(CHILDREN scatter teasingly only to return to their play in front of the store later on. LUM comes up on the porch and re-joins the card game. Just as he gets seated, MRS. CLARK comes to the door of the store and calls him.)
MRS. CLARK.
(Drawlingly) Columbus!
LUM.
(Wearily) Ma’am?
MRS. CLARK.
De Mayor say for you to go round in de back yard and tie up old lady Jackson’s mule what’s trampin’ aup all de tomatoes in my garden.
LUM.
All right. (Leaving card game.) Wait till I come back, folkses.
LIGE.
Oh, hum! (Yawning and putting down the deck of cards) Lum’s sho a busy marshall. Say, ain’t Dave and Jim been round here yet? I feel kinder like hearin’ a little music ’bout now.
BOY.
Naw, they ain’t been here today. You-all know they ain’t so thick nohow as they was since Daisy Bailey come back and they started runnin’ after her.
WOMAN.
You mean since she started runnin’ after them, the young hussy.
MRS. CLARK.
(In doorway) She don’t mean ’em no good.
WALTER.
That’s a shame, ain’t it now? (Enter LUM from around back of store. He jumps on the porch and takes his place at the card box.)