He was.
Presently the person reached the landing, and, halting again, dropped something heavy, then breathed long and deeply. A moment later, he heard him pick up whatever it was, and come on toward his door. It was burst open in a moment, and some one stumbled in behind a big package.
It was Slim. He dropped the package as soon as he was inside, with an air of disgust, and fell, apparently exhausted, into a chair. He was silent, while he got his breath. When this had become regular, he got up and moved to the desk, where he figured for some time. Wyeth remained silent, but quietly expectant. It came presently.
"Liars! Dirty liars! Stinking, low down, dirty lying niggas. Damn all of them, damn them!"
Wyeth was still silent. Slim looked about himself wearily, and then did some more figuring. Presently Wyeth heard him again.
"Lying nigga's, o'nry nigga's, dog-gone the bunch!"
Wyeth was impatient. He wanted to ask very innocently what the matter was. Suddenly he saw Slim looking at him savagely. Wyeth made an effort to look innocent, and not burst out laughing. After awhile he heard Slim again.
"I'm done! I'm through selling books to Negroes now!" He then arose, and strode back and forth across the room in a terrible temper.
Wyeth started to say: "You mean you are through getting orders." But he waited.
"The first old nigga I come up to, looked up when he saw me, and then just laffed, 'ke-ha!' Then, when I held the book toward him, he said: 'Yu' betta' gwan 'way frum heh wi' dat book!' And then just laffed again, like it was something so funny. I got mad right then, but kept my temper and said: