The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-26

above putting the blame for this on
any one Of US. Don't lose sight Of
the fact that he's the one who
really profits by his brothers
DEATH"
Pearl John. approaching then,
made further discussion impos-
sible. Moreover, Bob was too
stunned by the sudden accusation
to be able to think clearly. This
eccentric accusing him Of stick
ing a knife into that other Crazy
man. And Bet? She, too, might
fall under suspicion.
my brother asked me to re-
mind you that no one Is to leave
the mesa until this is cleared up"
Pearl John was saying.
Bob thought his voice held a
sudden coldness, and the drawn
look in his white face told only
too plainly the tension Pearl John
was under. He felt sorry for this
youngest member of the strange
household. No matter how the
tragic state of affairs ended, he
would ways be blamed for CIV
ing the party and indirectly caus-
ing Pearl Sans death.
After Pearl John had walked
away Bob tried to reason things
out. What had Betty said about
the youngest brother being held
on the mesa by the power of the
older de Forests? Would Pearl
John be nearer to freedom now
that Pearl Sam was dead? And
what about the sour-faced Indian
who guarded the tra'l down the
canyon? That knife had looked a
good deal like Indian artifacts
Bob had seen In museums.
Betty seemed to be busy taking
care Of the old lady, and Ramon
was talking in low tones to Ange-
lie evidently trying to soothe
her shattered nerves. The girls
coquetry had vanished entirely
after the tragedy, and she was
plainly on the verge of collapse.
Professor Shaw, alone, seemed
unexcited over Pearl Sans death.
He appeared to view the catastro-
phe as he. might have looked on an
interesting unus. Il scientific de-
velopment.
"Cold-blooded as a RATHER" was
Bob's inward comment as he
watched the professor. "Come to
think of it the old boy seemed
to know a lot about the people
here. Who is he, anyway? And
just what is his business on .Thun-
der Mesa? Even Betty did not
seem to know what the professor
and Pearl Sam had been discuss
ing so earnestly. Could 1t have
been to the Psychologists advan-
tage to put Pearl Sam out of his
path?"
Still Bob waited, wondering
what he should do next, and why
Pearl Pierre did not come back
to tell them what he expected
them to do. Suddenly 1t occurred
to him that he might busy him
self putting things in some sort of
order in the big rooms. Accord
ingly, he began moving chairs and
couches back into place. and
clearing away the litter of ash
trays and cigaret stubs left by the
party.
How cold and forbidding the
big rooms looked now, with the
fires dying down in the fireplaces
and the strange gaunt figures Of
the little Santos staring down from
their nichesl Something like CIV
ing a dance in a chapel" Bob re-
fiected as he stopped to look more
closely at one particularly morbid
example of the friars' art.
This whole place reminds me OF
an old dame rugged out in party
finery that fails to cover her sunk
en- bones. It's getting me, too"
Crossing the hall to the room
where the Christmas tree stood, he
hesitated a moment in the doorway,
wondering If anything should be
done about that awful spot on the
floor. Since they had not thought
1t necessary to leave the body where
1t could be examined by the sheriff,
perhaps 1t would be as well to cover
that spot up, too. Bob stopped to
draw the edge of an Indian blanket
over 1t, when Pearl Pierre's voice
demanded behind him:
May ask what you are looking
for In here?"
"Why-why nothing Bob
gasped. II just thought 1t might
look better If that was out Of sight"
He pointed to the blood stain.
II see." From the other mans
tone, Bob gathered the impression