ur Beloved Fraternity?" asked Mr. Beasley, in
a whisper.

"Hope, Coslosterousness, and Polotomy," replied the Regal Commander.

"'Tis Well," said the Most Worshipful Scribe, giving him the Grip.

Having completed the Secret work, Mr. Beasley wanted to know what he
could do for Brother Winfield.

"Remove this Pusson," said Mr. Winfield, pointing at the Colonel.

So it came about that He who in Apahatchie County had trained them to
hop off the Sidewalk and stand Uncovered until he had passed, now
suffered the Hideous Degradation of being marched downstairs by One of
Them and then slammed into the Hurry-Up Wagon. Under which Circumstances
the Colonel had the Rabies.

[Illustration: MR. WINFIELD]

At the Police Station he was dragged before a Magistrate and was charged
with Disorderly Conduct, Carrying Concealed Weapons, Assault and
Battery, Assault with Intent to Kill, and Resisting an Officer.

The Magistrate was a White Man, and to him the Colonel appealed for
Justice, claiming Brotherhood as a Caucasian. He told what would have
happened in Apahatchie if any Coon had dared to lay a finger on a
Colonel.

Here was an opening for the Court. It must be known that the Court lived
in a Ward that was Dark in one End, and he was out for the Colored Vote
in case he ran for Judge. This was his Chance to make a Grand-Stand
Play.

He handed down a Decision to the Effect that all Men are Free and Equal,
with incidental References to the Emancipation Proclamation and Striking
the Shackles from Four Millions of Human Beings. He Ratified the
Constitution and Permitted the Negro to stand in the Free Sunlight. In
Apahatchie County he would have been used for Target Practice, but
Apahatchie County was still Eight Hundred Miles away.

In Conclusion he Soaked the Colonel for $32.75 in Fines and Costs,
Confiscating the Weapon, which he afterward presented to Officer Otis
Beasley as a Slight Token of Esteem.

Next Morning, as a south-bound Passenger Train was crossing the Ohio
River, the Colored Porter on the Atlanta Sleeper jumped eighty feet from
the Trestle into the Water in order to Escape with his Life.

MORAL: _A Head Waiter must be Ruled by Kindness_.

_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ CORPORATION DIRECTOR _AND THE_ MISLAID AMBITION

One of the Most Promising Boys in a Graded School had a Burning Ambition
to be a Congressman. He loved Politics and Oratory. When there was a
Rally in Town he would carry a Torch and listen to