Arkansas State press., 1943-10-08


hat to show these guys down here
that us Gringos don't hold any
grudges against the Mexieans. Was
just starting out TO have a iook-see
around the town when run into you
folks"
As we stood talking dispirited
horse drawing one OF those two
wheeled carriages they call aranas
drew near. II was shabby, the fringe
that edged the top hung in shreds;
the rubber tires were worn almost
to the rims; the wheels wabbled.
and the harness was partly Of rope.
The driver lolled in his seat indif-
ferent to his passenger. who, when
she saw US, came suddenly to life.
She reached across the driver to a
small bulb horn on the whip socket
and squeezed the thing emitted a
faint peep. She stirred it into frantic
announcement OF her arrival.
And when the quaint equipage
halted at our side, there was Elsa
Elsa as blonde and lovely and fresh
and level gray of eye as ever. She
smiled engagingly.
"Buenos das. sonora senores,"
she greeted u.s.
Don't do that, sweetheart" child
ed Mr.. Rumble. Il don't savvy
Mexican lingo"
Hello" said Elsa, smiling broad
~ There was amusement in her
eyes as she gazed at George Rum
ble's remarkable costume, then she
leaped out and flung her arms
around Margaret She had a kiss
for me and a warm handshake for
Rogers, I'm SO glad" she said.
And now, rgaret-and the rest
OF you too-Paga and Berta are ex-
pecting you all out to dinner tonight
at the rancho. Jimmy and Reed
are coming too, ! think. II they
get back from the mine in time"
AT eight-thirty that night the huge
studded doors Of the old ranch house
at the edge of town swung back to
let Huntoon Rogers and me inside.
The house was relic of other more
spacious days before time and revo-
luton had reduced the acreage of
the rancho. The others of the party
had preceded us, and we found them
all gathered in a huge room filled
with ancient black walnut furniture
marvelously carved. Sam Chatfield
and Berta, whom we had met that
February evening at the beach club.
greeted us with enthusiasm. That
night in California Berta had been
restrained. confined by strange con.
ventions, unresponsive; this evening
she was free of those, at home in her
native land. and in the house where
her family for several generations
before her had lived
Most welcome, senores," she
said with a marvellous smile and
small soft hand extended impulsive-
ly. Il am happy to have you with
u.s."
Later that evening, Sam Chatfeld
said: Hollywood? Yes, l enjoyed ii
the last time was there, but like
this better. Berta is child in some
things, the same loves and hates Of
child, the quick resentments of in
jury whether fancied or real" He
was speaking to Huntoon Rogers and
me in the seclusion of small book
lined study which opened off the liv-
ing room. Berta was entertaining
the others in the huge high ceilinged
living room.
"You were in California at the
time your sister died, were you not?
At the funeral, | mean?" asked Rog-
ers casually,
A remarkable change came over
Sam Chatfield's face, his whole man.
ner was transformed. From a Sc
rene, quiet-spoken man Of middle
years, who talked calmly of the Mex.
lean life that surrounded him, he
went to extremes Of loquacity, lean
ing forward in his chair, points of
light glowing in the depths Of his
gray eyes-the same eyes that Elsa
had
Eyes. Yes. we were there Berta
and l. We were there before the
funeral, before Kitty died, in fact.
We we're at the house that night.
Slept there, and next morning she
was found dead"
Rogers shook his head slowly. 1T
must have been a shock to you.
SIR" he remarked.
SHOCK? OF course. 1t was very
awkward, also We were not sup
posed to be stopping with my sis
ter; we were registered at a hotel.
In Pasadena.
"You say-awkward7"
Eyes, Mr. Rogers. MY sister
would not recognize Berta, my wife.
Imagine thatl My sister with ideas
like that And Berta--you see
around you, gentlemen, what Berta
is used to from childhood. She was
educated in Paris. She Is not an in
ferior, as my sister stubbornly chose
to believe. II was that fact which
made for The awkwardness. | kept
1t from her as long as | could
kitty's attitude toward her. On our
yearly trips to Los Angeles since
Rerta and | wore first mnrrind Kit.