Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-10-10

oh, / don't mean no HARM" the
man said. But you do think he
did it?"
Answer his questions, Bigger
Britten said
Bigger was sorry he had taken
4 offense. He could not afford to gel
angry now. And he had no need tc
3 be angry. Why should he be angry
With lot of fools? They were look
ing for the girl and the girl was
ten feet from them, burning. He
had killed her and they did not
know it. He would let them call
him Mike"
ST don't know, suh,'' he said.
Come on, tell us what happen
ed"
i only work here" Bigger said.
Mr.. 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 a letter was
found. EIlone's to be released, the
letter is signed by Red and there
was a hammer and sickle emblem
on it. That doesn't make sense.
Give us some more details"
Listen, you guys" Britten said.
Give the old man a chance. He's
trying TO get his daughter back,
alive. He's gwen 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 listen
ed carefully to every word Britten
said and to the tone of voice III
which the men asked their ques-
lions, for he wanted to know if any
OF them suspected him. But they
did not All of their questions
pointed to Jan.
{ 'sBut Britten," asked one of the
men, why did the old man want
this Erlone released?"
], ssFfgure it out for yourself, 81
Britten said.
eThen he thinks Erlone hao
something to do with the snatching
of his daughter and wanted him
out so he could give her back?"
ST don't know Britten said.
Jaw, come on, Britten."
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 to their pa
pers; they were going to tell about
JAMS trying to convert him 10
Communism, the Communist lit :.
g erature Jan had given him, the
rum, the half-packed trunk being
taken down to the station and
lastly, about the kidnap note and
the demand for ten thousand dol
lars. The men looked round the
basement with flashlights, Bigger
still leaned against the wall. Brit.
ten sat on the steps. The fire
whispered in the furnace. Bigger
knew that soon he would have to
clean the ashes out, for the fire
was not burning as hotly as it
should. He would do that as soon
as some of the excitement died
down and all of the men left.
''It's pretty bad, hunh, Bigger"
Britten asked.
''Yessuh."
I'D bet a million dollars that
this is JAMS smart idea"
Bigger said nothing. He was limp
all over; he was standing up here
against this wall by some strength
not his own Hours past he had
given up trying to exert himself
any more; he could ns longer call
up any energy. so he just forgot
it and found himself coasting
along.
1t was getting a little chilly; the
fire was dying. The draft could
!. scarcely be heard. Then the base
ment door burst open suddenly and
one of the men who had gone to
telephone came in, his mouth open,
his face wet and red from the snow.
eSay!" he called.
s'Yeah?"
"What is it?"
my city editor just told me that
lrlone fellow won't leave jail
lge For a moment the StrangenesS
of the news made them all stare
silently. Bigger reused himself and
tried TO make out just what it
meant. Then someone asked the