Memphis World
Memphis World Publishing Co.
1958-08-16
Thaddeus T. Stokes

MEMPHIS WORLD
AMERICAN'S STANDARD RACE JOURNAL
The South's Oldest and Leading Colored Semi-Weekly Newspaper
Published by MEMPHIS WORLD PUBLISHING CO.
Every WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY at 546 BEALE — Ph. JA. 6-4030
Member of SCOTT NEWSPAPER SYNDICATE
W. A. Scott, II, Founder; C. A. Scott General Manager
Entered in the Post Office at Memphis, Tenn., as second-class mail
under the Act of Congress, March 1, 1870
THADDEUS T. STOKES
Managing Editor
SMITH FLEMING
Circulation Manager
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Year $5.00 — 6 Months $3.00 — 3 Months $1.50 (In Advance)
The MEMPHIS WORLD is an independent newspaper — non-sectarian
and non-partisan, printing news unbiasedly and supporting those things
it believes to be of interest to its readers and opposing those things
against the interest of its readers.

Kasper And Education
John Kasper's boldest statement to date on his proposed
trip to Memphis is; "If Memphis State University is integrated
this fall there will be more violence than at the University of
Alabama in the Autherine Lucy case."
This statement should be proof to all that Kasper can have
little interest in promoting the cause of education in Tennessee
or in other parts of the country when this Sputnik age so sorely
demands such promotion. Violence, as any thinking and responsible 
individual can see, has not aided the furtherance of
education for anybody, the bombing of Hattie Cotton School
in Nashville because one Negro child was enrolled is example
enough. The forces of anarchy have only disrupted classrooms
and damaged the prestige of our country abroad.
It is little wonder, then, that Commissioner of Fire and
Police Claude Armour and Memphis State University President
Jack Millard Smith have emphatically declared that Kasper "will
not be welcomed" in the City of Memphis. This seems to be the
sentiment of most Memphians.

A Short Story About Protection
Out of Africa comes a story about a cattle rancher who was
plagued by lions. They raided his corral, broke down his fences
and made off with his prize bullocks and heifers.
The rancher got himself the most powerful gun he could
buy and kept it loaded at his bedside. But now, for one reason
or another, no lions attacked.
After a time, the rancher put his rifle on the shelf. Then
he took the cartridges out, and when the rainy season came
the bore rusted.
One quiet summer night the lions came prowling again at
his farm. He rushed for his gun but couldn't find the bullets, and
when he did, the rifle was so rusty it wouldn't fire. The rancher
suffered fearful losses.
This story parallels the history of the Salk vaccine. The
American public contributed millions to the March of Dimes to
find a preventive for polio paralysis. The Salk vaccine, developed 
on a March of Dimes grant, was the long-sought-for answer.
But now that we have this weapon, we allow it to spoil on
warehouse shelves. Three out of seven polio-susceptible persons
have failed to get their shots. So alarmed are polio authorities
like the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis that they
warn against new polio epidemics this summer.
Nobody else's vaccination—not even your children's—will protect 
you. Each person has to get his own. Don't take' a chance
— take your polio shots.

The Peace And The Truth
Like a cat chasing his tail by its thin shadow, so do those
sages of state encircles the globe in the quest of understanding;
that understanding alone by which peace offers to come into
the world.
Long years ago when the earth was large and the waterboundaries 
offered a defense, with old royal houses intermarrying, 
the ancient kingdoms boasted of a sure fortification. Those
days are gone and with the passing of the old order of kings,
emerges a new day of the dictators, the crusaders who would
don some sort of shirt and forge the minions into the battle lines.
Every high state functionary is today seeing a mighty upturn 
in philosophies and patterns; from capital to capital our
own Mr. Dulles junkets daily and before he gets around to
those grieved countries, it is time for him to begin over a new
mission.
Hitler possibly led off this renaissance of present day wars;
he followed somewhat the pattern of the Huns who seemed to
adore war.
The late President Woodrow Wilson had two answers;
neither was accepted, neither was tried.
He foresaw the terrible calamity facing the world; he sought
to reconcile war lords of Europe's top countries to help
stabilize a government among the German people with a protectorate 
to guide them back to normalcy.
Let not the Lion of Judah be forgotten, whose "barefoot"
soldiers were sacrificed to another goose-stepper, Mussolini to
further deny the minority.
The truth, just as Jesus proclaimed nearly two centuries ago
to those who insisted that they were already free, would make
the world free today. It would cause big nations to set their
houses in order by inquiring and treating minorities on a plane
of justice; it would see that the law to which a country swore
allegiance would be operative and effective without long drawn
out lawsuits, court battles, about rights of men.
If nations would be free, they must stand still one day
and listen to the crying truth.

