Toombs deprecated hogs. cit yo' mind
on big business" he adjured. us talkin' bout
rafnin' on dat red car of mine outside. TO de
benefit de lodge"
Latham batted his eyes, dazxled Gladstone
looked and felt blanker than usual.
Says US en- finance yo' lodge by rafain' or
dat big car Of mine" repeated Mr.. Toombs.
us gifts out tickets, two bits apiece. Prints
mo- tickets dan de car wuth. Dat way de
Dmop1is niggers pays me TO- de car. an dey's
still plenty money lef TO you to split wild de
lodge"
yeah an you amt got no car when de
rafYie over" Gladstone placed the skids under
himself socially by speaking out of his turn.
plying look crossed the financial features
of MIR. Toombs. Trouble wild cotton patch
niggers," he commented acidly, "dey lyman an
amt know hit! Who say nothin bout nobody
winnin' de car? Iettin' somebody win de
rattle is whar heap of rafflers slips upl Way
to run rattle Is 50 ev'ybody git action an no
body git de prize Dat puts ev'ybody on same
footin', an keeps 'em from gttin' jealous of
de winner an Dustin out de winder lights
But Gladstone was hard to derail "Whur
you gwine say when evybody want know who
VIM" he persisted.
why tell EN- some niger over in Mon
gomry or Selma whut dey amt know de name
of nohow won hit" snapped Mr.. Toombs i'm
patiently. Den tell 'em you drivin hit over
dar to give hit to him.. How dey gwine
tell hit when de rest of you daid, boy--below
yo' neck?"
But already the full flower and glory Of the
scheme had burst upon Lathami This new
big Negro sure knew his way around! BY
contrast, Gladstone was looking worse all the
time, mentally and financially, not to speak Of
socially
Yeah, but how Samson Bates gwine git de
rent?" That unfortunate was again intro
ducing small details into a big DEAL
Mr.. Toombs brushed his question aside:
Don't y all tell nobody nothin' twel gets
de tickets printed. Dis time mex month, Mist
Hooper, you be WARM eyeglasses an big
bottom britches week days same as Sundays.
Money in both yo pockets"
Gladstone noticed his personal omission from
prophecy. Feels like did jes' befo' dat time
I pays town Negro two dollars n quawter TO-
bottle branch-water wild Gin printed on hit, "
he observed modify to no one in particular.
Latham felt forced to resort to strong-arm
methods before Gladstone erred further. Who
you owe do lodge rent to?" he queried point
edly as Mr.. Toombs waddled away In disgust.
Samson @. Bates, whut-"