The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-11-21

OF emptiness In his eyes. Maybe
this was all. Maybe the confused
promptings. the excitement. the
tingling. the elation-maybe they
we're false lights that led no
where. Maybe they we're right
when they said that a black skin
was bad, the covering OF an ape-
like animal. Maybe he was Just
unlucky. man born for dark
doom, an obscene joke happening
amid colossal din OF siren
screams and white faces and cir
cling lances OF light under a cold
and silken sky But he could not
feel that for long: Just as soon
as his feel. lgs reached such a
conclusion. the conviction that
there was some way out surged
back into him. strong and pow
orful. and. in his present state
condemning and paralyzing.
And then one mornuing a group
OF men came and caught him by
the wrists and led him into
large room in the Cook County
Morgue in which there were many
people. He blinked from the bright
lights and heard loud and excited
talking. The compact array OF
white faces and the constant
flashing OF bulbs for pictures
made him stare in mounting
amazement His defense OF in
difference could protect him no
longer At first he thought that
1t was the trial that had begun.
and he was prepared to sink back
into his dream OF nothingness.
But II was not courtroom. II
was too informal for that. He felt
crossing his feelings sensation
akin TO the same one he had had
when the reporters had first come
into Mr.. Dalton's basement with
their hats smoking cigars and
cigarettes. asking questions; only
now Il was much stronger There
was In the air silent mockery
that challenged him II was not
their hate he felt; II was some
thing deeper than that He sensed
that in their attitude toward MN
they had gone beyond hate. lie
heard in the sound OF their voices
a patient certainty: he saw their
eves gazing at him with calm
conviction. Though he could NOT
have put II into words. he lei,
that not only had they resolved
10 put him 10 death. but tnat they
were determined 10 make his DEAN
mean more than mere punish
ment. that they regarded him as
n Pigment Of that black worId
which thev feared and were anx-
ious 10 keep under control, Inc
ntmosphere Of the crowd told nun
mai thew we're going 10 use MS
death as bloody symbol OF rear
A wave before the eyes OF tna'
h,ack world. And as he telt u,
rebellion rose in him. ne nsu
sunk 10 the Lowest point TINS s,ue
=, death. but when he felt MS
,,to again threatened In a way
that meant thai he was 70 ~
snmr Tho dark road a helpless
snectacle of sport for DINERS; n
snrang back into action "''
contending. -. ocd
He tried TO move his hands ). n ,ed
found that they we're snae o, 20
by strong bands OF cold s'e ',,,r -
Dy wrists OF policemen sll,ln s
~, at,her aide OF him. He iooAeu
~ a policeman stood IN . .ao -
~ him and one in back. he "'S h,s
sharp. metallic click anu
S.nds were free. There was
n llro murmer OF voices anu ~. ~
rls,n aa ,hat Il was caused py ~, Ms
senseu ~. w." Then his eyes became
r,vsted ON a white iace' VA
si,ehtiv upward. The SKIN n"~
s sm of taut anxiety ana alou"a
u W. u,al NJ white face was
s sne OF whittier hair. IL W. W.
iralnen noi,on sitting quietly. ne,
tail waxen hands folded ~ no
Ian bigger remembered . I" s,srk
, ,ap, a. her that moment Oh SIN ,hs
iooAeu "'hen he had stood AZ ~
s .ssa ., the bed in the dark INA u,uS
s,uv hearing his heart d pUu~s
a a0"ip his ribs with his nS aown
mon the pillow pressins her
, upon Marv's face to keep
from mumbling. .uon was
'S SITTING beside Mrs. Dalton Wa sa
AZ nation, looking straisn s,,n ~
sor. him with wide-open, unD s,nw-
10 ewes Mr.. Dalton turned s, p's.
IN, n ana nal looked at Bigger and Dig
gers US eye ssw Jan: blond hair; blu, blue =
.v mc = sturdy. kind face lo oSams
scus into his own. Ho' =, sn the
ecoded him as the scene IN the
n novu came back: he felt agaln az ~.
rrs OF JAMS fingers upon n MS
Ssud And then shame was to
piaced by guilty anger as ne u ,o
p p.,,ss isn"s confronting him up
- 9Th the sidewalk in the snow. -.
He was getting tired; 'ns n,o' =
ne came to himself, the more e.
sense OF fatigue seeped INTO .S s
re locked down at his clothes;
.hev were damp and crumples
s 80. ,hs sleeves Il his coat N ,,,e
drawn halfway up his arms; ~ -
nj, ma. open and he couio ~