Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-06-06

| way, Digger.
Il amt trying to, honey"
/ "You can't play me cheap"
Take it easy. / know what I'm
doing"
Il hope you do"
For Chrissakes!"
law, come on. ! want a drink.
| Nav, listen -
Keep your business. You don't
have to tell me. But don't you
come running to me when you need
a friend, see.'
when we get a couple of drinks,
I'll tell you all about it," Suit
yourself"
He saw her waiting at the door
| for him. he put on his coat and
cap and they walked slowly down
the stairs, saying nothing. 1t SEEM
ed warmer outside, as tho it were
going to snow again. The sky was
low and dark. The wind blew. As
he walked beside Bessie his feet
sang in the snow. The streets were
empty and silent, stretching before
him white and clean under the
vanishing glow Of long street of
lamps. AS he walked he saw out
OF the corners of his eyes Bessie
striding beside him, and it seemed
that his mind could feel the soft
swing Of her body with her, feeling
her body warm and plant to his.
But the look on her face was a hard
and distant one; it separated him
from her body by great suggestion
of space. He had not really wanted
to go out with her tonight; but her
questions and suspicious had made
him say yes when she had wanted
to go for a drink AS he walked
beside her he felt that there were
two Bessies; one body that he
had just had and wanted badly
again; the other was in Bessie's
face; it asked questions; it bar
gained and sold the other Bessie to
advantage. He wished he could
clench his fist and swing his arm
and blout out, XII, sweep away the
Bessie on BeSSie's face and leave
the other helpless and yielding be-
fore him. He would then gather her
up and put her on his chest, his
stomach, some place deep inside
him, always keeping her there even
when he slept, ate, talked. keep
ing here there just to feel and
know that she was his to have and
hold whenever he wanted to.
where we going?"
Wherever you want to-
Lets go to the Paris Grill"
90. K" They turned a corner
and walked to the middle of the
block to the grill, and went in. An
automatic photograph was playing.
They went to a rear table. Bigger
ordered two sloe gin fixes. They
sat silent, looking at each other
waiting. He saw Bessie's shoulders
jerking in rhythm to the music
Would she help him? Well, he
would ask her; he would frame the
story so that she would not have
to know everything. He knew that
!, he should have asked her to dance
but the excitement that had hold
of him would not let him. He was
feeling different tonight from
every other night; he did not neec
to dance and sing and clown over
the floor in order to blot out day
and night of doing nothing. He
was full of excitement The waitress
brought the drinks and Bessie
lifted hers.
Here's to you even if you dont
want to talk and even if you is
acting queer"
Bessie, I'm worried"
Jaw. come on and drink" SHE
saio 80
90. K.." They slipped. ~
Bigger" 81.
Hump"
: Cant I help you in what 20,
Gcing?"
Maybe"
II want to-"
| You trust me?"
! II have SO far?".
: II mean now?"
/ Yes; if you tell me what te
5 trust you for"
r Maybe I can't do that
Then you don't trust me-"
Its got to be that way, Bessie.
eff trusted you, would you tel
rIe?" ~
! Maybe"
Don't say maybe Bigger"
Listen, honey" he said. not
liking the way he was talking to
her, but afraid of telling her out
right. 'The reason I'm acting this
way is got something big on
"What?"
It'll mean lot of money"
81 wish you'd either tell me OF
quit talking about it,
They were silent; he saw Bessie
drain her glass.
"I'h ready to co." she said.
"Aw. !"
Il want to get some Sleep
you mad?"
Maybe
He did not want her to be that
way. How could he make her stay:
How much could he tell her2 Coulc
he make her trust him without
telling her everything? He sudden
ly felt she would come closer te
him If he made her feel that he
was in danger. That's it! Make hel
feel concerned about him.
Maybe I'll have to get out OF
town soon," he said.
To Be C0ntfnued)