Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-25
HAPTE 81

CHAPTER 81
The police station and Jail were
in well at the rear Of the Town Hall
Wilbraham drove in before the
square old brick structure at the
corner OF the green, and looked al
Stella. She hadn't spoken as the
car made its way through the town,
Now her gaze was hent on a road
ster which was planted directly
ahead. under the 1T3S elm that
arched completely across the road
~ith a t~rellis on the farther side 70
support the longest branch.
"Do you feel able 10 drive home? ,"
asked Wilbraham.
Certainly. But :" That road
ster interested her. 1t was Homer's.
Her gaze strayed 10 the high front
she saw Martha and Kitty Pew. They
were sitting IN the ton rail,
Waiting for something.
DO 60 right along" Stella said,
I'm perfectly able to take care II
myself. But you must see a doc
tor. Your arm is bleeding"
"Oh. yes" ne replied. 'Ill have
il seen TO-"
The clock IN the Unitarian steeple
struck seven. slowly. Except for this
gentle sound. and for the t~ireless
traffic. the quiet of a Sabbath eve
ming had settled on the village. Will
braham left her and walked rapidly
around the building. Stella sat a mo-
ment longer in the car. Those two
girls hadn't seen her yet. Ii was
rather an odd place for them TO be.
For all the world like two little fac
tory workers out looking for n Sun
day evening pickup and ride. go.
The beating in her temples had
struck up again. Her head felt light,
but her brain was quick and clear.
That still somewhat confused sense
Of purpose was surging within her
breast. She couldn't stop now. The
look IN Homer's face when he'd seen
her was it only this morning
d. . +. driving into town with Ernest,
Stung bitterly. BY now, OF course.
he'd know what the bank had done.
In the morning he'd have 10 face il.
She walked up the steps. Now
the girls saw her. Kitty got quickly
70 her feet. Then, more deliberately.
Martha. Dainty little things, they
we're; and dangerously pretty, both
Of them. They looked at each other,
confsedly. Martha said: I'VE want
10 see that man."
Stella, thinking about Homer, ask
ed: What man."
"The one they caught. They took
him around to the jail He was in
Mr.. Wilbraham's car, that the police.
mar drove in just now. Kitty wants
to see him." Martha was impa.
tient.
But why on earth. Martha ~. ="
"Oh. don't stand there asking ques-
tions. We want TO see him.
well. | suppose, II there's any
good reason for it $3.50.
There are reasons enough Kitty
hadn't spoken, but now she went
down the steps and walked around
the building. A sober, determined
young person. Martha hurried after,
So Stella followed. A word from
escorted into the police station. The
man sat huddled intentionally in
a chair. nursing an egg-size hump
on his forehead. The two girls stood
before him. Kitty turned to Martha
anu ncuucu cACAJeuly. llDraham
spoke in a low voice 10 the local
chief, and two policemen luggcd the
man out. Wilbraham stood a mo-
ment. thinking. Then, c~ourteously
he asked the three young women Ia
step across the hall with him. Ii
was a dingy sort OF waiting room,
with benches and a battered old desk
and spittoon.
He closed the door. I'm going Ia
ask you,'-hc addressed the two
girls-"tc tell me anything you may
have TO say. But tell nobody else.
Particularly not these town police
men.
Kitty took a step forward. Sol
cmnly, with something the manner
Of a child, who has a piece 10 speak
at school. Her skin had gone death
ly white, and her eyes flashed.
I'VE were at LAKELAND that night. ?
she said, with two boys. We heard
the shots. ! didn't know then Il was
N. il was . she was fighting
back sobs +. "my brother. We
didn't know that until tire ext day.
We were on the porch. Right after
the shots three men and three girls
ran out past US. Another one had
a revolver in his hand ..."