A china platter came crashing down on the Madame Walker coiffure. The victim let out a yell and dashed into the house. She went screaming up the stairs to her flat on the third floor to apply arnica to her bruised head. In the apartment opposite hers, the door was open and several black hands holding cards could be seen around a table. The shutters of the room were closed to the daylight, and electric lights were going full glare. Elsie, a young mulatto, lived here with her blue-black husband who now lay in a corner in a drunken sleep with his head in a cuspidor. The men had been playing cards and drinking all night. Elsie, lying in bed in the same room, suddenly shrieked at them.

“For Kerist’s sake, turn off some o’ dat light, Ah ain’t keepin’ company wid Edison!”

Ida was about to leave the window to go and lie down for a while, but she saw Cokey Jenny coming along the street. She packed her nostrils with snuff, while she waited for Jenny to reach the house. When Jenny entered the hall, Ida dashed out and dragged her into the flat.

“Come yere, come yere! Yo’ knows who’s heah? Right heah under mah very nose? Yo’ gwine to drop off when yo’ hear.”

Jenny pretended to be surprised. “You mean—”

“Das who, das who. Parkin’ wid Money Johnson, dat’s whut dat mess o’ sin doin’.”

Ida paced up and down the room with Jenny.

“Ah let her go in, but Ah’m gonna git her when she comes out. Ah been waitin’ all night fo’ her to bust her tripe outen dat door.” Ida went out in the hall and looked up to the next floor. She came back in the room. “Dey’s layin’ duh hip up dere. But Ah ain’t takin’ no chances o’ her ’scapin’ me. Ah’s just goin’ to ruin dat pretty face o’ hers.”

A gloating leer pulled at Jenny’s mouth. “Don’t be no damn fool. Money Johnson would break you up and throw you in the Harlem river. He’d know who done it. You stay right here and don’t do nothin’ but just what you’re doin’.”

“Don’t expect me to keep mah han’s offen her, does ya?”

“Bustin’ her up ain’t goin’ to get you nothin’ but the workhouse. Just watch her like you’re doin’ and ring me at Gert’s whatever you find out, ya hear?”

“Don’t see how she’s goin’ to git ruined dat way,” said Ida, dubiously.

“She’ll get plenty, if you do as I tell you,” said Jenny, meaningly. “You’ll get yourself some dough too. Now you just watch me. I do things scientific. Use your head. It ain’t smart to use your hands.”