The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-11-07


whether II would help or not.
he did not know ard II did not
matter. He had 10 hit this man
before he turned that spot OF
yellow on him and then yelled
Tor the others. In the split sec
ord that he saw the mans head
IT seemed that an hour had pass
ed, and hour filled with pain and
doubt and anguish and suspense.
hlled with the sharp throb OF
life lived upon a needle point. He
lifted his left hand. caught the
gun which he held in his right,
took II into the fingers of the
left hand. turned II round. caught
1t again in his right and held II
by the barrel: all one motion.
swift, silent; done In one breath
with his eyes staring unblinking-
ly. Hit him. He lifted il. high. by
the barral. Yes. Hit him. His lips
formed the words as he let It
ccme down with grunt which
was blending OF curse.
prayer and groan.
He felt the impact OF the blow
throughout the length Of his arm.
Earring his flesh slightly His hand
stopped in mid-air at the point
where the metal Of the gun had
met the bone Of the skull: stop
red. frozen. stlll. as though again
about to lift and descend. In the
instant. almost Of the blow being
! struck. the white man emitted
something like a soft cough; his
flashlight fell into the snow, a
fast flick Of vanishing lieht. The
man fell away from Bigger. on
his face. full length In the cush-
ion Of snow, like a man falling
soundlessly in a deep dream Big
ger was aware Of the clicking
sound Of the metal against the
bone OF the skull; II stayed on
in his ears. faint but distinct.
like sharp bright point llnger-
ire on in front Of the eyes when
light has gone out suddenly
and darkness is everywhere so
the click OF the gun handle against
the mans head stayed on In his
ears. He had not moved from
his tracks: his right hand WAS
still extended. upward In mid
Fir: he lowered II. looking at the
man. the sound OF the metal
arainst hone fading in his ears
like a dying whisper.
The sound OF the siren stopped
AZ some time which he did not
remember: then II started again,
and the interval in which he had
rot heard II seemed to hold Tor
him some previously hidden dan
ger as though for a dreaotui
moment he had gone TO sleep al
his post with an enemy near tie
looked through the wnirlihk
smokes of light and saw the trap
door open upon the roof to ms
left He stood rigid, holding the
gun. watching, waiting. II only
the man did not see him when ne
came up A head came into view
a white man climbed out OF the
trapdoor and stood in the snow
He flinched; someone was
crawling in the loft below MIN
would he be trapped A voice a
little afraid. called from the open
hole through which the man Wnom
Re had struck had climbed
Jerry"
The voice sounded clearly IN
spite Of the siren and the clans
OF fire wagons
Jerry"
THE voice was little louder
now II was the mans partner /.
bigger looked back to the roO TOO,
80 HE left: the man was stu
standing there flashing ign.
-o,rd ~ he would only leave
Ne had 10 get away from TINS
,rsrdoor here. II that man came
nm 70 see about his partner anu
md him spraWled in the snow
no would yell before he got .
chance TO hit him. He squee1eu
against the chimney, looking a.
,hs man ON the roof to his lel''
holding his breath The man turn
90. walked toward the trapa ,..s
ana climbed through. He waited
- hear the door shut; II did. NOW,
,hs, roof was clearl He orea'ne'
a silent prayer.
"Jeeerryl"
with gun in hand. Bigger creep
across the roof. He came 10 =
snasl, mound OF brick. where the
un,u,t,nv ridge OF the building
fiat ton Joined that OF the o' nv
ne nsused and looked back. lns
hole was still empty. II ne 'r,su
TO climb over. would the man .' e0" -
ont Of the hole Just in time s y
see himf He had to take ,.s .n'
chance. He grabbed the leos 3.
hoIsted himself upon ~ sna 60, 80,
Fiat for moment on the nc, ,es
hen aid to the other side. rol :, !.
or.r n. felt snow in his i, e.
1 Wv NAVAL. Nv