The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-08-15

T '''N''~ ''' " 'Ntt III" FNOUiOtf.
When he reached The conner no RAJ,
/ through he snow. OUT OF sighi
Bigger stood sill. the gun ia hand
lie had uiicrly forgotten where he
Was his Dyes were SIN lNeted on
that point In space where be had
la>' seen jams reireaine form. The
tension in him slackoncd and ~
lowered The gun until il hung at
his eide. loosely In his fingers. 10
Was coming back into posses sion
OF himself: for The past three min
ues II seemed he had haen undpr
strange spell posse sod hv a
force which he haicd bui which
he had 10 Obey. He was -tfriled
when he heard soft foofsieps com
ine toward him in the snow ITO
looked and saw white woman
The woman saw him and paused
she turned abruptly and lan acroe
The street Bigger showed ME Gun
IN his pocket and ran ~ Tho corn
or. He looked hack the woman
was vanishing III oneh Ga. snow
IN me opposite direction
In him as he walked vas cod.
driving Viii. lie would 20 through
with this he would work fa.f lle
had encountered in Jan stronger
determination than h. bad ihou.hi
would be ihere. " he sem -, Md
nan note. II would have 10 be done
before Ian could prove thar he vas
completely nnocenl A. that mo.
meni he did not care II he wac
caught. II only he could COVER Jan
aud iriften into awe. INTO fear Of
him and his black skin and his
humble manners.
He reached a corner and wer,
into p drug store. a white clerk
came 10 him
Give me an envelope some pa
per and pencil' he said
lie paid the money put The pack
age into his pockct and went out
10 the corner 20 wall FOR cas.
one came: he got ON and rode east
ward. wondering What kind of noiA
hr would write. He lang ihc bell
tor the car 10 stop. got on and
walked through the uuiet Negro
- iceis Now aud then he passed
an empty building white and 81
lem IN The night. He would make
Brssie hide in one of these hnild-
ines and watch for Mr.. Datons
car Buf The ones he passed were
too Old il one Went into them ihev
might collapse. He walked on. He
had 10 iind building whore Brs-
Size could stand IN window ami
s'e the package OF money when II
Was thrown from The car. lie reach
rd Langley avenue and walked
We ward 30 Wabash avenue Their,
wer" many empty buildings with
black ~indnWs. like blind eyes
buildings Ike skeletons standing
with SNOW on their bones in ths
Winter winds hui none 81 them
were on corners. Finally. ~ Mich
'gan avenue and East Thirty sixth
Piece he saw the one he wanted
! Mar iall. white. silent. standing
on q well-lighted corner Ky look
NIX from any OF He front windows
l''---i-' would be- able 10 sre in an
four directions. on he had Ia
have fashlighr He went 10
drug store and bought one for z
dollar. lle felt in IA. iuuer pocket
OF his coat for his GLOVES. Now. he
was ready. -erossed The street
and stood waiting for ear H.
feet W"r" cold and hr stamped
them ia tho SNOW. surrounded hv
people waiting. too Tor q car. H.
did MOI look at them ihcv were
simply blind people bind Ike hi.
mother hi. brother. his sister
! gey Bruen Ian. Mr. Dalton
and the sigliile.e Mr. Dalton and
The uliet empty houses "a thcii
black gaping windows
II looked round the street and
saw a sign ON building. THIS
PROPERTY Is MANAGED ~
THE SOt1Il SIDE real. ESTATE
COMPANY. lie had heard lha, Mr.
Dalton owned the South Side Real
Estate company and The Soul
Side Real Estate company owned
The house IA which he lived IL
paid eight dollars a week for one
rat-lniesitd room. lle had never
seen Mr. Dalton until he had come
to WORK for him. he noiher always
took the rent 20 the real estate OF
fee. Mr.. Dalton Was WHERE
far away, high up distant like 4
god lie owned property all over
the Black Belt. and he owned prop
erty where white folks lived, 90.
but Bigger could not live in p
building across the line. Even
though Mr. Dalton gave millions
OF dollars for Negro education. he
would rent houses 10 Negroes only
IN this prescribed area. this corner
OF the cly tumbing down from
rot. In sullen WAY Bigger was
conscious OF this. Yes. he would
send the kidnap note. lie would Jar
them out Of their senses.
When the car came he rone south
and got on NJ Fifiy-first street and
walked 10 Bcssic's. Tie had 10 ring
five times before the buzzer an
swered. Goddammii bet she's
drunk. he thourht. lie mounted the
steps aud saw her peering at him
through the door with ewes red
from sleep aud alcohol. His doubt
OF her made him fearful aud angry.
bigger" she asked
"Get back in the room he said
whats the natter she asked.
backing away. her mouth open.
Let me in" Omen tho door,
She throw tho door wide. almost
stumbling as she did 80.
Turn on the 'lirht
whats the matter. RiEFer7
How many times do YOU want
me 10 asked YOU 10 turn on the
light"
She turned N on.