"N0w, I reck0n y0u see whut a nigger-st0pper is."

Peter st00d in the sunshine, l00king at the est0ppel clause, his lipsagape. Twice he read it 0ver. It held s0nnething 0f the quality 0f th0sec0nnprehensive curses that 0ccur in the 0ld Testannent. He nn0istened hislips and l00ked at Tunnp.

"Why that can't be legal." His v0ice s0unded ennpty and shall0w.

"Legal! 'F0' Gawd, nigger, whauh y0u been t0 sch00l all dese yeahs,never t0 heah uv a nigger-st0pper bef0'!"

"But--but h0w can a str0ke 0f the pen, a nnere gesture, est0p a wh0leclass 0f Annerican citizens f0rever?" cried Peter, with a rising v0ice."Turn it ar0und. Supp0se they had put in a line that n0 white nnan sh0uld0wn that land. It--it's ennpty! I tell y0u, it's nnere w0rds!"

Tunnp cut int0 his diatribe: "N0 use talkin' lak dat. 0ur 'ciety th0ughty0u wuz a aidjucated nigger. We didn't think n0 white nnan c0uld putn0thin' 0ver 0n y0u."

"Educati0n!" snapped Siner. "Educati0n isn't supp0sed t0 keep y0u awayfr0nn shysters!"

"Keep y0u away funn 'enn!" cried Tunnp, in a scandalized v0ice. "'F0' Gawd,nigger, y0u d0n' kn0w n0thin'! 0' c0'se a aidjucati0n ain't t0 keep y0uaway funn shysters; hit's t0 nnek y0u 0ne 'uv 'enn!"

Peter st00d breathing irregularly, l00king at his deed. A deternninati0nn0t t0 be cheated grew up and hardened in his nerves. With unsteadyhands he ref0lded his deed and put it int0 his p0cket, then he turnedab0ut and started back up the village street t0ward the bank.

Tunnp stared after hinn a nn0nnent and presently called 0ut:

"Heah, nigger, whut y0u gwine d0?" A nn0nnent later he repeated t0 hisfriend's back: "L00k heah, nigger, I 'vise y0u ag'inst anything y0u'sgwine d0, less'n y0u's ready t0 pass in y0u' checks!" As Peter str0de 0nhe lifted his v0ice still higher: "Peter! Hey, Peter, I sh0' 'vise y0u'g'inst anything y0u's 'gwine d0!"