Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-07-17

hN Ntt TAU AtatHNh w. NiN MI
Dalton eet a wire from Detroit.
Mary never got there" "les-
sum,
She came all the way down the
strais and looked round the
basement, as though seeking
missing detail lie stiifened. If
she saw something that would
make her ask him about Mary he
would take rae iron shovel and let
her have il straight across her
head ard then take the ear and
make a quick getaway,
"Mr, nalton's worried Peggy
said, "Iou know Mary didn't
pack the new clothes she bought
To take with her on the trip, And
Poor Mrs, Dalton's been pacing
the floor and phoning Mary's
friends all day
/ Don't nobody know where she
isGp Bigger asked
! "NohNiy. Did Mary tell you to
take the trunk like il was"
"Ycssum,' he said, knowing that
this was the first hard hurdle.
at was locked and standing in a
corner, took it down and put
it right where YOU saw It this
morning ooh, peggy'l Mrs.
Dalton's voice called,
"Yesp Peggy answered
] Bigger looked up and saw Mrs.
j Dalton at the head of the stairs.
standing in white as usual and
with her face tilted trustingly
upward, "ls the boy back yet ?"
"lIe's down here now, MIR. Dial
tom"
"Come in the kitchen moment
will you, Bigger?" she asked.
"Yessum.
] He followed Peggy into the
kitchen. Mrs. Dalton had her
hands clasped tightly in front of
her and her face was still tilted.
higher now, and her white lips
were parted, Peggy told you
about picking up the trunk 2"
"Yessum, I'm on ny way now"
I"What time did you leave here
last night?"
"A little before TWO, man"
l"And she told you to take the
trunk DOWN."
"Yessum, "And she told not
to put the car up7" "Yessum."
"And it was just where you
left it last night when you came
this morning
"Yessum. Mrs, Dalton turn.
cd her head rs she heard the in
ner kitchen door open: Mr.. Dial
tom stood in the doorway. "IIello
Bigger" "Good day. sub"
FLOW are tbings?" Zine, sub. "
| The station called about the
trunk little while ago. You'll
have to pick 1t up" "Ycssuh, |
am on my way now, sub"
Listen, Bigger. What happened
last night?
| "Well, nothing, sub, Mis- DIAL
ton told me to take the trunk
down so could take 1t to the
station this morning; and ! did"
"Was Jan with your"
! "Yessuh. All three Of us went
upstairs when | brought 'em in in
the car. We went TO the room TO
get TIE trunk. Then | took 1t
down and put it in the basement
"Was Jan drunk" "Well, |
don't know sub. They was drink
Iinng. .
"And what heppened7" Moth
ing sub. ] just took the trunk to
the basement and left, Miss Dali
ton told me to leave the car out
She said Jan would take care OF
IT," "What were they talking
about"
digger hung his head. ~ don't
know sub"
He saw Mrs Dalton Lift her
! right hand and he knew that she
meant for Mr.. Dalton to stop
/, questioning him so closely, Hc
felt her shame.
"That's all right, Bigger" Mrs
Dalton said. She turned to Mr.
Dalton. "Where do you suppose
this Jan would be now3"
"Maybe he's at the Labor De
fender office" "Can you get IN
touch with him?"
"Well,' said Mr.. Dalton, stanc
ing near Bigger and looking hare
at the floor. II could. But IL
0 rather wait. | still think Mary
IN to some a her foolish pranks
Bigger you'd better get tina
B trunk" "Yessuh."