The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1936-10-24


ciates early this season.
Chapter 2
you'd better hurry and git 20
numbers In, Rastus'., urged Mr..
Sam" Dere amt no use fretin'
and gwine on. You's wastin time
He was all business now, as he
took his policy book and pencil
between his fingers. "And dere
amt gonna be no taryin' round
when Liza gifts here. / can plain
ly see dat"
"From de way she's a comm"
said Rastus, you'd tink she'd don
seen Beulah o. de mornin' paper
one sure 'nough." He stared down
the street.
"Well, what's hit gonna be, Ras-
tus -- de razor or de murder
ed man? Mr.. Sam was anxious
to do business.
Rastus scratched his head. Use
Jest studin', Mr.. Sam"
And dere's de black woman,
too" suggested Mr.. Sam, Denis
usually some powerful numbers.
boy"
de black woman" repeated
Rastus thoughtfully. Oats Beu'
lah all right"
Does you kno' de numbers TO
de murdered man?" Asked Mr..
Sam.
II don't tink l do. What is dey.
Mr.. Sam?"
Now femme see," Mr.. Sam
scratched the side of his face and
thought real fast. ,"Dey's six
eight and forty. But why not play
'em Aide razor-de black wom-
an-and de murdered man? Tain't
gonna do no harm. Den you'd got
'em no matter how dey fizzles out.
Oats right agreed Rastus.
but Ise afraid dere amt no use
in me playin' after all. l amt
gonna be here to collect hit"
Mr.. Sam harked and spat on the
pavement. "Well, If Beulah am
putates yo' head wit dat razor you
dom dreamed bout dered still be
Liza, yo' woman, left"
Else afraid dere amt gonna be
no Liza neither" said Rastus.
cause when Beulah gifts thu she
she does a clean job" He shook
his head, "Yes---suh! OATS one
evil dark woman when she wants
to be-"
Mr.. Sam possessed a fine sense
of humor. He couldn't help laugh
ing. "You's a sight, Rastus," he
said.
Rastus continued, AN Beulah
sho' amt gonna have no desire
to collect when dat 'lectric cher
gifts thu wit her--day uses de
'lectric cher here In de state O.
Moo York, dom dey?"
"Dey sho' does, Rastus," agreed
Mr.. Sam.
BY that time Liaz steamed up.
She was neat, trim, dark brown
young woman with an air Of de-
termination and a flare of tenn
permanent.
"Rastus-! Jest where's you
been all dis timer" She demanded
with arms akimbo. And her eyes
looked fierce, too.
Honey, Ise jest been here talk
in wit Mr.. SAM" answered Ras-
tus in a peaceful tone. He never
did the flaring up--always left
that to his women.
"You's got no time standin
round talkin' an gwine on when
Mrs. Smiths dom pressed hit on
yo' mind dat dis is de mornin' dat
she wants US to git dere early"
stormed Liza. you kno's well
enough dat dis Is de night dat
she's gonna entertain all dem
high brow folks and dat preacher
and his Observation-Disclosures
never -she-is."
Oats jest de trouble, Liza
honey" warned Rastus.
Liza interrupted him. ives
got no time to talk now, Rastus.
Let's us git started TO- dat Sugar
HILL"
They started walking.
Mr.. Sam spoke now. Amt you
gonna git yo' numbers in. Rastus?'
he asked.
ooh, dere amt no use, Mr.. Sam.
Dere amt gonna be nobody to col
lect anyhow"
Mr.. Sam stroked his chin. well,
Ise jest thinking Rastus, dat II yo'
wife, Beulah, did collect and
couldn't use de money she could
tribute hit to de Booker T. Wash
ington School o. some charity To-
some worthy cause. Den dey'd
probably make statue o. yo' so
dat 'Umanity could worship you
whilst you's dead"
Rastus stretched his eyes real
wide.
"Jest what's dis talk bout Beu-
lah, Mr.. Sam" Asked Liza. You
kno's we'll enough dat Rastuses
OIL lady is in Europe with dat &C
tress."
Oats what you say, honey"
said Rastuswith a queer look OF
uncertainty on his face.
Liza's expression suddenly chang
ed. There was something at the
bottom OF this. you amt don
aaen ter IA w. Rastus7" She clut-