Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-10-08

the companlonWay and went below.
Rumble watched her go, his face 9
puzzle, then as if dismissing the
matter, tucked the paper under his
arm and walked noncha1antly aft,
leaving us all staring after him,
staring, too, at the companionway
down which Elsa had disappeared.
Huntoon Rogers had drifted over
to my side while this was happening.
His nose and cheekbones still were
red from the sunburn of the day be.
fore, but his mild blue eyes were in.
tent upon the retreating figure Of
Rumble.
what happened, Barry" he in
CURED.
Il don't know, Hunt. can't mag
Inc. Something serious, though, to
judge from Elsa's reaction"
Lets 60 take look at Rumble's
paper"
George Rumble continued retreat
ing along the deck as we walked in
his direction, a curious figure in
brown Stacks, incredible sports coat
and the black sombrero. AS he con-
tinued along the deck, he had the
appearance of one endeavoring to
walk away from disaster. Just as
we were about to catch up with him,
the fat figure of Chesebro, popping
out of the doorway to the ships
lounge, waylaid him.
Rumble paused, his sombrero tilt
ing back as he looked up at the
taller man. A curious expression
was on Chesebro's dark face. an
expression mingled of suspicious, re-
sentiment and malevolence. Without
speaking, he held his hand out i'm
perlously for the newspaper. Rum
BILE gave it to him and withdrew a
step or two and stood watching
Chesebro's fat hands unfold the roto-
gravure section. The main bulk of
the paper was tucked under his arm,
whence it fell promptly to the deck,
the edges of its many sheets to be
stirred gently by the morning
breeze. Chesebro turned to an in
side page of the section, scanning
its contents rapidly, while Rumble
with gaze set like that of a small
boy summoned to answer for his
misdeeds, watched Chesebro.
Chesebro of sudden started; his
whole fat figure tensed. A moment
later he recovered, angrily folded
the section tore it once through the
middle and threw it overheard. I
followed its downward flutterings,
saw it hit the water, and then nv
eyes Travelled farther to a rowboat
manned by native in white cotton
pants and straw sombrero. In the
boat looking eagerly at us was Feed
Barton.
"Well?" said Rumble, licking his
dry lips. What do you think of
it,"
Chesebro was swelling with poi
sonous fury. His dark eyes had
hardened to pinpoints of baleful
light. He clenched his fists and Rum
BILE moved warily step backward.
"You admit you're responsible for
that picture in the paper?"
Sure, Chesebro; it's swell r.ece
of publicity for Elsa"
Chesebro's arm flashed out, and
Rumble ducked at the same time.
The tall crown of the sombrerp was
caught by the failing fist ard the
hat flew off, rolling along the deck
until it came to rest at the rail.
"Of all the dirty, cowardly
leeches-''
Don't you call me that!" Rumble
assumed fighting pose. There's
heart appeal in that picture"
Huntoon Rogers tall figure
damned between the two aelliger-
ents; with broad hand on the chest
of each he showed them vigorously
apart.
Don't forget yourselves!" he said
sharply.
Chesebro dropped his hands and
turned away, walking forward along
the deck. Rumble glared after the
fat, retreating back, looked up at
Rogers who still stood as barrier
between him and his enemy, then
strolled over to the rail, picked up
his sombrero and set it back upon
his oiled, curly head.
The danger of fisticuffs past,
gave my attention to the approach
ing roWboat which was now quite
close. The torn halves of the roto-
gravure section floated on the water
within reach of the passenger, who.
having observed that something UNI
usual was astir relating to them
reached over the side and gathered
the pieces in, and brought them up
the ladder with him.
Rogers and l were there to gree:
him, and Dwight, too, whose curios.
ity at what had happened still wa,
unsatisfied. The others had disap-
peared.
81 don't know what it's all about.
Barry" Reed said, giving the wet
pieces to me. The Chief certainly
swung from the ankles on that Rum.
BILE person. Where's Elsa?" he in
quired eagerly. "Shes on board,
isn't she?"
"Oh, yes"
Rogers took the pieces of paper
from me, carried them to a hatch
cover and spread them methodically