"I craves him fo' de Culled Heroes' Parade. Some day I gives you two bits does you lend him half a day. All he does in heah is eat you po' an' wake folks up." "Whah at's de two bits?" The exchange was effected, and presently, leading the mule and the festooned mascot, the Wildcat arrived at the rendezvous in front of Willie Webster's establishment. He tethered the mule to a hitching post and led Lily into the barber shop. "How come de goat?" one of the assemblage questioned. "See dem stripes? Lily went th'oo more battles dan you has sense. F'm now on, whah at I is, Lily is. Bible says, 'Whah at de goat, dere is Ah also goat.' Stan' up heah, Lily." The mascot was vainly endeavouring to eat the feathers from the top of her own head. "Ca'm yo'se'f. Whah at's de Supreem Parade Leadeh?" Honey Tone Boone stepped out of the adjoining room. "'At you, Wildcat? Whah at's mah steed?" "Hitched outdoors. Sho' is rarin' to go. Parade-leadinest mule Ah eveh see." Honey Tone took a look through the window at his conspicuous mount. "Sure looms up. How come de goat?" "'At goat's mah pussonal luck." Honey Tone looked sideways at the Wildcat. "Does yo' feel like backin' yo' luck wid a jingle, mebbe I 'bliges yo' sudden. Dey's a racetrack in de back room does you crave to gallop yo' luck a couple of heats." The Wildcat accepted the challenge. The pair walked quickly into the back room. "Shoots a dollah!" He explored himself for silver and revised his challenge. "Shoots fifty cents. Ain't got but sixty, an' I needs a dime fo' goobers does I lose." "Boy, roll 'em." Honey Tone proffered a pair of anxious dice, but the Wildcat paid no attention to the offer. "I got mah pussonal weapons," he said. He fished a pair of dice from his left shoe. "Dey speaks de language. Gallopehs, git right. Wham! Ah tol' you! Ah lets it lay. Shoots a dollah." Honey Tone faded the bet. "Roll 'em." The Wildcat touched the tips of his fingers to Lily's head. "Goat, stan' by me." His swinging hand released a pair of dice whose innocent upturned faces presently revealed a four and a trey. "Seven! Ah lets it lay. Whole hog o' de squeal." "Roll 'em!" "Bam. Six an' five. Ah done climbed de luck tree. Honey Tone, shake me out. Shoots fo' dollahs. Lily, stan' by me!" "Blaa!" remarked Lily. "Boy, roll 'em." Honey Tone began to itch for possession of the dice. "Asleep in de snowdrift. When Lily says 'blaa' Ah lets 'em ride." "An' seven! Ah lets it lay." "Shoot, you fool, nobody neveh made five passes." "Nobody but me." The Wildcat opened his dusky palm and a natural seven leaped to the gaze of a waiting world. Honey Tone's eyes bulged with surprise. The Wildcat accumulated his winnings. From the crumpled handful of bills he selected a dollar bill, which he twisted into a tempting little salad bouquet. "Lily, eat this fo' luck. Ah reaps de greens to nutrify mah mascot! Shoots ten dollahs!"