The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-09-05

the girl?'
II don't know sub. They was
back there kissing and going on"
WAS she lying DOWN."
We'll, yessuh. She was" sail
Bigger, lowering his eyes because
he felt that II would be better to do
so. He knew that whites though.
that all Negroes yearned for white
women therefore he wanted 10
show a certain fearful Difference
even when ones name was mention
ed in his presence.
"They were drunk, weren't thcyo
"Yessuh. They'd been drinking
a lot"
He heard the sound OF autos
coming into the driveway. Was
this the police?
who's that" Britten asked.
Il don't know" said one OF the
men.
I'D better see." Briiten said.
Bigger saw. after Britten had
the door. four cars stand
ing in the snow with headlights
glowing.
who's that?" Britten called.
"The press,"
There's nothing here for you"
Britten called in an uneasy voice
Don't tell u.s." voice answer
ed. Some OF It's already in The
papers. You may as we'll tell the
rest"
What's In the papers," Britten
asked as the men entered the base
ment.
A tall red-faced man showed his
hand into his pocket and brought
forth a newspaper and handed It 10
Britten.
The Reds say you're charging
'em with spiriting away the old
mans daughter
Bigger dsrted glance at the pa
per from where he was; he saw:
RED NABBED AS GIRL VANISH
rs.
"Goddamn." said Brltien.
"Phew." said the tall red-facei
man. What a night. Red arrest
ed. Snow storms. And this place
down here looks like somebody's
been murdered.
Come on, you" said Britten.
You're in MIR. Dalton's house now
"Oh. I'm sorry"
where's the old MANI
Upstairs. lie doesn't want TO be
bothered
is that girl really missing. or Is
this just a stunt?"
Il can't tell you anything Brit
ten said.
who's this boy, here?'
keep quiet. Bigger Britten
said.
lis he the one Erlone said &C
cused him?"
Bigger stood against the wall and
looked around vaguely.
You going TO pull the dumb act
on us o. asked one of the men.
Listen, you guys" said Britten.
Take il easy. I'll go and see II
the old man will see you
That's the time. We're waiting.
All the wires are carrying the
story"
Britten went up the steps and left
Bigger standing with the crowd OF
men.
Your names Bigger Thomas
the red-faced man asked.
keep quiet, Bigger" said one OF
Brittens men. Bigger said moth
ing.
Say: what's all this? This boy
can talk II he wants to-"
This smells like something big
TO me-" said one OF the men.
Bigger had never seen such men
before: he did not know how 10 act
toward them or what 10 expect OF
them They were not rich and dis
tant like Mr.. Dalton. and they
were harder than Brltten, but in a
more impersonal way. a way That
maybe was more dangerous than
Britten's. Back and forth they
walked across the basement floor
In the glare OF the furnace with
their hats on and with cigars and
cigarettes in their mouths. Bigger
felt In them a GOODNESS that dis
regarded everybody. They seemed
like men out for keen sport. They
would be around a long time now
that Jan had been arrested and
questioned Just what did they
think OF what he had told about
Jan? Was there any good in Brit
tens telling him not 10 talk %
them? BIgger's eyes watched the
hailed newspaper In a white mans
hand. II only he could read that
paper, The men were silent. wait
ing for Brltten 10 return. Then one
OF them came and leaned against
the wall. near him. Bigger looked
out OF the corners OF his eyes and
said nothing. He saw the man
light a cigarette.
Smoke. kid"
"Nawsuh," he numbled.
He felt something touch the cen
ter OF his palm. He made move 70
look. but n whisper checked him
Keep still. It's for YOU. ! want
you 10 give me the dope"
Bigger's fingers closed over a
wad Of paper; he knew A.
once that u was monev and that
he would give II hack. He held the
money and watched HE chance.
Things we're happening 80 fast tnat
he felt n. was not doing full Jus.
ice 70 them. He wss tired. Oh II