New Propaganda Waves
Soon after it became clear to the South that its legal and
peaceful weapons for maintaining inferior but separate education 
for the Negro group was inadequate, it began to resort
to propaganda, state force, and organized private bigotry.
So it is not strange to see Southern educators, Dixie politicians 
and some journals which always support second-class citizenship 
extracting glee, cheer and comfort from the third-term
election of Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus. Running on the
dubious theory that state power overrides federal power in the
area of civil rights. Mr. Faubus was returned to office by a
vote that was not surprising in its size, fury, and frenzy.
In Alabama some educators continue to preach the unbalanced 
concept that the "solution to the problem (of public
school education) lies in the separate but equal theory." This
system is equal only in "theory" and separate actually in practice. 
The "separate but equal" theory is a decadent doctrine
and it lacks constitutional validity.
We do not share the views that the United States is too
weak to enforce its own laws. We do not believe that the
political sentiment of Arkansas represents the majority sentiment 
of this nation. We do not believe that Little Rock is the
citadel of world opinion. We do not believe that the outcome
of the Arkansas election will halt the struggle for school system
change based upon the new constitutional yardstick of equality
of opportunity.

The Threat Of Drowning
During the summer drowning is a greater threat to children 
than polio, pneumonia, heart disease, tuberculosis, and
influenza combined. Approximately 7,000 people in the United
States die each year by drowning.
Of those who die by drowning, it has been estimated by
government officials that 90½ per cent of them die needlessly.
A great many of these are children who have not been taught

to swim, or who have not been taught to respect water.
Among the boys going in the service in World War II, it
was discovered that only one out of ten was a skillful swimmer.
Five out of the ten possessed only elementary skill, and four
of the ten couldn't swim a stroke. Among the general public
the number of competent swimmers is, of course, even smaller
than the ratio in the service.
Parents cannot emphasize too often to their children the
need for safety while swimming. Here are some rules that may
save a life; avoid deep water, never swim alone, never swim
in unfamiliar water, don't be a show-off, stay on land when
over-healed or chilled, and try to keep calm when in trouble.

"MISS WORLD PREMIERE" —
Marking the first time in movie history
that a Negro girl has been chosen "Miss World Premiers" to
reign at the Hollywood-type opening of a major film, 18-yearold 
Juaria Moore, a student at Chicago's Wilson Teachers College, 
is crowned by Producer Stanley Kramer whose controversial.
"The Defiant Ones" opened in the Windy City this week starring
Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. Miss Moore was hostess to Actor
Poitier during a week-long visit to Chicago. She will appear on
a series of radio and television programs and may get a Hollywood 
screen test. Rumor has it that Poitier's performance in the
film which has already won him Berlin Film Festival Award
may very well win him the honor of being the first Negro to
win an Academy Award.

It Seems To Me
By Dr. O. B. Taylor
Some aspects on the behavior of
man, form the basis of this discussion. 
We wish to make it clear
in the outset that we are no authority 
on the matter at hand, and
wish the entense desire to attempt
to throw some light on the subject,
would pass away-thus relieving us
of a measure of conscious embarrassment. 

