The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-05-23

ing her up. He looked round; he
hat was lying on the running board
Here II is he said.
AS he picked II up he wondered
} what a white man would think see
ing him here with her like this.
suppose old man Dalton saw hin
now? Apprehensiyeiy, he looked VI
al the big house. II was dark an'
silent.
Well" Mary sighed. Il suppose
better 20 TO bed -. He turncC
her loose. but had TO catch hei
again 10 keep her of the pavement
lie led her 10 the steps.
Can you make it,
She looked al him as though hs
had been challenged.
Sure. Turn me loose -
lie took his arm from her and
she mounted the steps firmly ant
then stumbled loudly on the wood.
en- porch. Bigger made move TO-
ward her. but stopped. his hands
ouislretched. frozen with fear
Good God. she'll wake UP every
body! She was half-bent over, rest
ing on one knee and one hand
looking back AT him in amused as
constituent. That girls crazy. She
pulled up and walked slowly down
the steps. holding onto the railing
She swayed before him. smiling.
Il sure am drunk
He watched her with a mingled
feeling OF helplessness. admiration
and hate. IL her father saw him
here with her now. his Job would be
over. But she was beautiful, elen-
der. with an air that made him feel
that she did not hate him with the
hate Of other white people. But. for
all OF that. she was white and he
hated her. She closed her eyes
slowly. then opened them: she was
trying desperately to take hold OF
herself Since she was not able 10
get 10 her room alone. ought he "a
call Mr.. Dalton or Peggy? Nav T..
That would betray her. And. too
in spite Of his hate for her. he was
excited standing here watching
her like this. Her eyes closed again
and che swayed toward him. He
caught her.
I'D better help you" he said.
Let's go the back way. Bigger
I'll stumble sure as hell and
wake everybody UP :. II We 90 up
the front Her feet dragged
on the concrete as he led her TO the
basement. He switched on the light
supporting her With his free hand
Il didn't know | was so drunk,
che mumbled. He led her slowly
up the narrow stairs TO the kitchen
door, his hand clrcling her waist
and the tips OF his fingers feeling
the soft swelling OF her breasts
Each second she was leaning more
heavily against him.
TRY TO stand up" he whispered
fiercely as they reached the kitchen
door. He was thinking that per-
haps Mrs. Dalton was standing in
] flowing white and staring with
stony blind eyes in the middle u
the floor, as she had been when he
had come for the glass OF water
He eased the door back and looked
The kitchen was empty and dark
save for faint blue hazy light that
seeped through window from the
wintry sky.
Come on
She pulled heavily on him, hei
arm about his neck. He pushed tho
door In and took a step inside anc
stopped, waiting. listening. He fell
her hair brush his lips. His Skin
glowed warm and his muscles fiex'
ed; he looked al her face in The
dim light his senses drunk with tn,
odor OF her hair and skin. II.
stood for a moment, then whisper.
ed in excitement and fear: Come
on; you got to get TO your room"
lie led her out OF the kitchen In
TO the hallway; he had to walk hei
a step at time. The hall was EN-
PITY and dark; slowly he half-walk
ed and half-dragged her TO the bach
stairs. Again he hated her; h,
shook her. Come on; wake up"
She did not move or open hei
eyes: finally she mumbled some
thing ana swayed Imply. His fling
ers felt the soft curves Of her bod,
and he was still, looking at her, en-
veloped In a sense OF physical ella
ton. This little bitch, he thought
Her face was touching his. II,
turned her round and began I,
mount the steps. one by one. II,
heard a slight creaking and stop
ped. When he got to the top Of IN,
steps she was completely limp ant
was still trying TO humble some
thing. Goddam! He could NOV,
her only by lifting her bodily. n,
caught her In his arms and carried
her down the hall, then paused
Which was her door? Goddam,
where's your room?" he whis
pered.
She did not answer. Was sh,
completely out? He could not leav,
her here: II he took his hands from
her she would sink to the floor an,
lie there all night He shook hei
hard. speaking as loudly as he dar
ed. where's your room?p
Momentarily. she reused hersel
and looked at him with blanI
eyes.
Where's your roomY" h asket
again.
/
She rolled her eyes toward a door
lie got her as far as the door ant
stopped. was this really her room
was she too drunk to know? SUP
pose he opened the door to Mr.. ant
Mrs. Dalton's rooms? Well. all the,
could do was fire him. II WASH