oor y.  alone for more t steps on tairs.

    I  you. here you been?*

    Singer smiled.   it aely ook  and leaned over telpiece to e a note.

    you mean? Jake asked e ten.  off?’

    Singer took back te and e a feional sentences.

    dont surprise me.’

    in lessness of t montense and uneasy. huh! he said again.

    Singer put on a pot of coffee and got out ore te to pieces and rolled ts between his

    sing palms.

    But somet ter a while.

    You kno?’

    Singer nodded uncertainly.

    I  to see tory. ake me around there?’

    Singer deliberated. te on a pad of paper, tonight.’

    Jake o o lessly around thing.’

    J AKE and Singer ed on t porciently and pressed  tood s of color on tle of gin toget and dark. Jake c s softly tia opened them.

    I certainly trust you not been ing long. So many folks been coming t us t it o untaclemens just let me take you s—Faty sick.’

    Jake tiptoed he bare, narrow hall.

    At tcopped s t. A fire burned in tove and tigain Negro smell. tove  in t.

    quot;tlemens come to inquire about Fatia said. I to see you but I better go on in first and prepare him.’

    Jake fingered ticed impression from t screen door. ts not it, o talk her.’

    tanding. Singer motioned to to be seated again. t doto lounged against

    t in a corner  legs umpy thighs.

    Good evening, Jake said awkwardly. Your name Copeland?’

    t umps of o the wall. My name illie.’

    you ia. this