The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-08-01
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BOOK q INSTALLMENT TX

mat bibkeT ulu not Delleve.
I'm not the law, boy. So don't
be scared"
Bigger clamped his teeth: he had
to control himself. He should aoi
have let that man see him staring
at his badge. "Yessuh." he said.
Bigger, this is Mr.. Britten." Mr.
Dalton said. Hes a private inyes-
tigator attached to the stan OF my
Office ="
"Yessuh." Bigger said again, his
tension slackening.
He wants to ask you some oues-
lions. So just be calm and try to
tell him whatever he wants to
know"
"Yessuh."
First OF all, I want to have a
look at that trunk" Britten said.
Bigger stood aside as they pass
ed him, He glanced quickly at the
furnace. 1t was still very hot.
droning. Then he. too, went n the
trunk standing discreetly to one
side, away from the two white men.
looking with surface eyes at what
hey were doing. He showed his
hands deep into his pockets: he
stood In a peculiar attitude that al
lowed him to respond at once TO
whatever they said or did and al
the same time to be outside and
away from them. He watched Brit
ten turn the trunk over and bend
to 1t and try to work the lock.
got to be careful, Bigger thought.
One little slip now and I'll spoil
the whole thing. Sweat came onto
his neck and face. Britten could
not unlock the trunk and he looked
upward. at Bigger.
tits locked. You got key. boy?'
"Nawsuh."
Bigger wondered II this were a
trap; he decided to play safe and
speak only when he was spoken
to.
you mind II break it,"
60 right ahead" Mr.. Dalton said.
Say. Bigger, get Mr.. Britten the
Ratchet"
"Yessuh." he answered mechan-
ically.
He thought rapidly. his entire
body stiff. Should he tell them that
the Ratchet was somewhere IN the
house and offer to go after il and
take the opportunity and run away
How much did they really suspect
him? Was this whole thing a ruse
to confuse and trap him? He CLAN
ced sharply and intently at their
faces: they seemed to be waiting
only for the Ratchet. Yes: he
would take a chance and stay, he
would lie his way out OF this. He
turned and went to the spot where
the Ratchet had been last night,
the spot from which he had taxi
en- 1t to cut of Mary's head. He
stopped and pretended to search.
Then he Strengthened.
1T amt here now l. I saw
II about here yesterday" he num-
bled.
"Well. never mind" Britten said.
II think / can manage"
Bigger eased back toward them,
waiting, watching. Britten lifted
his foot and gave the lock a short,
stout kick with the heel OF his shoe
and II sprang open. He lifted out
the tray and looked inside. II was
half-empty and the clothes were
disarrayed and tumbled.
"You see? Mr.. Dalton said. "She
didn't take all of her things"
"Yes. In fact. she didn't need a
trunk at all from the looks OF this, .
Britten said.
Bigger. was the trunk locke d
when she told you to take 1t DOWN.
Mr.. Dalton said.
"Yessuh." Bigger said. wondering
II that answer was the safest.
WAS she too drunk To know what
she was doing, Bigger"
"Well. they went into the room"
he said. Il went In after them.
Then she told me to take the trunk
down. That's all happened"
"She could have put these things
into a small suitcase" Britten
said.
The fire sang in Bigger's ears and
he saw the red shadows dance on
the walls. Let them try to find out
who did II! His teeth were clamp
ed hard. until they ached.
"Sit down. Bigger" Britten said.
Bigger looked at Britten. feign-
ing surprise.
"Sit on the trunk" Britten said.
MET"
"Yeah. Sit down"
He sat.
Nov. take your time and think
hard. I want TO ask you some ques-
TONS"
"Yessuh."
"what time did you take Miss
Dalton from here last nightf
about $3.50. sub"
Bigger knew that this was H.
This man was here 10 hnd out ev.
erythlng. This was an exanhna-
ton. He would have 10 point hli
answers away from himself quite
definitely. He would have TO tell
HIS story. He would let each OF tho
facts OF his story fall slowly. as
though he did not realize the sig
nincsnce OF them. He would an-
swer only what was asked.
you drove her 10 schooiY''
He hung his head and did moi
answer. ----.-.-
Come on. boyl"
well. mister, you see, I'm Just
working here ="
What do you meanr
Mr.. Dalton came close and look.
ell hard into his face.
Answer his questions. Bigger"
n