Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 121: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MONEY West Indian niggahs—calls acy ves Brit- ish objec’s. An’— But the white man was speaking, and as he spoke Pete listened. And as Pete listened, Pete thought— When the newcomer had been safely lodged in his room, baggage and all, Pete, with a satisfactory tip in his pocket, bade him a temporary farewell. The old man then hurried off to find Kid Scoot. Kid was finally located on the beach, talking to a member of the crew of the sailing schooner Bluebird. ‘- Pete grabbed Kid by the arm. ‘“ Come ‘long wid me, Kid, I’s got sumthin’ ’paw- tant to tell you.” The Honorable Cuthbert Mendenhall, Big Gun, and Goldtooth Cotton were sit- ting around a table in the railroad saloon, when Pete entered. Cuthbert glanced at his watch. ‘‘ Quah- ter pas’ seven, gen’muns. Us ’ll soon have to. be gittin’ to the lodge-rooms.” Pete walked over and touched Goldtooth Cotton on the arm. “Lean over heah, Goldtooth,” Pete requested in a loud, hoarse whisper. “‘Whut you wants?” manded. “ Does you know ary niggah. round heah whut’s named Harry Small?” Goldtooth shook his head. do you ask?” Out of the corner of one eye Pete saw the Honorable Cuthbert straighten in his chair. Then he turned back to Goldtooth. ““Dey’s a white gen’mun whut jes’ got in fum de States on de Suriname. He’s a ’tective, an’ he’s lookin’ fo’ dat niggah, Harry Small. Dey’s a big reward fo’ him. You mout ’a’ seed de white man. He’s a pleasant gen’mun, wid a mustache. Me an’ him walked fum de boat to de hotel.” Goldtooth frowned. ‘‘ No; I don’ know nobody named Harry Small. Whut he done?” Pete shook his head. ‘‘ De white man ain’t tol? me. But he say dat he onder- stan’ de man he’s lookin’ fo’ is down heah somewhuh.”’ 7 Cuthbert rose from the table. to go down the street, gen’muns. Goldtooth de- “No. Why “T got [ll be an’ seed de boat pull out. BALKS. 253 back in a minute or so. If’n I ain’t, y’ all jes’ go on down to the lodge.” The would-be members of the Kings and Queens of the Shining Stars of the Milky Way were becoming impatient. The hour was nine thirty, and the Grand Exalted International Organizer had not shown up. As the initiation exercises were to have opened by not later than eight o’clock, some of those who had paid two dollars “per each” with their applications were beginning to mutter things under their breath when Kid Scoot and Pete entered the room. “Seen the Gran’ Salted?” Cotton wanted to know. ‘““T seed him,” said Kid, grinning. | ‘“Whuh is he at?” half a dozen wanted to know. Kid chuckled. ‘“ Right now he’s sev’al miles fum heah on de Bluebird, boun’ fo’. Nicaragua. De Hon’ble Cuthbert is done flew de coop.” “De rascal!” roared Big Gun. you knows dat, Kid?” Kid laughed. ‘“ Seed him git on de boat Dat’s how I Goldtooth “ How knows.” : _ “ Ay’ us’s money is gone!” yelled Gold- tooth. Pete laughed. Kid.” Kid commenced emptying his pockets ona table. ‘ Yo’ money ain’t gone. Heah it is heah. But it wuz almos’ gone—dat an’ a lot mo’ you fool niggahs wuz gwine give him if’n de Gran’ Salted hadn’t ’cided dis wuz a good time to lef’ fum heah.” ‘But how’d you git de money?” Kid grinned. ‘“ Yo’ money had done stahted ’way fum heah wid Mistuh Men- denhall, but down dah at de beach it done balked an’ wouldn’t go no fu’der wid him. Pete heah tipped me off dat he didn’t think Cuthbert wuz hones’, an’ wuz gwine try to git ’way—so I wuz down dah on de beach waitin’ fo’ him, when he rushed down to git on de Bluebird.” Kid placed the last balky dollar on the table. ‘‘ Dat’s all 0’ y’-all’s money. It sho’ balked easy. I had a little conversation “Tell ’em "bout it, wid Cuthbert, an’ on’y had to use mah fis’ - Co NOOKS C@