u sin-'fested uplifteh, feel de axe. Bam! Dey reads four
trey. Lily, at res'."

The victorious Wildcat added the last of his winnings to the bulky roll
inside his pocket. "'At winds yo' up, big boy. De Supreem leadin' mule
rides easier now. Yo' weighs six hund'ed dollahs less."

A unit on the outer fringe of the pop-eyed audience pressed forward to
where the Wildcat stood. "Same ol' cyclone," he said in greeting.
"Wilecat, you 'membehs me? I ain't seed sich a fust-class cleanin'
since us fit de battle of Bo'deaux an' yo' win all de payday us boys
got."

The Wildcat suddenly recognized the speaker. "Backslid! How come yo'
heah? Hot dog! I sho' is glad to see yo'."

"Ah come home casual, count of stummik mis'ry th'ee weeks afteh yo' lef
Bo'deaux," the Backslid Baptist explained. "Sho' is glad to see yo'."

"You 'membehs Honey Tone?" The Wildcat introduced the uplifter. "Honey
Tone leads de parade. Us starts in five minutes. Jine in, Backslid, an'
yo' marches 'longside ob me an' Lily."

"Sho' 'steem to, Wilecat, but I takes mah run dis aftehnoon."

"How come run?"

"I's back on de ol' job runnin' Pullman out of Chicago. I's due out on
de Fliah fo' Chicago at two-fo'ty. Any time yo' craves a ramble on de
cushions, roun' me up. Ah stakes yo' to a white coat an' yo' is aced in
as mah helpeh. Pullman service is crammed wid dead-head helpehs now de
Guv'ment's runnin' de lines. An' Boy--once us 'rives at Chicago de
gran' ruckus begins!"

"Backslid, 'at sho' sounds noble. Some day me an' Lily sho' make a trip
wid you."

The Wildcat and his former associate were interrupted by Honey Tone
Boone. "Wilecat, you's de Supreem Arrangeh, ain't you? Roun' up de
humans. Fawm de parade. Us starts."

The Wildcat threw back his head and addressed the gathering in the
barber shop. "Company, 'tenshun! All de niggahs in de room whut's gwine
to jine de gran' parade, fall out de do' an' fall in!" He led the rush
for the exit. Outdoors he repeated the announcement. "Gran' parade led
by Honey Tone Boone. Followin' me an' Lily comes de brass ban'. Den
comes de Sons ob Damon. Sons ob Damon wearin' de yellah belly ban's
walks ahead. Followin' de Sons ob Damon, de Knights wid de Red Pants
falls in. Parade marches fo' an' fo', ladies outside. Keep off de car
tracks. Followin' de Knights wid de Red Pants comes de 'Filiated
Toilers.

"Cornet Club comes nex', 'ceptin' de big bass drum. Fetch dat bass drum
oveh heah. Yo' marches by me."

He