The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-12-26
nEGIN HERE TO-DAY

1Tbvnder Mesa" has . tragic end'
inc when Pearl Sam dc Forest,
eldest Of three brothers, is found
| S..d beneath the Christmas tree
with a knife in his throat:
There are many strange things
,bout Thunder Mesa" besides
N. fact that each Of the three bro.
Their, has the first name Pearl,
Pearl John is the youngest, Pearl
Pierre next. Others at the house
are: Tante Josephine, old and an
invalid; Betty Weleh. her COM
n.nion; Ramon Vasquez and An
xelique Abeyta, guests At the
party Professor Shaw, areheo'o'
g;.t: and Bob Graham, tire :eies'
man who stopped at the hacienda
when his car broke down. :,
Pearl Pierre, now head OF the
family, has his brotherh BODY re.
moved to the house chapel. Later
he send. word that everyone !: to
90 there for a funeral service.
Th.v .rrive-but the body has
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER TX
Afterward Bob remembered
looking out the chapel window at
the column of smoke rising from
the distant edge of the mesa
where the Christmas green's were
beinp burned. The smoke, against
the ieaden sky, made q suitable
hackdrop for the weird drama be-
ing enacted in the chapel: as
Pearl Pierre, frowning coldly,
faced the group in the room.
"You can all see, ! suppose,
that the body is gone" he was
saving, his thin lips biting of the
words significantly. "lf anyone
here has an explanation to offer, !
should be glad to hear it."
His penetrating glance ineiud;,
cd everyone. Angelique sobbed
historically, and Ramon put an
arm about her. Old Tante JOSE
phine raped her cane sharply on
the tiled floor.
"Tut. tut. Pearl Pierre! You
herd us in here to pray over Peari
Sam, who would laugh If ne could
know about it, and now he's gone.
Why don't you tell us what you've
done with him? Pearl Sam was
not a small man, and it wouldn't
be easy for any of US to carry
away his body. You are the Only
one. who could have managed it,
Her black eyes ghred' at her
nephew: then, after minute his
manner became less belligerent
and no ran hand across>his FORE
head. with a weary gesture. "
"I beg your pardon, Tante 10.
sephine," he said, 1.-The. events, OF
the last few hours have rather
unnerved me. And now, with the
officers coming to see about q
murder and no body to- show them
=" He strods out Of the chapel.
without looking to right or left.
.
The others followed more slow
w.. old Tante Josephone chuckling
over her triumph and telling Bet
ty, "He didn't get very far, Try,
ing to lay that on us, did ,heI
Pearl Pierre was always q great
one to crawl out of things by put
ting the blame on the next fell
low! But Pm not afraid OF him..
No, sir! Tante Josephine never
was afraid of any Of the de, For
rests! They" AZ i~.,i
There, there You mustn't 'exI
cite yourself so, much" Betty
drew, the little. oldIwomam taway
toward her own ffoomS. y. !,
"Well, what do vow think iof
that q" Ramon asked Bob las
Tahte ,Josephine's cackling .laug-
ter; faded away. down the 'cofri.
dor. Pearl John had gone. ahead
into the living Nroom with Angel
que and they could sec him seat
ing her and tucking cushions be-
hind her head. Then he went to
get her something to drink.
81 think she may have come
nearer the truth than she expect
cd" Bob answered. Don't for
get that Pearl Pierre overheard
us in the library talking about
forcing him to send for. the Off.
Gals. Now, if there is no corpse
to show, why the officers? For
some reason I think Pearl Pierre
wants TO hold us here on the
mesa" -. e. &c.
For a moment Ramon looked
startled; then he turned it off with
his usual shrug. Maybe he wants
to find out more about US. Re.
member, | met Pearl John in San.
ia Fe and he was, the one who
asked Angelique and me up here.
The rest of the family had never
seen, me before. And, of course,
you're only here because of the
storm. BY the way; did you no.
tice the expression on Professor
Shaw's face in the chapel?" g.,
"No." =.
st was worth seeing" Ramon
went on. "Pd give good deal to
know all hiatt goes on in that old
boys mind"
Pearl John Joined them. then
and in minute Ramon went to
see how Angelique was feeling.
Bob looked at the youngest de
Forest curiously. His pleasant
face had lines of WEAKNESS etched
on it, as thought he had not slept
much since the Christmas party.
Bob felt twinge of sympathy
for Pearl John, who, in spite. Of
everything, seemed to be a real
fellow. :, =. -
"If there's anything l could do
-" he began, putting II hand on
Pearl Johns arm, Z. :.
".There ISL Parl John told him.
a L.. NJ.