The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-01

heads. didn't think you were
interested IN archaeology, some
how. Young people are generally
looking forward, not back into the
dim ages Of antiquity. So you
thought Thunder Mesa might be
interesting, eh?"
"Yes," answered Ramon. II was
glad to come here, though, Of course,
I didn't expect I'd be stepping into
q murder mystery. But that boisdian
knife caught my attention. was IN
terested when you said 1t prob
ably had some religious signifi-
canoe. Have you found any signs
Of old Indian pt=blos on this
meSaW
ooh, yes" answered the pro-
lessor. "At one time, there must
have been a great many people
living here In what was probably
a very extensive pueblo. OF
course, you know the Indians liked
to build on high places. especially
an elevation like Thunder Mesa
which has only one trail down to
the plains below"
Protection against enemies and
all that" Ramon offered the pro-
fessor a cigar. And there's plenty
Of water here, apparently"
eyes. This house is built on
the foundations Of the main pueblo,
and the hacienda well Is the same
one the Indians used. But I've been
unable to make any first hand ex-
animation Of the ground plan Of the
pueblo, for the house basement
seems to have been constructed right
over 1t, and the present owners are
not at all interested In tearing up
the floor Of their cellar to further
archaeological knowledge. That per-
haps is not astonishing when you
come to think about It,"
IT suppose not" Ramon agreed,
with a smile. II can't imagine any
of the de Forests allowing much ex-
cavation to be done under their
floor boards. But the sacred knife
must have come from right here,
them"
I'm not sure about that" Profess
sor Shaw said. "They never would
say. Claimed they did not know, In
fact, but If I could determine that
point 1t would be an important step
forward in our knowledge of the
early inhabitants Of this continent.
There certainly is not another knife
Just like 1t in existence"
"Why don't you ask the Indian
servant about it?"
1--WE tried repeatedly, but he
only shakes his head and pretends
he doesn't understand, though 7
hear he Is connected in some way
with the tribe which lived here Or
iginally.
The professor rose. Have I ans
wered any OF the things you wanted
to know? I'm sure haven't told you
a thing any Of the family would not
have been willing to tell you, If they
didn't have so much else on their
minds just now"
That's just It," Ramon an
swered quickly. you see, as a
guest in the house, 1t would put me
In rather bad light to 60 inquiring
about things I'm not supposed to
have any interest in. But ever since
came, I've wondered shout this !
place, and, In view of what's hap
pened, I'm not so sure the whole
thing isn't knit together in some
way. Tell you what, Professor u
suppose we work together"
For the moment the professor
seemed to be turning this over in
his mind. Then he nodded. II
can't see that it would do any
harm to anyone" he said. Ger
tainly the museum is only inter-
ested in the artifact, not in solv-
ing murder mystery. We may
owe 1t to ourselves and the other
innocent people who are all
housed here with maniac, likely
to go into action again any min
ute"
"You think, then, that it was some
of the household and not
one of the outside guests?" Ramon
asked.
mot the slightest doubt about It,"
The professors tone was positive.
No one could live here with the
family, as I have, for any length
Of time and not be convinced that
anyone Of them had sufficient cause
10 drive him to murder II little
extra pressure were brought. It's the
most interesting group of people I
ever came In contact with. A group
whose naturally strange dispositions
are accentuated by isolation. If the
Young man could get away. he prob. |