45 pages 1 hour read

Chester Himes

Cotton Comes To Harlem

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1964

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Chapters 13-16Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 13 Summary

Coffin Ed and Grave Digger question a “blind man” who tells them about the five white hijackers, but they are interrupted over the radio by Anderson, who tells them Barry is holed up at a pool hall. Grave Digger and Coffin Ed arrive and send the policeman who’s been trailing Barry to cover the back while they wait in a car out front. Barry exits a short time later, checking to make sure he hasn’t been followed, so Coffin Ed and Grave Digger look away to avoid suspicion. Barry hurries into a stolen armored car, and Deke emerges from the pool hall, jumping into the car as well. They take off. Coffin Ed and Grave Digger give chase but lose them. The detectives put together that it was a stolen car and realize Deke must be planning a deal, so they decide to check out under the bridge. Deke, Barry, and two armed men show up under the bridge where Calhoun and his men wait. Barry goes to make the deal. Calhoun asks where the cotton is. Barry remembers the advertisement in the window for the bale of cotton and, realizing he’s in danger, lies and says Deke has the cotton.