Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-03
Smy of High Finance nong Lodge 0crs-By Arthur K Aker

q similar great public movement-by so yards
right after he had sold lodge in Decatur
q building that he did not happen to own at
the moment.
Latham looking on, began to feel far worse
than Mr. Toombs He lived in Demopolis and
knew the spokesman with the spoke. De-
vastatingly it burst over him that he had been
following the wrong procession up the wrong
street for the past several days. Here he was,
q boy being obliged to get right in his home
town just when the facilities for getting right
were at their poorest All he could see now
was the Negro hotel back of him and the white
folks jail house in front of him. The occasion
was beginning to call for a lot of things that
weren't standard equipment with Latham, such
as wings. Time kept getting shorter and the
crowd uglier and noiser, too. Half minute
more and he either going to be way up
front in big push or way down under lot
of feet passing over him like pavement.
Meanwhile the neighborhood was being made
hideous by Mr. Toombs, who was dreading the
large Negro with the spoke loudly as to be
heard for blocks.
And it was in this crisis that Latham and
Mr. Toombs suddenly clutched each other in
fresh bewilderment. Business was taking
brand-new and startling turn. Like flying
wedge party of four was breaking through
the previous party of two thousand. Straight
for the beleagued pair on the hotel steps they
forced their way. One Of them Latham knew,
was the discarded and discredited Gladstone.
And one was strange white gentleman.
But sight of the other two explained to
Latham why Mr.. Toombs, who could perceive
q nickeled badge through the thickest coat,
hurriedly thrust his entire share Of the proceeds
of the rafde, in cash, into Lathams surprised
hands just before they confronted him. These
were the two white gentlemen who had walked
on either side Of Latham at the court house
the time he had had a little mix-up.
Mr.. Toombs plainly had no desire now TO be
caught by them with any Of the evidence for
the prosecution on him.
That's the man you want-the big swelled-
up Niger with the white vest on" the strange
white gentleman with Gladstone was identifying
Mr. ToombS and directing the be-badged Om-
GERS in laying firm hands upon him.
Latham perspired and pocketed the cash.
His business gave all the symptoms Of being
in q jam He had the money; Mr.. Toombs had
an alibi. Gladstone had ample motive for
cumming him up, too. First thing boy knew,
he was liable to be spending . lot Of Christ
masses in the same place. And, whatever hap
pened to Mr.. Toombs, somebody was going to
remember In q minute that Latham had had
. lot to do with getting up the rafae. They
weren't looking at him so much right now, but
In minute more they would be. Sure was
the time when q boy had to think on his feeti
Gladstone owed the rent, but Latham owed the
rafders. Time was shortening up! And with
It's oW1noing, the spinning fragments "a
Latham's brain seized upon the only solution
that didn't have jails or hospitals in ito
beat them to it!
Thus two sudden and simultaneous sounds
In the land-the click of steel bracelets being
snapped upon Mr.. Toombs and the voice OF
the resourceful Latham ringing forth: IAN
a-boa'd TO- Mobile! AS Treaser Of the Sons
Of Temperance, I sees dat ev'ybody git sa's-fied!
II YOU amt like de raffle, step up ana git yo
money backl Us strive to please. Stand IN
line while pays ont"
THEN Demopolis saw rush. Despair
changed to desire-to get their money back
Latham finished Mr. Toonbs roll and started