The following pronouncement
forcefully ringing in our mind:—
"The efforts of one to attempt to
judge where he does not fully understand, 
can be accounted for in
one of two distinctly different ways,
and one of which is bravery" Lacking 
in that aspect, we trimble at
thinking of the other alternative.
A great Anthropoligist of an
other age brings us some degree of
comfort, when he says, "there is
a collective or tribal mind as truly
as there is an individual or personal, 
mind. This tribal or racial
mind is just as dominantly determinative 
of the group career as
the individual mind is of the personal 
career. The same laws govern
both.
We can study one from the other
As a man thinketh in "his heart,
so is he. Thought, and nothing else
makes the man. This conclusion
would seem to level a serious indictment 
against many of the
questionable attitudes which are so
characteristic of many. No ethnic
group seems entirely free of the
charge. Since thought is father of
the act, and must precede it, man
is not without the privilege and
power of exercising a choice.
And the character of that choice
makes man morally responsible for
his deeds. Following a false philosophy 
of life, for no other reason
than it finds sanction in the tribe
or group, can not and does not render 
it the course of wisdom, justice 
and endurance. Just as the
mariner at sea relies upon individual 
require their counterpart, expressed 
in moral contact as their
journey through life is made.
Regardless of race color or creed,
those who ernestly embark on a
search for truth, thus placing their
hands on the plough-without look
ing 
back, are ones who are or
will be richly rewarded for their
efforts. Education, experience, opportunity 
and time, are the limbic
which has at last enabled the Negro 
to breathe life and power into
words, and the world today, gives
ear to his comments.
Despite the fact, there is a tribal 
as well as an individual mind,
and however difficult man may
find it to break away from tradition 
long enough to take a fresh
look at his philosophy of life, intelligence 
demands and will get a
hearing before the bar of public
opinion.
There is evidence to support the
fact that truth transcends racial
barriers to penetrate the deeper recessess, 
of the mind and soul, and
naive indeed is he who would deny
it reception. There is no such thing
as white truth and black truth.
Truth bears no relationship to error; 
it deals only with the law of
the exclusive middle, bearing the
label of a great question mark,
"true or false?"
Truth tolerates no middle ground;
it ever exacts specific answer: yes
or no; true or false; for or against?
It appears to be of much interest
to some, that the so-called "child
race" has grown up a bit and is
now of age. Time, was required to
demonstrate the fact, that the only
difference between a boy and a
man is experience. And, where experience 
has failed to teach, the
boy is doomed to remain a boy.
Tried in the crucibles of severe
testing, the Negro, whether in tribal 
or group force on the one hand,
or individual-on the other, emerges
a stronger, more enlightended and
better man in general. Self-respect
like charity, begins at home, its first
chores is to convert its possessor,
that job thoroughly done- makes it
less difficult to convert others.
The shoulders of no weakling are
broad enough to bear the weight of
good citizenship responsibilities,
which accompany a corresponding
opportunity. The Negro, if I understand 
him, desires and seeks only
a "Man's Chance" in the body
politic 
and is willing to rise or fall
under such a test. He neither seeks
or desires special consideration, and
relishes no special hindrance, as
he seeks-not neccessarily what he
desires, but rather what he believes
he deserves.
Some people seem slow to understand 
the obvious fact, that there
is enough sunshine in the world to
light up every man's way, without
injury to any. Some people appear
to live out their entire lives, without 
storing up enough treasures in
Heaven to make a down payment
on a gallery seat. Little realizing
that one of life's saddest mistakes
can result from misplaced emphasis; 
for it can serve as the rock upon 
which will go to pieces so many
cherished dreams.
Whether, tribal-group, or individual, 
attitude is a determining factor 
in the life of man.

WISHING WELL
Registered U. S. Patent Office.
HERE is a pleasant little game that will give you a message every
day. It is a numerical puzzle designed to spell out your fortune.
Count the letters in your first name. If the number of letters is 6 or
more, subtract 4. If the number is less than 6, add 3. The result is
your key number. Start at the upper left-hand corner of the rectangle 
and check every one of your key numbers, left to right. Then
read the message the letters under the checked figures give you.

Reporter Rouzeau
Dies of Seizure
Edgar T.
Rouzeau, former reporter war correspondent, 
and a founder of the
American Bridge Association, died
of a heart attack August 9.
He was attending a bridge tournament 
in the Henry Hudson Hotel
when he died, but he was not playing. 
He was 53 years old.
Mr. Rouzeau, a native of Jamaica,
B. W. I., covered the war in Europe,
Asia and Africa in 1942-43 for The
Pittsburgh Courier. He had also
worked for the New York Herald
Tribune and The Amsterdam News.
At his death he was owner of a
book and stationery shop in Brooklyn. 


Eisenhower Scores

guards stood in each spectator
aisle while Eisenhower spoke. It
was notable that when Gromyko
replaced him as speaker, there
were exactly twice as many U. N.
guards.
Eisenhower arrived at the U. N.
building precisely 10:50 a. m., his
motorcade passing through "cheering 
crowds or the route from the
Waldorf-Astoria. He was escorted
down the center aisle of the magnificent 
General Assembly chamber
by its president, Now. Zealand's Sir
Leslie Munro, U. N. Secretary
General Dab Hammarskjold and
his assistant, Andrew Cordier.
He spoke with candor when he
said the United States was ready
to be judged if it had stirred trouble 
in the Arab countries by propaganda. 
And the tone of solemn
warning was clear when he said:
"Please believe me when I say
that the dream of world domination 
by one power or the world
conformity is an impossible
dream."
When he had finished Else hower 
sat down in a large blue upholtered 
chair. Somehow he seemed
a lonely figure though the assembly 
was on its fort applauding him
for more thin half a-minute.

SPEAKS WITH CANDOR

guards stood in each spectator
aisle while Eisenhower spoke. It
was notable that when Gromyko
replaced him as speaker, there
were exactly twice as many U. N.
guards.
Eisenhower arrived at the U. N.
building precisely 10:50 a. m., his
motorcade passing through "cheering 
crowds or the route from the
Waldorf-Astoria. He was escorted
down the center aisle of the magnificent 
General Assembly chamber
by its president, Now. Zealand's Sir
Leslie Munro, U. N. Secretary
General Dab Hammarskjold and
his assistant, Andrew Cordier.
He spoke with candor when he
said the United States was ready
to be judged if it had stirred trouble 
in the Arab countries by propaganda. 
And the tone of solemn
warning was clear when he said:
"Please believe me when I say
that the dream of world domination 
by one power or the world
conformity is an impossible
dream."
When he had finished Else hower 
sat down in a large blue upholtered 
chair. Somehow he seemed
a lonely figure though the assembly 
was on its fort applauding him
for more thin half a-minute.

