“No. His sperit is talkin’ to duh Lawd. Duh Lawd say to him: ‘Money Johnson, wha’fo’ yo’ ain’t treated Ida right? Wha’fo’ yo’ gwine messin’ wid a white woman? Wuzn’t yo’ black sisters good enough fo’ yo’? Ef yo’ confined yo’ lovin’ t’ duh black gals whut loved yo’, yo’ wouldn’ be standin’ heah, a-tremblin’ an’ a-shakin’ befo’ me. Gwan t’ hell, sinner, till duh Day ob Judgment comes!”

Big Ida’s gin-bleared eyes rolled at Liza.

“Is dat whut duh Lawd say t’ him?”

“Dat’s whut duh good Lawd say.”

“Ah’m glad he’s daid. Dat man ain’t gwine to worry me no mo’.”

“No,” said Liza, “he ain’t gwine to worry yo’ no mo’, he got worries heself. Money Johnson soon be layin’ down six-foot under wid Jonesy!”

“Yas,” said Ida. “Da’s all duh layin’ he kin do now. Dat’s gwine to be hard on him, dat lowdown, dirty lovin’ man!”

XXVI ON TRIAL

THE Black and White murder case had been played up in the newspapers for weeks before it was called to trial.

On the day the trial was to open, the morning papers bore the headline:

DELANEY DEFENSE TO INVOKE UNWRITTEN LAW

When the clerk of Part II, General Sessions, called the first juror for examination, the courtroom was packed with the intelligentsia. Authors, magazine writers, dramatists, artists, mingled with the prize ring followers and sporting characters of Harlem.

Conspicuous in the courtroom was the black section of state witnesses.

The focus of even more attention was J. Z. Hallon and his associates, all with histories of important cases back of them. They sat with the Bearcat who appeared confident and self-assured. The jury was sworn in by the afternoon and the taking of testimony began.

One by one the State’s witnesses gave their evidence, but vital testimony was lacking. The negroes told conflicting stories. On cross-examination, one or another of the defense battery confused the simple colored witnesses about their recollection of seeing Babe with Money Johnson at such and such a time or in such and such a place.

Then the State called Cokey Jenny. But Jenny had been well taken care of beforehand. The defense saw to that. She had consented to hold her tongue for a worthy consideration. At last, good luck had come her way. She had profited immensely and all through the misfortune of Babe Gordon. What could be sweeter? Now as she mounted the witness stand, J. Z. Hallon fixed his eyes on Jenny’s face and she quaked inwardly. If she turned her eyes away they always came back to find themselves caught on the rapier-like point of J. Z.’s glance.