The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-11-16


to Taylor, the white Overseer. No
I INfPY looked at him with hatred
Il and turned his head. Charlie left
and returned with the overseer.
Breakfast was almost over when
Limpy appeared with a rapidly
swelling lip. He swallowed mouth
full of coffee, but did not touch
the food. Taylor and the guard
watched him from the doorway,
their faces grim.
When the crews struggled out of
the mess hall and Taylor shouted;
"Pile in" Linpy took his place in
the truck, holding his head in his
hands. Once he shivered as with
a chill.
WHEN the trucks returned for the
" noon meal Taylor spoke to
Deering and the two watched him
walk, to the mess hall and slump
against the screen door. The
planter went to him quickly.
Whats the matter with you?"
he asked coldly.
Il got de mis'ries bad, awful bad,
Mist Deerin'," Linpy said weakly.
"Mr. Taylor tells me you were
Laying in the fields all morning"
Deering clipped the words.
81 got de miSrieS, Mist Deerin.'
I'm willin' to work, but got fever
dats burnin' me all up an maxim
me shiver half de time. / cain
work. I wisht you'd git me doctor"
BULLYING A SICK
SLAVE
y I'm not paying you to get fever!"
Deering exploded. you've been
too damned uppity from the day you
got here You're always hunting
trouble and if you hunt a little
more, you'll find it! Now if you
don't want to go in there and eat,
that's your lookout, but ] don't
want to hear of any more trouble
over you. You get out in the fields
and do your share!"
"I got de mis'ries bad, Mist
Deerin'," Limpy repeated. He held
on to the wall for support. 81 doan
wan no trouble. 1 got de miS'rieS
Cain you see got emp"
NEERING ignored him.
" "Let me know if he does his
work" he said to Taylor
"Sho, said Limpy bitterly" "if
/ was yO' slave an you paid
t'ousan' dollars fO' me, you'd tex
care O. me wen git de mis'ries,
but you kin git plenty mo mig
gers cheap if die -.
Deering turned on him white with
fury. His fist smashed against the
Negroes face. Limpy sank to the
ground, blood running from his
nose and mouth. He wiped his
chin with a hand and looked at it
dazedly.
81 got de mis'ries, Mist Deerin.'
I ain lazyin' on you, sub
Get up and go to work." Deering
ordered tensely. Get up, or I'll give
you something to get sick overt"
A PLANTERS ANSWER
Linpey's eyes flared.
"Sho," he growled, ''why doan you
kill me now instead o sendin' me
out in de fiefs to die!"
The planters face turned apop-
leptic. For a moment he tried to
restrain himself. Then, viii a
swift movement his hand darted to
his hip and drew his pistol.
With hoarse scream Lirnpy
tried to scramble to his feet, his
hands half raised in supplication.
mist Deerin'-" he cried.
Deering fired twice. Limpy
sluinped to the ground, his head
on his chest. His hands lay loose
III his lap as though he had fallen
asleep.
"You asked for it, you black
BASTARD"
The planter swung the door open.
Il want no impudence around
here!" he shouted to the terrified
Negroes at the tables.
Remember that! And I'm not
paying you to play sick. I'm
paying you to work."
He turned to the gigantic Negro
beside him.
weight the son of bitch and
bury him in the swamp!
GUARDS ands overseer rode
" grimly, and behring's Negroes
moved from stalk to stalk, silent
and apprehensive
IA fear he had not felt even ON
the chain gang was in Davids
heart. There, convicts were pun