Rep. Adam Powell

while specifically not endorsing Mr.
Brown, indicated that the City
Councilman would make a good
Congressman for Harlem voters.
Mayor Robert F. Wagner, also gave
Brown a pat on the back, and top
colored city employees, including
Mrs. Anne Arnold Hedgeman, an
assistant to the Mayor, campaigned

for Brown.
Mr. Powell was unopposed on the
Republican ticket and in the November 
election will be on the ballot
as the Republican as well as the
Democratic candidate. Mr. Brown,
unopposed, won the Liberal party
nomination, but he is not expected
to cut any figure in the November 
results.

MEMPHIS WORLD
Want Ad Information
Call JA. 6-4030
Deadline For Classified Ad Is
Tuesday for Saturday's Edition and
Saturday for Wednesday's Edition

FURNITURE FOR SALE
Duncan Phyfe drop leaf dining
room table, $25; Set of six Needlepoint 
chairs, $35; Duncan Phyfe
Sofa, $65, newly upholstered in
muslin; also Lounge Chair in muslin, 
$40; Peer glass mirror, $50;
Antique cherry bed, spring and
mattress in excellent condition,
$75; Pair Marble top end tables,
$25 each; Lovely genuine mahogany
kneehole desk, $75; Victorian bed,
chest, dresser, music, stand, chair,
together or separately. 1952 Thor
washer with interchangeable dish
washing unit, $50. Rexair vacuum,
$25, and miscellaneous items. G
2-5628.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
CONCERT Olds tenor saxaphone,
practically new. Will sell for cash,
or trade for used car. FA 7-0349.

REMODEL-REPAIR-PAINT
ADD-A-ROOM
On FHA terms. Free estimates,
easy payments — Carports, dens,
garages, rooms, enclosures, painting, 
roofing, concrete, brick paneling, 
siding, additions. Phone for
estimate.
Home Builders Supply Co.
820 S. Willett
BR 5-8128

SALESWOMEN WANTED
MAKE EXTRA MONEY
In Your Spare Time
SELL CHRISTMAS CARDS
For A Memphis Firm
Come to our office or write:
SOUTHERN GREETING CARD
COMPANY
478 N. Hollywood — Dept. 100
Memphis 12, Tennessee

BUSINESS WOMEN — SELL
To fellow employees on lunch hour
and breaks. Add $20-$30 a week to
present income. Avon Cosmetics are
in demand everywhere. Call JA
5-6933.

NEWSBOYS WANTED
To Sell the Memphis World Tuesday 
and Friday. JA 6-4030.

FEMALE HELP WANTED
WOMEN Sew Easy Ready-cut wrapa-round 
Aprons home. Earn $26.16
Dozen—Spare Time. Write: Accurate 
MFGR'S, Freeport, N.Y.

Things You Should Know

EMPEROR OF YEMEN AND ETHIOPIA,
HE STARTED A THOUSAND YEAR WAR THAT
RANGED FROM FRANCE TO JAPAN! HE
CROSSED THE RED SEA IN 150 SHIPS WITH
70,000 SOLDIERS! HE OFTEN RODE A
WHITE ELEPHANT DRAPED IN SILK AND
GOLD! HE DIED OF SMALL-POX.


MORAL RE-ARMAMENT NEWS
CAUX-SUR-MONTREUX, Switzerland 
—
The voice of an America
that would win the heart of anyone 
anywhere, the voice of an Africa 
with freedom from bitterness
and the voice of a humble European
statesmanship, was how chairman
R. D. Mathur of New Delhi summed
up today's session of the Moral ReArmament 
Summit Conference
here.
"No economic or political liberty
will last unless it is based on liberty 
in the heart and freedom from
the bitterness and hatred that
divide the world," said Senator
Maurizio Vigiani of Florence, Italy.
Senator Vigiani, who is the founder 
of the metal workers union of
Italy, told how he had asked forgiveness 
from political colleagues

