He would be as safe there as anywhere I
could think of. When we had got to the studios, we discharged our
Klansmen, and arranged to send Old Joe to his home, and the three
disciples to a hotel for the night; then I invited Carpenter to step
into T-S's car. He had not spoken a word, and all he said now was,
"I wish to be alone."
I answered: "I am taking you to a place where you may be alone as
long as you choose." So he entered the car, and a few minutes later
T-S and I were escorting him into the latter's showy mansion.
We were getting to be rather scared now, for Carpenter's silence was
forbidding. But again he said: "I wish to be alone." We took him
upstairs to a bed-room, and shut him in and left him--but taking the
precaution to lock the door.
Downstairs, we stood and looked at each other, feeling like two
school-boys who had been playing truant, and would soon have to face
the teacher. "You stay here, Billy!" insisted the magnate. "You
gotta see him in de mornin'! I von't!"
"I'll stay," I said, and looked at my watch.
Pages:
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265