The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-09-12
ship In defiance of her fathers
wishes.

the Eleventh Street Police Station
and that Mary had been missing
from her home since eight o'clock
Saturday night. II also mentioned
that Mary had been in the company
OF Erlone until early sunday morn
ing at a notorious South Side cafe
in the Black Belt
That was all. He had expected
more. He looked further. No. here
was something else. 1t was pic
ture OF Mary. Ii was so lifelike that
It reminded him OF how she had
looked the first time he had seen
her; he blinked his eyes. lie was
looking again in sweaty fear AT her
mead lying upon the sticky news
papers with blood oozing outward
toward the edges. Above the picture
was a caption; ~ DUTCH WITH
PA. Bigger lifted his eyes and
looked at the furnace: Il seemed
impossible that she was there in the
fire. burning The story in the
paper had not been 40 alarming
as he had thought II would be. Blu,
AS soon as they heard Of Marys be-
ing kidnapped, what would happen /?
lie heard footsteps and dropped the
paper back in the corner and stood
just as he had before. his back
against the wall his eyes vacant
and sleepy The door opened and
The men came down the steps. talk
ing In low. excited tones. Again
Bigger noticed that they were
watching him. Britten also came
back.
Say why can't we talk 10 this
boy" one demanded.
There's nothing he can tell YOU"
Britten said.
But he can tell us what he saw.
After all, he drove the car last
night"
OK. with me- Brirten said
But Mr.. Dalton's told you every
thing"
One OF the men walked over to
bigger.
Say, Mike you think this Erlone
fellow did this?"
my name amt Mike, . Bigger said.
resentfully.
"Oh. don't mean no harm" the
man said. But do you think he
did it?"
Answer his questions. Bigger"
Britten said.
Bigger was sorry he had taken
offense. He could not afford 10 get
angry now. And he had no need 10
be angry. Why should he be an
cry with lot OF fools? They were
looking for the girl and the girl was
ten feet from them. burning. He
had killed her and they did not
know II. He would let them call
him Mike"
II don't know. sub" he said.
Come on; tell us what happen
ed"
II only work here. sub Bigger
said
Don't be afraid. Nobody's going
to hurt YOU"
MIR Britten can tell you" Big
ger said.
The men shook their heads and
walked away.
Good God. Britten," said one Of
the men "All we've got on this
kidnapping is that n letter was
found. Erlone's to be released, the
letter was signed by Red. and
there was a hammer and sickle en-
blem on It, That doesn't make sense.
Give us some more details"
Listen, you guys" Briiten said
Give the old man chance. He's
trying 10 get his daughter back.
alive. He's given you a big story;
now wait"
Tell us straight now when was
that girl last SEEM"
Bigger listened to Britten tell the
story all over again. He listened
carefully 10 every word Brltten said
and TO the tone Of his voice IN which
the men asked their questions. for
he wanted 70 know n any Of them
suspected him. But thew did not
All Of their questions pointed 10
Jan.
But Britten.' asked one Of the
men. why did the old man want
this Erlone released?"
Figure It out for yourself" Brit
ten said
"Then he thinks Erlone had
something TO do with the snatching
OF HIS daughter and wanted him out
, so he could give her back
II don't know" Britten said
Jaw. come on. Rritten"
Use your imagination" Brittcn
said.
Two more OF the men buttoned
their coats. pulled their hats low
over their eyes and left. Bigger
knew that they were going TO phone
IN more information 10 their pa
pers: they were going 10 tell about
JAMS trying 10 convert him 10 Com
munism. the Communist literature
Jan had given him. the rum. the
half-packed trunk being taken down
10 the station. and lastly. about the
kidnap note and the demand for ten
thousand dollars The mon looked
round the basement with flashlights
BIGGER etili leaned against the wall
Britten sat on the steps. The IRE
whispered In the furnace. Bigger
knew that soon he would have 70
clean the ashes out for the are
was not burnine as hotlv as "
should. He would do that as soon
Pc some OF the excitement died
down and all Of the men LEFT
"Its pretty bad, hunh, Bisgerg
Britten asked.
"Yessuh."
"I'd bet a million dollars that this
is JAMS smart idea