for his Bitterness. "I was wrong to
have been bitter," he said, "and I
had to take the first step. This is
the only way - beginning with yourself 
- and it works. This answer
must go to all the people of the
world. We must do it together with
our friends from Africa and Asia.
I am absolutely convinced that we
are going to win."
Ifoghale Amata, former leader of
the students of Ibadan University
in Nigeria, spoke of his experience
with a force that is answering racial 
bitterness in the Southern States
of America. He said, "I came to
Caux to see if there existed a universal 
philosophy which would not
only unite the world but raise it to
a hew level. This I found here. But
it is one thing to see this and it
is another to let it penetrate deep
in one's heart." He said nationalism 
had always been the fire in his
life but when he met MRA he got
a new concept of nationalism which
freed him from bitterness and enabled 
him to fight for freedom for
the world.
Mrs. T. H. Guething of Detroit
who comes from the American
Southern States, apologized for the
superiority she had felt toward
other races. Mr. Guething, who is
a Detroit businessman, said, "We
all know about American materialism. 
You have seen it. I have lived
it. MRA gave me a new set of
standards. The four absolute moral
standards are firm ground on which
to base every decision in my business. 
My own selfishness is the
same selfishness that has guided
my country. My trip to Caux has
brought an acute awareness of how
far from the straight path I and
my country have strayed. I will
return with renewed conviction to
bring an answer that can and will
work. That means I must live it
myself."

A NEW CONCEPT
OF NATIONALISM
CAUX-SUR-MONTREUX, Switzerland 
—
The voice of an America
that would win the heart of anyone 
anywhere, the voice of an Africa 
with freedom from bitterness
and the voice of a humble European
statesmanship, was how chairman
R. D. Mathur of New Delhi summed
up today's session of the Moral ReArmament 
Summit Conference
here.
"No economic or political liberty
will last unless it is based on liberty 
in the heart and freedom from
the bitterness and hatred that
divide the world," said Senator
Maurizio Vigiani of Florence, Italy.
Senator Vigiani, who is the founder 
of the metal workers union of
Italy, told how he had asked forgiveness 
from political colleagues

for his Bitterness. "I was wrong to
have been bitter," he said, "and I
had to take the first step. This is
the only way - beginning with yourself 
- and it works. This answer
must go to all the people of the
world. We must do it together with
our friends from Africa and Asia.
I am absolutely convinced that we
are going to win."
Ifoghale Amata, former leader of
the students of Ibadan University
in Nigeria, spoke of his experience
with a force that is answering racial 
bitterness in the Southern States
of America. He said, "I came to
Caux to see if there existed a universal 
philosophy which would not
only unite the world but raise it to
a hew level. This I found here. But
it is one thing to see this and it
is another to let it penetrate deep
in one's heart." He said nationalism 
had always been the fire in his
life but when he met MRA he got
a new concept of nationalism which
freed him from bitterness and enabled 
him to fight for freedom for
the world.
Mrs. T. H. Guething of Detroit
who comes from the American
Southern States, apologized for the
superiority she had felt toward
other races. Mr. Guething, who is
a Detroit businessman, said, "We
all know about American materialism. 
You have seen it. I have lived
it. MRA gave me a new set of
standards. The four absolute moral
standards are firm ground on which
to base every decision in my business. 
My own selfishness is the
same selfishness that has guided
my country. My trip to Caux has
brought an acute awareness of how
far from the straight path I and
my country have strayed. I will
return with renewed conviction to
bring an answer that can and will
work. That means I must live it
myself."

AMERICAN FROM THE

SOUTH APOLOGIZES
CAUX-SUR-MONTREUX, Switzerland 
—
The voice of an America
that would win the heart of anyone 
anywhere, the voice of an Africa 
with freedom from bitterness
and the voice of a humble European
statesmanship, was how chairman
R. D. Mathur of New Delhi summed
up today's session of the Moral ReArmament 
Summit Conference
here.
"No economic or political liberty
will last unless it is based on liberty 
in the heart and freedom from
the bitterness and hatred that
divide the world," said Senator
Maurizio Vigiani of Florence, Italy.
Senator Vigiani, who is the founder 
of the metal workers union of
Italy, told how he had asked forgiveness 
from political colleagues

for his Bitterness. "I was wrong to
have been bitter," he said, "and I
had to take the first step. This is
the only way - beginning with yourself 
- and it works. This answer
must go to all the people of the
world. We must do it together with
our friends from Africa and Asia.
I am absolutely convinced that we
are going to win."
Ifoghale Amata, former leader of
the students of Ibadan University
in Nigeria, spoke of his experience
with a force that is answering racial 
bitterness in the Southern States
of America. He said, "I came to
Caux to see if there existed a universal 
philosophy which would not
only unite the world but raise it to
a hew level. This I found here. But
it is one thing to see this and it
is another to let it penetrate deep
in one's heart." He said nationalism 
had always been the fire in his
life but when he met MRA he got
a new concept of nationalism which
freed him from bitterness and enabled 
him to fight for freedom for
the world.
Mrs. T. H. Guething of Detroit
who comes from the American
Southern States, apologized for the
superiority she had felt toward
other races. Mr. Guething, who is
a Detroit businessman, said, "We
all know about American materialism. 
You have seen it. I have lived
it. MRA gave me a new set of
standards. The four absolute moral
standards are firm ground on which
to base every decision in my business. 
My own selfishness is the
same selfishness that has guided
my country. My trip to Caux has
brought an acute awareness of how
far from the straight path I and
my country have strayed. I will
return with renewed conviction to
bring an answer that can and will
work. That means I must live it
myself."

