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Chapter 124

I TRIED TO HURRY past thethem, but the ton—were relentless They pulled at the sleeve of my jacket Some actually planted themselves in the middle of my path

Finally, I had to push theet past these rude and opportunistic fellows

“Mr Corbett, do you think you have a chance?”

“Jonah, why’d you let a white ive your summation for you?”

“Mr Stringer, what’s your angle? What’s in it for you?”

I felt so into my hand and looked down to find a twenty-dollar bill

A reporter I recognized fro at me “That’s for a private interview, and there’s ood!” I wadded the bill and tossed it back at him

I heard Jonah calling to : “See you at the War Room, half an hour”

The reporters lost interest in me and turned on Jonah The

War Room? What War Room? What war? Do you think of this trial as a war? Do you think you will lose?

I used this opportunity to escape I crossed Commerce Street and hurried don, to the platform by the nearly deserted depot One old coloredto a fine brown horse hitched to a flat truck

I found a bench in the shade near the stationmaster’s house from which I could survey most of Eudora

Thearound the courthouse, a ja automobiles

Out on the edge of town, on the dirt road leading out to the Quarters, I saw coluroes who’d come from all over southern Mississippi to await the verdict I had ridden through their ca the hy