Coquetry Did Not Go

Just where Kobbiiia lane shoots into Lucas street is to be found a settlement of negroos, says tho St. Louis Republic. All the residents of this part of the narrow thoroughfare known as Lucas avenue, from Robbins lane cast several squares, are AfroAmericans. Numerous little stables are used as "coal yards" by several negroes, who sell ice and coal in small quantitios to colored residents. One d;:y while the miners' strike was on coal had jumped to a high price the night before. A buxom young coiored woman walked into the miniaturo coal yards one morning to purehase a basketful for the day. Wheninformed by the old black giant, who was proprietor, that coal had "done gone up purty high las' night," the buxom young colored woman was sorely troubled. "Now, see hyar, Uncle Sam, you's not gwine ter chawge me dat outrajis price?" queried the young colored woman, in an imploring manncr. "Wall, now, I's tellin' ye how 'tis," replied Uncle Sam. "Coal done jumped twenty cents las' night. I have to go to de freight cyars an' fork dis coal, an' den load it in de wagon an' haul it hyar, an' den unload it. You see, I dono handle dis hyar coal t'ree times, an' I ain"t making but a measly two cents proflt on dis hyar basketful. I cain't 'fo'd to sell it any cheaper." "Aw! go long now, Uncle Sam, you ain't gwine to chawge a good-lookin' culled widder like me that price?" said the young colored woman evidently applying the art of coquetry to bring down the price of coal. "Are you married, Uncle Sam?" queried the young colored widow. "No, I's not married now," replied Uncle Sam. "But I done buried t'ree vvomen an lm telan yo right now, I's not gwine ter bury de fo'th. " Uncle Sam spoke in an emphatic tone, which told plainly that ho was not in the coal business for love. The young colored widow paid the high price for tha basketful of coal and departed. Her coquetry had availed nothing.