JAMES KEENE'S powerful new novel
JUSTICE, MY BROTHER!
© Copyright 1957, by James Keene; reprinted by permission of the novel's publisher, 
House Inc.: distributed by King Features Syndicate.
JULIE and Bill Hageman dismounted 
in our yard. Bill had
a rifle and Marshal Bud Ledbetter 
gave them a quick, uncertain
glance.
"They're friends," I said. "Bill,
we need backing here."
"You've got it, Smoke," he said
and stood there, his rifle held
lax in his hands. I ran on to the
barn, threw a bridle on the first
horse I came to and led him
back. Cord was out on the porch
now, his .44 Smith & Wesson in
his hand. He and Ledbetter were
having a staring match, with Bill
Hageman standing behind the
marshal and a little to one side.
"Don't make me kill an officer
of the law," Cord said.
"I'm not making you do anything, 
Mr. O'Dare," Ledbetter
said. "Get on that horse, Luther.
You too, Smoke."
Luther hesitated, then flipped
up. I climbed aboard my own
mount and waited, my breath
choked off. Ledbetter's hand was
in his pocket; he hadn't yet drawn
his gun.
"Cord," Bill said, "the law has
to be served; no one man has the
right to set up his own laws
against it. If you shoot that pistol, 
you're a dead man. That's a
promise." He spoke to Bud Ledbetter 
without looking at him.
"Marshal, if you'd like, just get
on your horse and ride out. I'll
wait here a spell."
"We'll go together," Ledbetter
said, "after he puts down his
pistol."
There was no telling how this
would have turned out if Ma
hadn't rushed but and grabbed
Cord's arm. "I don't want you
killed!" she yelled. "You're my
man, Cord, my grown-up man.
I'd die without you! We'll get Luther 
back, Cord. But not if it
means you harm!"
I waited, breath held, then the
anger drained out of Cord, leaving 
him slack-bodied and sweating. 
He tossed his .44 into the
dust and we turned, riding out
of the yard together. Julie rode
beside me, saying nothing.
At the road we stopped. Bill
Hageman said. "If you want a
place to bunk, Smoke, our door's
always open."
"I'll stay in town," I said. "I've
been skunk-sprayed proper."
Ledbetter wanted to get on his
way; we parted there and Julie
and Bill crossed the river. I sided
Luther.
"I had to do it, Luther," I said.
"I just had to."
He looked at me then and of
all the people who had a right
to hate me the most, he was
the man. But he didn't: I saw
that immediately. "I guess you
did what you believed was right,
Smoke. And I envy you for that.

Wish I could do what was right.
You believe I hung Everett?"
"I don't know," I said. "Luther,
you do some damn fool things
sometimes."
"I didn't kill anyone," he said.
"Hell, you know I couldn't kill
anyone. Not hang a man."
How can I tell how much I
wanted to believe him? Yet how
could I ignore his unpredictable
nature, his facility for doing the
foolish and unwise thing? Before, 
it never seemed to matter
whether I believed him or not,
but now that it did matter, I
couldn't summon any faith.
Ponca City didn't have a jail
so Marshal Ledbetter kept Luther 
in his own room, handcuffing
him to the iron bedstead at night.
I took a room at the hotel,
paying for it with the cattle
money I still had in my pocket.
The next day Cord drove Ma
into town and Ledbetter allowed
her to visit with Luther. Edna
came in with them and did not
go back to the home place. She
rented a room so that she could
be near her husband.
I was a little surprised, and
very much afraid, when I opened
my door and saw Cord standing
by the window. "I didn't think
you'd mind my coming in to
wait," he said.
"Didn't know you wanted to
come in," I said.
Cord was ill at ease and understandably 
so; I wasn't a very
nice person to be around.
"Did you get a lawyer for Luther?" 
I asked.
"Sent a telegram off to Guthrie 
as soon as I came to town,"
Cord said. "Lawyers take money.
How about handing over what
you got from the cattle buyer?"
"Sure," I said, and gave it to
him. He counted it, which was
his way of telling me he didn't
consider me above stealing.
"You're a hundred shy"
"I have to live too or don't
you think I deserve it?"
"I'm not mad at you now,"
Cord said. "Just hurt that you
didn't come to me first I'd have
handled everything. We could
have got Luther off if we'd stuck
together. Together we could have
sworn that he was at home when
it happened. Now I've got to fight
this out in court. Maybe we'll win
and maybe we won't, but either
way it's given tie farmers an
edge I never wanted them to
have. You put the law on the side
of a man, Smoke, and you're
whipped. Given a little more time
and this drought and I could have
bought 'em all out."
This made me boil. "Is that all
this means to you, land? Don't
you care that "Luther's been arrested 
for killing a man?"
"You're saying things you don't
mean," Cord said, "I've always

