They began a search for Atts, and found him whitewashing a fence for Colonel Tom Gaitskill.
“What’s the matter, Atts? Why didn’t you niggers show up?”
Vinegar wiped the splashes of whitewash off of his black face and answered:
“Dey said dey didn’t want to come, boss.”
“Who said?”
“All of ’em, excusin’ dat little gal named Lalla Cordona, whut says she visitin’ here from N’Awleens. She wus game fer it, but nobody else wouldn’t mess wid it no more!”
“Why not?” Rouke snapped.
“Dey say dey wusn’t gwine play no play whar de white folks peeped at ’em through de bushes——”
“Aw, that’s not in the play—” Rouke began.
“Yes, suh ’tis! Dat’s wut de movin’ picture wrote down on de wall at dat little theater——”