The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-01-09

much about him and vet be 50 hi.
terly against him. Maybe you'ys
been brooding about this color
question long time. hunh boyr
the mans voice continued low and
soft. Maybe you think DOM
understand? But do. | know how
il feels TO walk along the streets
like other people. dressed ike
them. talking like them, and vel
excluded for no reason except
that you're black. know YOUR
people. Why. they give me votes
cut there on the South Side every
election. once talked to col.
ored boy who raped and killed
woman. just like you raped and
killed Mrs. Clinton's sister y
Il didn't do it, Bigger scream.
ed.
why keep saying that? II Won
talk. maybe the judgeli help YOU.
Confess It all and gei Il over
With. You'll feel better Say. lis.
ten. II YOU tell me everything. III
see that you're sent TO the hos
pital for an examination. see n
hey say you're not responsible,
then maybe you won't have to
die :"
Bigger's anger rose. He was
not crazy and he did not want 10
be called crazy.
Il don't want to go to no hos
pital"
I Its way out. for you. hoy"
II don't want no way out"
Listen. start al the beginning.
Who was the first woman YOU
ever killed.
He said nothing. He wanted 10
talk hut he did not like me note
e. intense eagerness In the mans
voice He heard the door hchind
him open; he turned his head Just
IN time to see another white man
look in questionInely.
Il thought you wanted me-" the
man said.
Yes; come on IN" Buckley
said
The man came In and took
seat holding pencil and paper
en- his knee.
Here. Bigger" Buckley said,
taking Bigger by the arm St
down here and tell me all about
It., Get IL over with"
Bigger wanted to tell how he
had felt when Jan had held his
hand; how Mary had made him
feel when she asked him about
how Negroes lived: the iremen-
dous excitement that had hold OF
him during the day and nigh; he
had been in the Dalton homr-but
there were no words for him.
You went to Mr.. Dalton homs
at five-thirty that Saturday.
didn't you?
"Yessuh." he mumbled
Listlessly. he talked. lie traced
his every action. He paused at
each question Buckley asked and
wondered how he could link up
his bare actions with what he had
felt but HIS words came out flat
and dull. White men were looking
at him. waiting for his words. and
all the feelings OF his body van
ished. just as they had when ne
VAS in the car between Jan ana
Mary When he was through he
| felt more lost and undone than
when he was captured. Buckley
stood up; the other white man
rose and held out the papers for
him TO sign? He was guilty he
vas lost They were going 70 Kill
him. Nobody could help him they
were standing In front OF him.
bending over him. looking al him.
waiting. His hand shook he
signed.
Bucklev slowly folded the pa
pers and put them into his pocK-
ct Bigger looked up at the Two
men. helplessl.'. wonderlngly.
Buckley looked at the othcs white
man and smiled.
That was not as hard as
thought II would be-" Buckley
said.
He came through like a clock.
he other man said.
Buckley looked down at Bigger
and said,
Just a scared coIored boy from
Mississippi"
There was short silence Big
ger felt that they had forgotten
him already. Then he heard them
speaking.
Anything else. chief?'
Nav, I'll be at my club. Le.
me know how the inquest turns
out"
ok. chief"
so long"
"I'll be seeing you. chief"
| Bigger felt so empty and beaten
that he slid TO the floor. He hearu
the feet Of the men walking away
softly. The door opened and smut
He was alone. profoundly. IN.
escapablv. He rolled on the TOO,
and sobbed. wondering what y
was that had hold OF him. WY
he was here.
lie lay on the cold floor sobbins,
but really he was standing up
strongly with contrite heart. now.
ing his life In his hands. stafins
AZ II with a wondering question.
lie lay on the cold floor sobpins'
but really he was pushing ioa
ward with his puny strens'a
against world too big and .co
strong for him. He lay on nv
cold floor sobbIng: but really =.
was cropping forward with heIOs
zeal into a -elter OF clrcums an.ss
which he felt contained a wa's.
81 mercy for the thirst Of his near