The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-10-03


You want me to leave you
here?"
Nav: nav. Rlgger!,
We'll. come on. Get your hat
and coat"
She was facing him, then she
sank To her knees.
"Oh, Lord" she moaned. what
the use Of running! They'll catch
us anywhere | should've known
this would happen She clenched
her hands in front OF her and
rocked to and fro with her eyes
closed upon gushing tears. "All
my LIES been full OF hard
trouble. II | wasn't hungry. l was
sick. And il ! asnt sick. | was
in trouble. ] amt never bothered
nobody. | just worked hard every
day as long as ! can remember,
till | was tired enough TO drop:
then | had TO get drunk 10 for
get IT, had t. get drunk to
sleep. That's all ever did. And
now I'm in this. They looking for
me and when they catch me
they'll Kill me-" She bent her
lead 10 the floor God only knows
why | ever let you treat me this
way. wish to God never seen
you. wish one OF US had died
before we was born. God knows
! do, All you ever caused me was
trouble, just plain black trouble.
All you ever did since we been
knowing each other was to get
me drunk SOS you could have
me. That was all, | see II now.
amt drunk now. | see everything
YOU ever did to me. ! didn't want
10 see Il before was TOO busy
thinking about how good | felt
when was with you. | thought
was happy. but deep down In
me I knew I wasn't. But you got
me into this murder and see II
all now. I been q fool. just a
blind dumb black drunk fool. Now
got to run away and know
deep down IN your heart you
really don't care"
She stopped. choked He had
not listened to W h at she
had said. Her words had made
leap 10 consciousness in him
thousand details OF her life which
he had long known and they mace
him see that che was In no con
dition to he taken along and at
the same time in no condition &c
be left behind. 1t was not with
anger or regret that he though
this. but as man seeing wha
he must do TO save himself AM
feeling resolved TO do 1t.
"Come on. Bessie. We can't stay
here IKE this"
He stopped and with one hand
caught hold Of her arm and Win
the other he lifted the bundle OF
bedclothes. He dragged her across
the threshold. and pulled the door
after him. He went down the
steps: she came stumbling be-
hind. whimperng. When he
reached the vestibule. he got his
gun from inside his shirt and put
IL in the pocket OF his coat. lie
might have to use 1t any minute
now. The moment he stepped out
Of that door he would have his
life in his hands. Whatever hap
pened now depended upon him;
and when he felt II that way
some OF his fear left: II was sim
ME again. He opened the door and
an lev blast OF wind struck his
face lie drew back and turned
! to BESSIE.
"Where's the bottle?"
She held out her purse; he
rot the bottle and took deep
drink
"frre." he said. "You better
take one
She drank and put the bottle
hack into the purse. They went
,n,o the snow. over the frozen
streets through the sweeping
wind once she stopped and be-
gan 10 CRY. lie grabbed her arm.
"Shut up. nowl Come on"
They stopped in front OF tall,
snow C overed building whose
MANY windows CAPPED blackiy like
the sockets OF empty skulls.
He took the purse from her and
cot the flashlight. He clutched
her arm and pulled her up the
stems 10 the front door. IL was
half-aiar. He put his shoulder to
/, and gave II a stout shove; u
Welded grudgingly. II was black
inside and the feeble glow OF the
ftashlieht did not help much. a
! sharn scent Of rot floated to him
and ne heard the ecurrying OF
chick dry feet over the wooden
poor PessIe sucked in her breath
deeply. about 10 scream; but Big
ger rripped her arm 30 hard inst
she bent halfway over and moan
cd As he went up the steps there
came frequently 10 his ears
slight creak. as Of tree bending
IN wind. with one hand he held
her wrist. the bundle OF bed
clothes under his arm; with the
other he beat on the clinging
uImv splder webs that came thick
onto his lips and eyes lie walked
n the third floor and into
room that had window opening
N narrow aIr-shaft. II stank OF
old timber. lie circied the spot
Of the flashlieht: the floor was
carpeted with black dirt and he
saw two bricks lying IN corners.
Tie looked at Bessie: her hands
covered her face and he could
see the damp 'of tears on her
black fingers. He dropped the
bundle Of bedeiothes.