thought of the family first. You
know that."
"Have you? How?"
"Everything I've done has been
for you," Cord said flatly. His
eyes got dull and dedicated and
he acted real noble about it all.
"What have you done? Made
Luther say "yes, sir; and 'no, sir,'
and do everything you wanted?"
I blew out an angry breath.
"And you've leaned on me plenty.
always making me do your share
of the work while you chase all
over the country."
"Is this the thanks I get for
dedicating my life?" Cord asked.
"I could have had a wife, but I've
denied myself that because of the
family. Is my reward a lot of
smart talk?"
This made me laugh; a few
weeks ago I wouldn't have dared,
but everything had changed since
then. "Hell, look at what you've
done for us! What do you carry
that big gun for if it ain't to
keep people scared of you? Well,
big man, I sure as hell ain't
scared of you!"
He was silent for a long moment. 
"I ought to break you in
two, Smoke. I ought to smash
your smart mouth and teach you
so's you'll never forget." He bit
his lip and stared at me. "I've
whaled you until my hand ached,
but I can see now that it wasn't
hard enough. I should have broken 
you, boy, years ago. Broken
you so's you'd behave and not
bring me grief and trouble now."
"Like you broke Luther, huh?
Or worked on Ma until she believes 
you're some kind of a
god?" I turned and opened the
door as wide as it would go. "Go
on, get out of here and leave me
alone. You ain't nothing special,
Cord. You're just got people
fooled into believing you are."
He stepped to the door, but he
turned and doubled up his fist.
"Don't ever stand up against me,
Smoke. I'll get what I want and
I'll kill the man who stands in
my way. Even you."
I watched him go down the
stairs, a dead, uneasy feeling in
my stomach. I hadn't meant to
spill over like that but things
seemed to pile up on me, like they
did on Luther, and I too had to
hit out at anything that was
handy. But I must have hit something 
pretty said because I'd
never seen Cord rocked back like
that. Quite by accident I'd gotten
through to him, but in a way
that made him dangerous angry.
Angry enough to look upon me
as a menace....


CHAPTER 27
© Copyright 1957, by James Keene; reprinted by permission of the novel's publisher, 
House Inc.: distributed by King Features Syndicate.
JULIE and Bill Hageman dismounted 
in our yard. Bill had
a rifle and Marshal Bud Ledbetter 
gave them a quick, uncertain
glance.
"They're friends," I said. "Bill,
we need backing here."
"You've got it, Smoke," he said
and stood there, his rifle held
lax in his hands. I ran on to the
barn, threw a bridle on the first
horse I came to and led him
back. Cord was out on the porch
now, his .44 Smith & Wesson in
his hand. He and Ledbetter were
having a staring match, with Bill
Hageman standing behind the
marshal and a little to one side.
"Don't make me kill an officer
of the law," Cord said.
"I'm not making you do anything, 
Mr. O'Dare," Ledbetter
said. "Get on that horse, Luther.
You too, Smoke."
Luther hesitated, then flipped
up. I climbed aboard my own
mount and waited, my breath
choked off. Ledbetter's hand was
in his pocket; he hadn't yet drawn
his gun.
"Cord," Bill said, "the law has
to be served; no one man has the
right to set up his own laws
against it. If you shoot that pistol, 
you're a dead man. That's a
promise." He spoke to Bud Ledbetter 
without looking at him.
"Marshal, if you'd like, just get
on your horse and ride out. I'll
wait here a spell."
"We'll go together," Ledbetter
said, "after he puts down his
pistol."
There was no telling how this
would have turned out if Ma
hadn't rushed but and grabbed
Cord's arm. "I don't want you
killed!" she yelled. "You're my
man, Cord, my grown-up man.
I'd die without you! We'll get Luther 
back, Cord. But not if it
means you harm!"
I waited, breath held, then the
anger drained out of Cord, leaving 
him slack-bodied and sweating. 
He tossed his .44 into the
dust and we turned, riding out
of the yard together. Julie rode
beside me, saying nothing.
At the road we stopped. Bill
Hageman said. "If you want a
place to bunk, Smoke, our door's
always open."
"I'll stay in town," I said. "I've
been skunk-sprayed proper."
Ledbetter wanted to get on his
way; we parted there and Julie
and Bill crossed the river. I sided
Luther.
"I had to do it, Luther," I said.
"I just had to."
He looked at me then and of
all the people who had a right
to hate me the most, he was
the man. But he didn't: I saw
that immediately. "I guess you
did what you believed was right,
Smoke. And I envy you for that.

