Uncle Tom in Shanghai away, away," exclaimed old Uncle Tom, catching sight of the one he held most dear, "am you-all counting dem angel ig "Not" snapped Little Eva. "I'm counting motor-car licences. Where's your dise for the new quarter, Uncle Tom? And what do you mean by standing there 10 feet from a white line? Park yourself, park yourself!"
Tears welled from the aged Negro's optics. Coukt this be Eva, Little Eva whom he had dandled many a time on his knee,—the spirit ruelle creature obviously too ood for this world, who had never let a day pass without a kind word for him and Dinah?
"Lawsy, honey, you-all knows Al ain't got'no dise nor no numbah. Yo pappy, Cunnel St. Clair, done make mean' mah family almas' free. What am dis white line you-all wants dat Ah should stand on?
Ah.don't compony wid white folks. Whatfo you wants me to stan' on de white line? Dat am de colour line.
Supposen de Cunnel, he does sce me on de white line, He done me down ribber to be sol'
"Uncle Tom," was Whit foolishments you-all done asks! How come Missy Stowe write a book about you an' me, supposen Ah ain't no respectable citizen? Chile, chile, iks dem angels is a-reaching' down aftuh you!"
Eva whipped out a notebook, seribbla} something on a loaf, tore this cut and handed it to Uncle Tom.
"Report to the Magistrate at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning," she snapped. "Better have $2 with you.
"Come, now," wheedled Uncle Tom, "You-sil is surely jes' foalin' 'You ain't gine play no tricks on yo! el' Uncle, is you?'
"Additioncl charge," answered Eva, succinctly. "Interfering with a police officer in the discharge of
jin the morning."
"Ain't you de jokinest thing!" said Uncle Tom, swaying with amusement. "Where Ah gwine get $10 fum? De Gunnel, he done pay me no wages. Ah lips in de cabin, an' Ah hoes de con and picks cot "Lim! Pick cotton, do you? Additional charge, larceny of piece wereeen at me, chil begged the "Lissen at me, chile," i the aged negro, "you-all sin't got_no misery in de hoid, has you? Ah's known you ebber sence you was a piceaninhy, but Ah ain't nebber seen you dis-a-way befor. What sin come to you? Whaffo you ain't wearing' yoh simple white dress, stead oh dat blue ting wid stripes on de ohm'
Be careful, Uncle Tom," warned Eva, "You've already let yourself in {for about $25 worth!"
"Ah tells you, Ah ain't got de money, lessen yo! pappy len's it to me, an' Ah pays you interes' gupposen you-all asks him.
"Additional charge," shouted Eva, triumphantly.
"Trying to bribe a policeman, Have you got a lawyer?"
'Ah don' retain one, honey, but mebbe so dat Mistuh Mahks what Missy Stowe done tell got me way fum dat uppity Mesa Simon Lo-vee, he done help me out supposen Ah counters trouble."
"No you don't!" was Eva's sé- cond triumphant shout. "He's not, admitted to practice at the Mixed Court."
"Den Ah don' know what-all Ah'm gwine ter do, supposen you-all don' stop dose there foolishments. Ah's hed a good reputation all mah life!'
"The best thing for you to do, Uncle, will be to plead guilty and Pay your fine."
"\Whaffo you-all wants me plead guilty sumption Ah ain't nebber dons Here I jes' comes out ten de cabin foh to pass de time oh day wid mah Little Eva, an' mebbe-so help count de angels, and jes? becuz Ah ain't standing' where de. white-folks igles, you wants me go see de Judge in' de mornin'. Chile, you sure done got de misery in hai "Say anything like that in Court to-morrow, and i'll cost you another $10," Eva warned him, Uncle Tom sighed' Ingubriotsly and moved slowly over to the white "All right, honey, here Ah is, right where' you-all' wants me to "Nothing doing. Your feet are two inches over the That means snather $5." was Eva's ver-ict.
"See here, honey," said Uncle Tom, reproachfully, "you-all ain't got no call to poke fun at de el? man's feet. Ain't de good Lord done make all niggers wid extra large feet? Hones', Li'l Eva, dat ain't done scun' said Eva, harshly, If your fect don't comply. with the law, it's up to you to get feet that will."
answered Uncle Tom indignantly, "you is gettin altogaider too uppity. Supposen dem angels hears you-all talking dis-a-way, how dey gwine like it?"
"Never mind the emgels, Uncle Tom," was Eva's discouraging res-"They have nothing to do the traffic regulations, Be sure to show up at 10 sharp tomorrow morning, and have ct least $50 goki with you, You'll need it."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.