Boarding a
west side car he sat looking out through the car window at the passing
crowd and imagined himself among them, striking right and left,
gripping throats, demanding the truth that would save Brown and set
himself up before the eyes of men.
When McGregor got to the Monroe Street millinery store it was evening
and Edith was preparing to go out to the evening meal. He stood
looking at her. In his voice rang a note of triumph. Out of his
contempt for the men and women of the underworld came boastfulness.
"They have given me a job they think I can't do," he said. "I'm to be
Brown's counsel in the big murder case." He put his hands on her frail
shoulders and pulled her to the light. "I'm going to knock them over
and show them," he boasted. "They think they're going to hang Brown--
the oily snakes. Well they didn't count on me. Brown doesn't count on
me. I'm going to show them." He laughed noisily in the empty shop.
At a little restaurant McGregor and Edith talked of the test he was to
go through. As he talked she sat in silence and looked at his red
hair.
"Find out if your man Brown has a sweetheart," she said, thinking of
herself.
* * * * *
America is the land of murders. Day after day in cities and towns and
on lonely country roads violent death creeps upon men.
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