Wish I could do what was right.
You believe I hung Everett?"
"I don't know," I said. "Luther,
you do some damn fool things
sometimes."
"I didn't kill anyone," he said.
"Hell, you know I couldn't kill
anyone. Not hang a man."
How can I tell how much I
wanted to believe him? Yet how
could I ignore his unpredictable
nature, his facility for doing the
foolish and unwise thing? Before, 
it never seemed to matter
whether I believed him or not,
but now that it did matter, I
couldn't summon any faith.
Ponca City didn't have a jail
so Marshal Ledbetter kept Luther 
in his own room, handcuffing
him to the iron bedstead at night.
I took a room at the hotel,
paying for it with the cattle
money I still had in my pocket.
The next day Cord drove Ma
into town and Ledbetter allowed
her to visit with Luther. Edna
came in with them and did not
go back to the home place. She
rented a room so that she could
be near her husband.
I was a little surprised, and
very much afraid, when I opened
my door and saw Cord standing
by the window. "I didn't think
you'd mind my coming in to
wait," he said.
"Didn't know you wanted to
come in," I said.
Cord was ill at ease and understandably 
so; I wasn't a very
nice person to be around.
"Did you get a lawyer for Luther?" 
I asked.
"Sent a telegram off to Guthrie 
as soon as I came to town,"
Cord said. "Lawyers take money.
How about handing over what
you got from the cattle buyer?"
"Sure," I said, and gave it to
him. He counted it, which was
his way of telling me he didn't
consider me above stealing.
"You're a hundred shy"
"I have to live too or don't
you think I deserve it?"
"I'm not mad at you now,"
Cord said. "Just hurt that you
didn't come to me first I'd have
handled everything. We could
have got Luther off if we'd stuck
together. Together we could have
sworn that he was at home when
it happened. Now I've got to fight
this out in court. Maybe we'll win
and maybe we won't, but either
way it's given tie farmers an
edge I never wanted them to
have. You put the law on the side
of a man, Smoke, and you're
whipped. Given a little more time
and this drought and I could have
bought 'em all out."
This made me boil. "Is that all
this means to you, land? Don't
you care that "Luther's been arrested 
for killing a man?"
"You're saying things you don't
mean," Cord said, "I've always

thought of the family first. You
know that."
"Have you? How?"
"Everything I've done has been
for you," Cord said flatly. His
eyes got dull and dedicated and
he acted real noble about it all.
"What have you done? Made
Luther say "yes, sir; and 'no, sir,'
and do everything you wanted?"
I blew out an angry breath.
"And you've leaned on me plenty.
always making me do your share
of the work while you chase all
over the country."
"Is this the thanks I get for
dedicating my life?" Cord asked.
"I could have had a wife, but I've
denied myself that because of the
family. Is my reward a lot of
smart talk?"
This made me laugh; a few
weeks ago I wouldn't have dared,
but everything had changed since
then. "Hell, look at what you've
done for us! What do you carry
that big gun for if it ain't to
keep people scared of you? Well,
big man, I sure as hell ain't
scared of you!"
He was silent for a long moment. 
"I ought to break you in
two, Smoke. I ought to smash
your smart mouth and teach you
so's you'll never forget." He bit
his lip and stared at me. "I've
whaled you until my hand ached,
but I can see now that it wasn't
hard enough. I should have broken 
you, boy, years ago. Broken
you so's you'd behave and not
bring me grief and trouble now."
"Like you broke Luther, huh?
Or worked on Ma until she believes 
you're some kind of a
god?" I turned and opened the
door as wide as it would go. "Go
on, get out of here and leave me
alone. You ain't nothing special,
Cord. You're just got people
fooled into believing you are."
He stepped to the door, but he
turned and doubled up his fist.
"Don't ever stand up against me,
Smoke. I'll get what I want and
I'll kill the man who stands in
my way. Even you."
I watched him go down the
stairs, a dead, uneasy feeling in
my stomach. I hadn't meant to
spill over like that but things
seemed to pile up on me, like they
did on Luther, and I too had to
hit out at anything that was
handy. But I must have hit something 
pretty said because I'd
never seen Cord rocked back like
that. Quite by accident I'd gotten
through to him, but in a way
that made him dangerous angry.
Angry enough to look upon me
as a menace....