Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-08-08
INSTALLMENT 81

IOUlOTTUW uiBIlI iluc youi Cal
up and down Michigan Avenue
from 35th Street to 40th Street
That would make it hard for any
body to tell just where Bessie would
be hiding. He wrote: Blink your
headlights some. When you see a
light in window blink three times
throw the box in the snow and
drive off. Do what this letter says.
Now, he would sign it. But how?
It should be signed in some way
that would throw them off the
trail Oh, yeSi Sign it Red, He
printed, Red. Then, for some rea-
son, he thought that was not
enough. Oh, yes. He would make
one of those signs, like the ones he
had seen on the Communist pam
phlets He wondered how they were
made. There was hammer and a
round kind of knife. He drew a
hammer, then a curving knife. But
it did not look right. He examined
it and discovered that he had left
the handle off the knife. He sketch
ed it on. Now, it was complete. He
read it over. Oh! He had left out
something. He had to put in the
time when he wanted them to bring
the money He bent and printed
again: p. S. Bring the money at
midnight. He sighed, lifted his eyes
and saw Bessie standing behind
him. He turned and looked at her.
Bigger, you amt really going to
do that?" she whispered in horror.
Sure"
where's that girl?"
st don't know"
You do know. You wouldn't be
doing this if you didn't know
Jaw, what difference do it make?"
She looked straight into his eyes
and whispered.
Bigger, did you kill that girl?'
His jaw clamped tight and he
stood up. She turned from him and
flung herself upon the bed, Sob
bling. He began to feel cold; he dis
covered that his body was covered
with sweat He heard soft rustic
and looked down at his hand; the
kidnap note was shaking in his
trembling fingers. But 1 amt scar
ed, he told himself. He folded the
note, put it into an envelope, seal
ed it by licking the flap, and showed
it in his pocket. He lay down on
the bed beside Bessie and took her
in his arms. He tried to speak to
her and found his throat SO husky
that no word came.
"Come on, kid" he whispered
finally
Bigger, what's happened to
you'll"
1T amt nothing. You amt got
much to do"
Don't be scared"
You told me you was never go
ing to kill nobody"
II amt killed nobody
you did! l see it in your eyes.
I see it all over you"
Don't you trust me, baby?"
Where's that girl, Bigger"
81 don't know"
How you know she won't turn
up?"
"She just won't"
You did kill her"
Jaw, forget the girl
She stood up.
IF you killed her you'll kill me, "
she said. 81 amt in this"
Don't be a fool I love you
you told me you never was go
ing to kill"
"All right. They white folks.
They done killed plenty of us"
THAT don't make it right
He began to doubt her; he had
never heard this tone in her voice
before. He saw her tear-wet eyes
looking at him in stark fear and he
remembered that no one had seen
him leave his room. To stop Bessie
who now knew too much would be
easy. He could take the butcher
knife and cut her throat. He had
to make certain of her, one way or
the other, before he went back to
Dalton's. Quickly, he stopped over
her, his fists clenched. He was
feeling as he had felt when he
stood over Mary's bed with the white
blur drawing near: an iota more of
fear would have sent him plunging
again into murder.
IT don't want no playing from
you now"
I'm scared, Bigger she whim-
pered
She tried to get up; he knew she
had seen the mad light in his eyes.
Fear sheathed him in fire. His
words came in a thick whisper.
Keep still, now. / amt playing.
Pretty soon they'll be after me, NAV
be. And I amt going to let 'em
catch me, see? I amt going to let
EN-! The first thing they'll do in
looking for me is to come to you,
They'll grill you about me and you,