congregated, chattering and laughing. Women, in pairs, or with male escorts, strolled up and down the ample sidewalk.
Hello, 'Toly! A stalwart black man accosted the Creeper.
Hello, Ed. How you been?
Po'ly, thank you. How you been?
No complaints. Nummer come out. Drew sixty-seven bucks.
Holy Kerist!
Yeh. Anatole displayed his teeth.
What nummer?
Seven-Nine-Eight.
Whah you found et?
Off'n a gal's fron' do'.
Comin' out?
Goin' in. Ah went out duh back winder. Her daddy done come home widout writin'.
Hush mah mouf!
Ah doan mean mebbe.
As Anatole walked on, his self-esteem flowered. Unbuttoning his coat, he expanded his chest, dangerously stretching the gold watch-chain which extended from pocket to pocket across his muscular belly.
Howdy.
Howdy.
He greeted in passing Leanshanks Pescod, a mulatto lightweight who, in successive Saturday
