the Wildcat had overlooked. The evening ended with a
general announcement from the uplifter, in which he invited the
assemblage to be present on the following day at the parade of the
Konk'rin' Culled Heroes.

"As de Supreem Gran' Organizeh Ah bids yo' welcome," he concluded.

From the darkness outside came a sardonic echo. "Blaa!" Lily the mascot
had seen fit to accept the uplifter's invitation.

When the party broke up, the uplifter showed an inclination to linger
after the Wildcat made his departure, but presently he realized the
failure of his ambition.

"Come on heah, Honey Tone," the Wildcat invited. "I walks a ways wid
yo'."

Once along the dark street Honey Tone sought to review the ouija
performance. "What fo' wuz you shovin' weegee an' makin' de spirits say
'yes' when they craved to say 'no'?"

"How come shovin'? Spirits does de shovin'. Ol' weegee tells de truf'.
Yo' sho' is married, ain't yo'?"

"I tells you once I ain't. I tells you now I ain't, Don' say no mo'."

"When you talks 'at way you sho' sounds lak a Cunnel, Honey Tone."

The Wildcat switched the conversation to the details of the parade.

"Is all de 'rangements done?"

"'Rangements done, 'ceptin' de mule I rides."

"Ah'll git de mule. Whah at does I meet you?"

"Parade stahts at noon f'm Willie Webster's barbeh shop. Us marches
th'oo town an' hol's de gran' review at de ball park."

A little farther down the street the two halted. "Whah at does you
live, Honey Tone?" the Wildcat inquired.

Honey Tone did not see fit to reveal the location of his present
domicile. "Down de street a ways," he said.

The pair parted. "Don' fo'git mah parade-leadin' mule fo' tomorrow,"
Honey Tone admonished, "an' 'blige me by not referrin' no mo' to no
wife whut I ain't got."

"Ah'll 'blige him," the Wildcat mentally conceded. "Afteh tomorrow Ah
don't need to do no wife-referrin' 'bout Honey Tone."

The Wildcat went to sleep that night enjoying the details of a plan
wherein Honey Tone's radiant future was considerably overcast by the
clouds of retribution.

CHAPTER III

1.

At breakfast on the following morning he repeated his invitation to
Captain Jack's cook. "Ol' Cap'n an' de Lady bofe gone away. No need you
stayin' roun' here all de time. Git to de gran'stan' early an' git a
front seat. Mebbe you'll meet up wid one ob mah pussonal lady
fren's--Cuspidora Lee, whut I boa'ded wid befo' de wah claimed me.
Cuspido' said she g'wine t