Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-11-26

hotel and get my things together.
Margaret's orders. See you on the
boat, anyhow, if not before"
Rumble stood on the street cor
ner, curious figure in a yet more
curious throng of native life.
"Goodby," said Elsa.
"Goodby, sweetheart"
The Jail, standing in all its medi-
ocrity close by the church, its seal
ing, cracked, pseudo-Gothic exterior
softened now by the nights warm
shadows, seemed less an eyesore
than in the hard light of the sun.
elsa" 1 began, hating on the
steps, perhaps I'd better take you
over 10 the hotel, and I'll call on
Reed myself"
Don't be silly" she said, advanc-
ing through the doorway with such
precipitate energy that the splen-
did creature preening his mustaches
leaped nimbly to one side to avoid
being run down.
But there was no Reed Barton in
the jail. Elsa did not at first COM
prehend the information which was
offered in response to our inquiry,
and neither did I.
"Por que no?" she demanded in
Spanish of the Jail guard.
Gel hombre no esta aqui," the
man replied. mo Sc por que no."
81 hope they haven't taken him
out and shot him." Elsa said, turn
ing to me, an odd light in her gray
eyes, which were now round with
apprehension. "They do things like
| that"
Forget it," I said. "Your ia
theirs influence probably got him
out. Donde esta ell hombre?" I in
quired of the guard who in reply
merely shrugged his shoulders. in
dicating that he had no idea where
Reed was to be found.
We made our way to the plaza
where l hoped the old, old Mexican
custom once more was being ex-
hibited. But when we arrived only
a handful of youthful caballeros en-
circled the kiosk, and a smaller
number of senoritas were moving
! slowly, leisurely in the opposite di-
rection. One caballero, holder than
the rest, halted before his favorite
and with a bow presented her with
a flower. Round and round they
went, while the band played the
arias of LA Boheme." Motor cars
were parked at the curb, a haven
of parental refuge for any senorita
who grew weary.
1--WE seen this before" said Elsa
after we had watched it for some
moments. 81 never realized until
now, though, but I've been doing
this same thing for years. Every
| girl has. Parading myself, my body,
my soul, all that makes up the pitt
full little me. hoping for the approval
of some gay caballero."
"Your gay caballero stands on
your right against the trunk OF that
tree"
"Where?" Her head jerked sharp
ly in the direction I indicated. Reed
Barton stood leaning lightly, easily,
against the tree as he gazcd at the
scene in the plaza. He pulled his
| watch from his pocket and looked at
| it, unmindful that we we're near by.
Elsa left me instantly and flew to
| greet him, and l walked over more
sedately to congratulate him on his
| release.
ELSA had visions of your being
| stood against wall at dawn and
dying Economically TO the rattle of
muskctry," l said.
"Rcally?" He grinncd, pocketing
his watch.
Don't mind what he says" Elsa
implorcd him.
"But how did it happen, Reed?" I
asked.
at was just one of those things"
he said. "They came and opened
the door to the cage and said to the
bird within, Fly away, my sweet
and flew away to freedom"
LAS simple as that?' said Elsa
with a sarcastic note in her voice.
"What l think happened was that
they discovered I was not just a
peon who could be thrown into Jail
and forgotten. Perhaps your father
helped, Elsa; perhaps the consul
| lldu Sulllclilll!S u uU Will II. any
way, it's nice to be out. Neither
your father will accept my thanks,
nor the consul; twas a mere moth
ing. Glad to do it. and all that.
Saw your father down the street a
while ago, Elsa"
HE was coming ashorc-Oh-
you're going with us tomorrow.
"Whcre and WHAT"
"Fishirg. You'll have to come
aboard tonight with your things:
we're leaving early. And now"
She halted, wistful look in her
level gray eyes isn't there a dance
going on somewhere tonight, Reed?
Can't we dance and be romantic?"
ooh. sure There's a dance at
the hotel tonight. Come along ard
observe the flower of Mexican youth.
You'll see something! These little
kids here in the plaza with their
hand-me-downs and New York mod
els are bit tawdry. The newer
youth of Mexico is elsewhere. Com
ing, Barry"