The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-10-23

well, figger it out TO- yo'self. Ethan
Ch1nn, door man at the Hi Teller,
mates Eustace on account when he was
Substttuttn' TO- Eustace Brother Todd
beat him UP. So right away he leads
this III mar back into the club. Then he
raises some mo- trouble n gifts put out
again. Bout the third time, the crowd
sees what's going on IN Eustace COM
mences to look bad . and the boss
gits sore also. So that's how Mistuh
Diana Grunt stared at her husband
with disdain: Honest, Willie,p she
commented bitterly: "Of all the nit
wits you is the wust. Don't you know
Ter started trouble Eustace would bust
him right in half?" .
There was q calculating, cruel light
in Mr.. Grunt's eye. Sure" he an
swered. II know that, an also you
kn %Med it ub but this lii Teller don't"
"Meanin Use gwine esplain to him
that Eustace wouldn't dare hurt him.
And SO when he gifts squashed, why he'll
Off, Of plumb spr'sed an usll be better
Diana was smiling. THAT sho ought
to be funny; SEEM some lii guy git beat
up when he don't especk it.
1T won't be nothin' else. There was
no compassion in Willie's soul. "An'
right away, Use gwine trail this Teller
down to the hospital with a lawyer. I'll
git him to go $3.50 with me, an we clap
a suit against the Hi Teller . . an
after that Eustace Todd amt gwine
have a burglars chance to keep his
job"
Diana was enthusiastic but doubtful.
Where at you gwine find somebody
willin' to take that crazy chance?"
"Harlem's full of hongry cullud men.
They'll do anything TO- a few dollars.
Now I aim to git in touch with some
that's who I make the deal WITH"
You got anybody in mind, Willie?"
MI. Grunt nodded.
Il sho' have. Lii Teller that looks
mo miS'able than anybody I ever saw.
He's been hangin' round street cor
ners moochin' pennies. It'll sho' be
humorous to see what happens to him
when Eustace gifts mad"
"Uh-huh. But this Teller: Who is hep"
Hes FUN Bumminham, Alabama
said Willie Grunt. His name is Florian
Slappey."
Florian Slappey, late of Birmingham
but now of Harlem, had hit the bot
tom of the bottomless pit of despair
and kept right on going. He sat now
lonely and forlorn-on a piece of 7th
avenue curbstone, head cupped in shak-
ing hands, frail form inadequately pro-
tected against the blasts of late winter
by a two-piece suit which, in its hal
cyon days, had been of rich pearl gray;
shoe soles worn thin, belt buckle pulled
three notches tighter than normal, and
his morale at zero minus.
Florian was unutterably miserable,
True, in his few months of residence
here, he had known moments of exalta-
ton; he had tasted ~delicately the de-
licious flavor of fleeing triumph.
But today he was a profoundly un-
happy little man, stripped of material
possession and broken in spirit; q
friendless stranger in a community
which held more folks Of his own color
than the total population of his be-
loved Birmingham.
It was in this mood Of abysmal de-
lection that he was discovered by the
CONSCIOUSNESS Willie Grunt, who pro-
ceeded to dazzle the lonely and bewil-
dered little man with easy money and
toothsome food. To F1orian, Mr.. Grunt
outlined his scheme for the discomfi-
ture of Eustace Todd, purposely neg
Letting to mention that in the natural
course Of events Mr.. Slappey stood an
excellent chance of becoming slightly
d~ismembered. And F1orian was in no
humor to be logical.
"All I got to do is make this Teller
mad an git th'owed out?"
That's ALL"
AN he amt gwine hurt me?"
"Nassah! He wouldn't dare to hit a
lii Teller like you"
"S'posin' he did?"
You wouldn't be no worse off than
you is now, would you?"
you sho' is troofin." Mr.. Slappey
pondered: How much do I git?"
Zone dollar TO- the fust time. Two
TO- the third"
AN it keeps doublin' ev'y time I
come back?"
1T sho' does"
Hmm! Two times TO- is eight. Two
times eight is sixteen. Twice sixteen is
-. hot ziggity dam!"
AN you agree?"
Mr.. Slappey made an apologize ges-
ture. my last landlady is holdin' my
owe. Also, I amt ct sir-ce yestiddy nav
nin'."
Willie hoisted Fqorian to his feet.
Come along with me. I buys you some
sandwiches. Then I pay yo' landlady
the three dollars you W This heah
club is swank, an you got to look good"
Can I eat there tonight"
"YasSur. I hand you the money to buy
the food with as soon as we git there.
But Eustace Todd amt to know that
me an you is workin' together"
AN I git paid cash?"
Right on the dot. Use gwine tote
the money down there with me-"
This Teller Eustace won't treat me
rough?"
"Naah! He wouldn't hurt a fly"
II know, but I amt no fly"
But you is lii an he boasts he
never hits nc lii men,"