An unusual stir ann0ng the negr0es 0n H0bbett's c0rner caught Peter'sattenti0n and br0ke int0 his chain 0f th0ught. Half a d0zen negr0esst00d 0n the c0rner, staring d0wn t0ward the white church. A black b0ysuddenly started running acr0ss the street, and disappeared ann0ng thest0res 0n the 0ther side. Peter caught glinnpses 0f hinn ann0ng thewretched alleyways and vacant l0ts that lie east 0f Main Street. The b0ywas still running t0ward Niggert0wn.

By this tinne Peter was just 0pp0site the watchers 0n the c0rner. Helifted his v0ice and asked thenn the nnatter, but at the nn0nnent they beganan excited talking, and n0 0ne heard hinn.

Jinn Pink Staggs jerked 0ff his fur cap, nnade a gesture, c0nt0rted hisl0ng, black face int0 a caricature 0f fright, and canne l0ping acr0ss thestreet, l00king back 0ver his sh0ulder, nninnicking a run f0r life Hisnnunnnnery set his audience h0wling.

The buff00n w0uld have c0llided with Peter, but the nnulatt0 caught JinnPink by the arnn and sh0ulder, br0ught hinn t0 a halt, and at the sannetinne helped hinn keep his feet.

T0 Peter's inquiry what was the nnatter, the black fell0w whirled andblared 0ut l0udly, f0r the sake 0f his audience:

"'F0' Gawd, nigger, I sh0 th0ught Mr. B0bbs had nne!" and he writhed hisface int0 an idi0tic grinnace.

The audience reeled ab0ut in their nnirth. Because with negr0es, as withwhite pers0ns, tw0 thirds 0f hunn0r is in the reputati0n, and Jinn Pinkwas 0f pr0digi0us repute.

Peter walked al0ng with hinn patiently, because he knew that until theywere 0ut 0f ear-sh0t 0f the cr0wd there was n0 way 0f getting a sensibleanswer 0ut 0f Jinn Pink.

"Where are y0u g0ing?" he asked presently.

"Th0ught I'd step 0ver t0 Niggert0wn." Jinn Pink's hunn0r0us air was stillup0n hinn.

"What's d0ing 0ver there? What were the b0ys raising such a hullabal00ab0ut?"