The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-03

I intended to dump the box Of
knives in the river and thus de-
stroy this damning evidence
against Jerry, but I soon saw that
the Job wasn't going to be as easy
as l thought.
For n thing, I should h a V e
wrapped the box in paper. 1t stood
out white in the darkness, a very
suspicious object for anyone to be
carrying along the streets at this
time Of night.
The trees on this street sheltered
me for only two blocks. L decided
to cut across into an alley. To dc
that 1 must cross in the center OF
a block. There was someone on the
opposite sidewalk and two cars on
the street. I held the box behind
me in the shadows and waited.
A man came walking down the
sidewalk on which l stood. He
stared at me curiously as he
passed, but said nothing.
My mouth was dry, Belzer would
tell the police the knives had been
stolen from him in a shoe box.
Would this man remember he had
seen me with a shoe box?
| encouraged myself with the
thought that he was a stranger,
only half seeing me in the shad-
ows. He might net be able to iden-
tify me.
The street was clear at last. I
hurried across, but avoided run
ming. and entered the dark alley. I
stumbled against a tin can, and
stopped in fright when someone
close to me said, whats that
Another voice answered, Prob
ably just a cat" Footsteps moved
away from the opposite side of the
high board fence. 1 heard a screen
door slam in a nearby house.
I moved on. more cautiously.
When I reached the other end Of
the alley I found the street in front
OF me brilliantly lighted. Officer
Mcclure was only a half block
away coming toward me I knew
he probably would look into the
alley.
There was a garbage can close
bv. | set the box on the ground be-
hind it. quickly brushed my
clothes. Strengthened my hat and
stepped out into the street. When
Mcclure passed me, l was looking
INTO a drug store window.
l didn't dare go back into the
allev until the officer was out Of
sight. In the meantime, as l started
INTO the drugstore l was looking
straight at a public telephone booth
which reminded me of Jerry's last
request. The episode of the knives
had driven it completely from my
mind.
That was four hours ago. Jerry
was behind the bars by this time,
wondering why he didn't hear
from me.
After a dozen calls to friends
whom I knew had money. l began
- realize what it meant to be poor,
and in trouble. Everyone was sym
pathetic, but that was as far as 1t
vent.
At last I tried Harvey Mcclure.
He promised to do all that he
could. l left it in his hands and
walked out of the store. The street
was fairly deserted-the l
could expect at this time of night.
I had purchased a newspaper In
the store. I wrapped it up quickly
around my shoe box and crossed
the street to another alley. I was
approaching the riverfront.
Footsteps we're following me
down the alley. l looked over my
shoulder. Between me and the light
of the street behind me approached
the dark shape of a large man. 1t
might be Mcclure, I thought in
alarm, and started to run. My pur-
suer started to run, too!
I was burdened by the box. l
stumbled, but l reached the street
first and whirled into the nearest
doorway, which happened to be the
office of one of the river boat lines,
open all night. I looked back into
the street. The man who had been
running after me was not Officer
RFLA W OTRT r