The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-01-16


had told him 10 bow down a
needed: but his pride would never
let him do that. not this side OF
the grave. not while the sun shone
And Jan: And Max: They we're
telling him TO believe In himself.
once before he had accepted COM
pletely what his life had made
him feel. even unto murder. lie
rad emptied the vessel which lie
had filled for him and found the
enp,ying meaningless. Yet the
vessel was full again, waiting 70
10 poured out. But no. Not bind
~ his time. He felt that he could
~. move again unless he swung
on, from the base OF his own feel
,urs: he felt that he would nave
20 have light In order 10 act now
Gradually. more from lessen
,rx az strength than from peace
- soul. his sobs ceased AND ne
Law on his back. staring al me
ceiling He had confessed and deatn
doomed now for certain in a pup
~ future How could he 60 10 MS
dsa,h with white faces looking on
ard saving that only death would
cnre him ;or ssving flung INTO
their faces his feeling OF oe'ns
Hack. How could death be Sic'ors
row, :. ,hs
He sighed. pulled up OF tne
floor and lay on the co., nan
awake halt-asleep. The door open,
ID and four policemen came anu
stood above him; one touched MS
shoulder.
come on. boy"
He rose and looked at tnem
ques,loningly.
You're going back to the In
quest"
They clicked the handcuffs up
~ his wrists and led him into
he hail. 10 waiting elevator.
The doris closed and he dropped
downward through space. stand
Ing between four tall. silent men
n blue. The elevator stopped; the
doors opened and he saw a rest
less crowd OF people and heard
hahble OF voices. They led him
through narrow aisle.
"That sonafabltch!"
Gee. isn't he black.
"KIr inn
4 hard blow came TO his tenn
lie and he slumped 10 the floor
lhe faces and voices left him.
Pain throbbed in his head and
The right side OF his face numbed.
He held up an elbow 10 protect
himself they yanked him back
upon his feet. When his signt
cleared he saw two policemen
struggling with slender white
man. Shouts rose In a mighty
roar. To the front OF him a white
man pounded with a hammer-like
piece OF wood upon table.
Quiet or the roomll he clear
co OF everybody except Witnesses
The clamor ceased. The police
r,en pushed Bigger into chair.
Stretching TO the four walls OF
the room was a solid sheet OF
white faces. Standing with squar-
ed shoulders al round were po-
licemen with clubs in hand. sill
yer metal on their chests, faces
red and stern. gray and blue eyes
alert. To the right OF the man al
the table. in rows o, three each.
six men sat still and silent. their
hats and overcoats on their knees.
Bigger looked about and saw the
| pile OF white bones lying atop a
table; beside them lay the kidnap
note, held In place by a bottle OF
ink. In the center OF the table
were white sheets OF paper fas-
tened together by a metal clasp:
:, was his signed confession. And
there was Mr.. Dalton. white-faced,
white haired: and beside him was
Mrs. Dalton. still straight, her
face. as always. tilted tustingly
upward. TO one side. Then he saw
the trunk into which he had stuff.
ed Mary's body. the trunk which
he had lugged down the stairs and
lad carried 10 the station. And
yes. there was the blackenet
Ratchet blade and tiny round
piece OF metal. Bigger felt tar
OF his shoulder and looked around
Max was smiling at him.
Take It easy Bigger. You won
have TO say anything here. II
won't be long"
The man at the front table
raped again.
us there a member OF the de
ceased's family here. one who car
give us the family history"
A murmur swept the room. A
woman rose hurriedly and went 1,
the blind Mrs. Dalton. caught hole
OF her arm. led her forward to
seat to the extreme right OF tn,
man at the table. facing six mel
In the rows OF chairs. That mus