Arkansas State press., 1942-08-14

he was trying to cover up some
thing of even much greater Sc
robustness.
"You didn't come home with
her?' Mr., Dalton asked. mol"
"You didn't tell the boy to take
the trunk down."
"Hell, no! Who says | did? |
left the car and took trolley
home" Jan turned and faced Big
ger, Bigger what are you telling
these people?"
Bigger did not answer.
"lIe's just told us what You did
last night" Britttn said,
"Where is Mary . Where is
Miss Dalton?" Jan asked.
1--WE are waiting for you to tell
U.S." Said Britten
sd d-didn't she go to Detroit 20
Jan stammered. mo" said Mr..
Dalton.
81 called here this morning and
Peggy told me she had"
"You called here just to see il
the family had missed her, didn't
your Asked Britten. Jan walked
over to Bigger, leave i'm alone'
Britten said
/ Bigger" Jan said, "why did
you tell these men | came here ?"
/ "You said you didn't come here
at all last night" Mr.. Dalton
asked again. absolutely not, Big
ger tell them when left the can"
/ Bigger said nothing.
"Come on, Erlone, don't know
what you are up to, hut you We
been lying ever since you have been
in this room. You said you didn't
come here last night, and then you
said you did, You said you weren't
drunk last night, then you said you
We're. You said you didn't see Miss
Dalton last night, then you said
you did. Come on. now and tell us
where Miss Dalton is. Her father
and mother want to know
Bigger saw Janis bewildered
eyes,
"Listen, I've told you all I
know, said Jan, putting his hat
back on. "Unless you tell me what
this jokes all about, IN getting
on back home ;"
swat a minute" said Mr.. Dali
ton, Mr., Dalton came forward a
step, and fronted Jan. "You and
| don't agree. Let's forget that.
! want to know where my daugh-
ter is. ;" ais this q game" ask
ed Jan,
mo, no. :" Said Mr.. Dalton,
81 want to know. | am worried"
81 tell you, | don't knowm
"Listen, Mr.. Erlone, Mary's the
only girl we have got. | don't want
her to do anything rash. Tell her
to come back. Or you bring her
back
"Mr. Dalton, am telling you
, the truth. . :"
"Listen," Mr.. Dalton said. "I'll
make it all right with you ="
Janis face reddened. "What do
you mean" he asked,
"1ll make it worth your while. "
"You son, :" Jan stopped.
He walked to the door.
"Let i'm go" said Britten.
'He cant get away. I'll phone and
have him picked up. He knows
more than he is telling"
Jan paused in the doorway, look
ing at all three of them. Then he
went out. Bigger sat on the adge
Of the bed and heard JAMS feet
run down the stairs. A door slam
med; then silence. Bigger saw Mr.,
Dalton gazing at him queerly. He
did not like that look. But Britten
was jotting something on a pad,
his face pale and hard in the vel
low glare of the suspended cleo =
trio bulb.
"You are telling us the truth a
bout all Of this, aren't you Big
gerg" Mr.. Dalton asked. "Yessuh."
"He is alright" Britten said,
Come on, let's get to a phone, |
am having that guy picked up for
questioning, It's the only thing to
do. And ] have some men go oyer
Miss Dalton's room. Well find out
what happened. I'll bet my right
arm that goddam Reds up to
something!"
Britten went out ard Mr.. Dali
ton followed, leaving Bigger still
on the edge Of the bed. When he
heard the door slam, he got up
and grabbed his cap and went soft
ly down the stair in the basement.
He stood moment looking thru
the cracks into the humming fire,
blindingly red now. But how long
would it keep that way, if he did