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128   THE CRISIS

flushed and timid; bold, painted women; well-dressed men; and a number of school fellows. Among these last I caught sight of Jimmy Scott, a classmate and friend of mine. He was a good scholar and a good-hearted fellow as a rule. Tonight he was drunk and staggering. 

Mary watched the crowd in breathless interest. The shawl fell away from her tense, pale face as she advanced into the circle of light. She has not long to wait, for soon the tall form of Alton Brice appeared beneath the arc-light in the doorway and to his arm an adoring woman clung and smiled into his face with eyes of love. They came swiftly down the steps and started away among the crowd. Then Mary stepped forward timidly and touched his arm. He turned in surprise and, seeing that it was she, flushed angrily.

"Alton," she said softly, "Oh, Alton!"

He drew away from her, brutally forcing her hand from his arm. "Come on Kate," he said to his companion, "Let's get out of this."

But Mary's gray eyes flashed and her slender fingers fastened on to his sleeve.

"Alton," she cried aloud, "You know your promise; you can't leave me; you must-"

He turned savagely upon her. His arm shot out. There was a sound, a thud, and Mary lay across the white marble steps beneath the arc-light.

In that moment I seemed to go mad, my mind became a whirl, red streaks danced before my eyes, obscuring everything but him. He saw me breaking through the crowd and stepped back, too late! I struck him full upon his clean-shaven jaw, with all the force I could command; with all the strength of my body; with all the pent-up wrath of many days behind the blow. He staggered, back, back, and fell full-length upon the frosty pavement. I was at his throat in an instant but the fellows pulled me off. I heard Jimmy's voice crying in my ear, "Let him get up, Clark. He can't fight you."

But Alton Brice did not move. He lay there, still, inert, lifeless. The moonlight, breaking through the maple branches, intensified the pallor of his face. Then a man bent over him and felt his hear, lifted his drooping head and then stood up, his eyes wild with terror.  

"He's dead," the man said in a voice of awe. And then a woman's voice broke out upon the quiet night, "Oh God, he's killed him!"

Jimmy's grasp on my arm relaxed. "Get away, Clark," he urged excitedly. "For God's sake go. You've killed him!"

I saw the wild faces of the crowd. I saw Mary rising slowly to her feet, her long hair disheveled and hanging about her shoulders. I saw her eyes, wild, accusing, searching my face and then I turned and fled.

On into the night I ran, the mad thoughts rushing through my brain in lightning-like swiftness. I thought of home and Dad. It would kill him to learn that I had murdered a man. The fear of the gallows and the fear of God loomed up before me in gigantic proportions. The pain in my bruised knuckles made me feel faint and dizzy but I ran on unheeding, for the face of Alton Brice grinned frightfully before me and Mary's eyes gazed into mine from out of the darkness, searching deep-down into my terror-stricken soul. 

I do not know how long I ran through the deserted streets, past stores and offices and darkened homes, but at length I found myself down by the wharves, the black waters barring all possibility for further flight. I stopped, gasping for breath, and looked around. About me the hulls of giant ships loomed up, dark bulks against the sky. The night wind whistled ominously on the loosened rigging; black smoke stacks belched forth rolling clouds of smoke; and men's voices aboard the ship sounded muffled and far away. From behind a pile of grain bags on the pier a big man stepped forth, cursing loudly and with great emphasis. He almost ran against me then stepped back, laughing at my frightened face.

"What ya doin' about her, sar?" he asked.

"Nothing," I answered.

His smile vanished quickly. "Well you bettah be goin' about yer own d-- business then."
I started off quickly enough, but he called me back.

"Wait!" he said sharply. "You don't happen to be lookin' for work, do you? Want 'a ship on this steamer here? We need a hand and the captin sent me out


DEBATING AND ATHLETICS     129

here after one, jes' lak men growed on this here pier."

"Where are you going?" I asked, suddenly interested in what seemed to my mind a hope of temporary safety at least.

"Cattle ship," he said, "bound for England. East work too, sonny. A baby could do it. Jes' lak feein and wat'rin the little chickens in yer own back yard at home an scrubbin' 'round a little bit for your ma. Bettah come on."

His change of tone was entirely unnecessary. I would have embarked on any boat just so I got away. "I'll go," I told him, and we went on board. Ten minutes later I had signed myself a member of the crew of the Jeffery cattle ship bound for London.
(To be concluded in August.)


DEBATING AND ATHLETICS IN COLORED COLLEGES

By V.D. JOHNSTON, Virginia Union University, and E.B. HENDERSON, Manual Training School, District of Columbia

The school year just past has been marked by debates of rather unusual importance.

In the eleventh annual triangular debate between Fisk, Howard, and Atlanta Universities, April 13, on "Compulsory Arbitration of Labor Disputes," the home team won the decision on the affirmative side in each instance. At Fisk the affirmative team was composed of H.H. Proctor and C.N. King, while the negative side was upheld by M.A. Jackson and J.C. Heslip, of Howard. The decision was two to one in Fisk's favor. At Atlanta, Rush and Maxwell defeated Burwell and Wesley of Fisk; and at Howard, Dyett and Nelson defeared Moore and Thomas of Atlanta unanimously. In eleven years this is the first time Fisk has had the opportunity to celebrate a victory over Howard.

In the Morehouse-Knoxville-Talladega debate, Morehouse won the decision over Knoxville on the affirmative side at Morehouse, with Barbour and Fisher on the affirmative and Myers and H. Bond representing Knoxville. McMahon and C.W. Bond, at Knoxville, successfully defended the affirmative against Pritchett and Dixon of Talladega, two to one. Talladega defeated Morehouse at Talladega. This debate took place April 13. The question was "State Pensions for Needy Mothers."

In the second annual Wilberforce-Lincoln-Union Triangular Debate on March 23, each team, likewise, won the decision at home. The affirmative at Wilberforce defeated Creditt and Doyle of Lincoln two to one. McMorries and Hill, at Lincoln, defeated Brown and Johnston, of Union, two to one. Thompson and Smith at Virginia Union won unanimously against Williams and Hunter of Wilberforce. The question was "Government Ownership of Railroads."

Among three secondary schools of Virginia a triangular debate was held April 13 over the question of a "Minimum Wage." The V.N. & I.I. won by defeating Hampton, at Petersburg, and St. Paul, at Lawrenceville. Hampton defeated St. Paul at Hampton.

From the above record some general principles may be drawn:

I. Debating is fast assuming a place of primary importance in the student activities of the colored schools. More than any physical exercise, it is an activity directly in line with the training of the class room. The development of the "debating mind" is the result of a discipline severer and more concentrated than any class room exercise. Debating activities are, therefore, encouraged and should be extended in these schools and in others.

II. It is significant and particularly noticeable that in the three major triangles the home team consistently won, though that was the affirmative and the harder side to prove. In one or two instances the affirmative undoubtedly won, but in many of these cases the decision was gotten only by a narrow margin. If these debating leagues can arrange a board of judges of some permanency to serve from year to year, just as officials are appointed in the interscholastic athletic associations, there will be, undoubtedly, less probability of finding