Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-10-29

denly. II know nothing about any
chloroform. It is unthinkable that
such drug would be on the rancho,
senor."
"Thank you, senora," said Rog-
ers, and he bowed to her.
George Rumble caught up with
me as I strolled through the patio
in the direction of the dancing plat
form. He put his hand on my arm
and walked several steps with me
before remarking:
"You know, Barry, Hunts got me
to thinking the same as he does.
Somebody sure as heck croaked that
old gal back in Pasadena. But why
does Reed Barton want to lie about
it? amt wrong. I'm not lying.
I saw him; and I don't forget a
face. He acted like he was scared
to death-runnin' down the side
walk. l think he got into car down
around the corner that night. Be-
cause there was one pulled out in
about the time it would take for him
to run there, get in and drive off"
Anyway, George" I said, cts
up to you to prove it. Margaret
says she didn't see who it was;
Reed says you're lying. Who is 60
ing to believe your"
"You know what?" George Rum
BILE said emphatically. 81 think the
old lady was dead when Barton ran
out of the house."
"You may be right"
"You know"-he paused, as we
reached the grilled doorway to the
open courtyard, "I'll bet could run
that thing down-find out who killed
that woman" Someone passed us in
the darkness, and Rumble reached
out to detain him. "Chatfield, I was
just telling Barry that I think I
could figure out who killed your sis
ter. I'm going to try it, anyhow"
"Well-I wish you success, Mr..
Rumble" replied Sam Chatfeld
courteously. Don't you want to
come on out into the plaza now? I'll
find you a seat. We've got some in
teresting dancers among the work.
ers on the rancho. They are put
ting on most of the show for us.
A few people may come out from
town to join in or to watch, as they
feel like it."
"Sure, we're coming. It's bust
ness with me. Pm always looking
for talent. I never know where
might find something or somebody
can promote-like I have Elsa"
'There's Yaqui dance just get
ting started. You mustn't miss it,"
Rumble and l found seats on a
bench in an enlarged circle under
the open sky. There was an air of
festivity pervading the crowd. The
air was heavy with perfume drift
ing down upon us on the soft night
air. A burst of firecrackers star
tied the edge of the crowd, but they
soon popped themselves out. The
odor of cooking came from the
kitchen where in the rudy glow of
charcoal fires women still were pat
ting tortillas.
Two men on the platform were do
ing the Coyote Dance. To the beat
ing of fiat drum, and the chant
ing of the lone drummer, the dane
ers, swinging lowered heads, their
feet moving in an intricate sidewise
shuttle, backed slowly to the rear
of the platform. To brisker tempo
they galloped forward, only to re-
| peat the maneuver over and over.
Coyote skins stuck with feathers of
the turkey, eagle, Woodpecker and
hawk hung down their backs. AS
the dance began to take on mo-
| notonous air, Rumble wearied of it
and got up from the bench and dis
| appeared. A moment later Elsa
crowded in beside me.
did you just get here?" l asked.
Yes she answered in my ear,
and snugglcd against me. l put my
arm around her and we sat for
some minutes while the beating of
the drum and the chanting Yaqui
| voice went on.
I'm not the same person in Mex
leo, Barry, that am at home. This
is mans country, not a woman's.
So what does all my talk about eco
nomic independence mean down
here; and finding myself, and rum
ming until things go dizzy inside of
me? Was l being silly, Barry? Mex
leo gives me sense of deeper,
more fundamental things"
you're just being Elsa" I said.
Adorable as always, and desirable
and lovely"
"Please, don't say things like that,
Barry. l feel very contrite for my
madness this morning. l went in
just now to apologize to Jimmy the
Cheese. Even though 1 still hate
him enough to kill him, l thought l
should apologize for my unladylike
behavior this morning. It was very
humiliating for me to have to beat
him like a dog. And, honestly, l
didn't know about his heart. That's
what makes it SO embarrassing for
me now"
"And did you apologize?"
"He was asleep. spoke to him
but he was lying very quietly, and,
oh, so bandaged! Did I do that,
Barry? l came away without dis
turbing him. Probably the next time
I'll not feel contrite and he'll never