Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-10-22

perhaps, to some of you. But it is
something that seems to be neces-
sary."
Sam Chatfeld was now well
launched upon his little speech;
there was earnestness upon his face,
IN his manner. "You all know, of
course, of the death of my sister,
Katherine, in California, now more
than year ago. At odd times since
that occurrence there have been in
tlmatlons that the authorities are
not satisfied with the official find
lngs. l discover that among you
there are two who are actively pros
ecutlng an inquiry into the circum-
stances surrounding Katherine's
death.
Since all of us here"-he looked
around the room-"Elsa will be here
shortly-knew her or had some deal
lngs, or association of some sort,
with her, I shall ask Mr.. Rogers
to conduct an examination. I want
him, and through him the authori-
ties in California, to be satisfied.
Neither Berta nor have been avail
able for questioning hitherto, and I
hope Mr.. Rogers will not feel con-
strained, because we are his hosts,
in questioning us. OF course, Mr..
Chesebro cannot be with us, and is
at present in no condition to undergo
questioning, but that, perhaps, can
be done later, if it has not already
been DONE"
THANK you, Mr.. Chatfield. 1t is
indeed surprise. I had been hop
ing soon to suggest that something
like this be arranged. I'm sure that
Mr.. Madison will be grateful for this
opportunity, now that the matter is,
SO to speak, out in the open. Of
course" he hesitated, looking in
tently at Sam Chatfield, "there is
in the death of your sister-or, for
that matter, in the death of anyone
elsa set of facts. We are un-
certain just what those facts are.
The district attorneys office doubts
the validity of what purports to be
facts in the Katherine Chatfield case.
There was a stir in the doorway
and Elsa entered the room, pausing
on the threshold to survey us as we
sat listening, solemn-faced and stiff
ly, as if to a schoolmaster, while
Rogers talked. She was always love-
ly; her hair of an almost golden
sheen, the level gray eyes, the firm,
erect carriage which was empha-
sized tonight by the costume she
wore. She was dressed as a China
Poblana.
Am I interrupting?" she asked
from the threshold.
mo, dear; come in" said her
father. "We were expecting you to
join u.s." He made a place for her
at his side.
A faint smile fitted across her
face at the sight of Reed Barton,
and she nodded to him, slightly
aloof now, this person, who SO ar
IDENTIFY had hoped that Reed would
come like a caballero and sing love
songs to her on the deck of the ORR
zaba.
81 presume there is little need to
do so, but perhaps it is best to re-
mind you all that Katherine Chat
field died of an overdose of NOR
phine.'
At Rogers words, Elsa, who had
just sat down, lifted her head high,
her nostrils opening wider as if she
shifted danger.
THE overdose probably was much
in excess continued Rogers easily,
of what she was accustomed to
take. In the circumstances only two
conclusions are possible Either she
administered the overdose herself,
In which case it was suicide. Or,
it was given to her by someone de-
string her death, either forcibly, or
by the aid of some preliminary an
esthetic administered quickly before
she was aware of her danger-such
as chloroform. In which latter case,
of course, it is murder.
"Mr. Chatfeld quite recently told
Barry Madison and me that both
he and Mrs. Chatfeld were spend
ing the night at the house the night
his sister died. Elsa, of course,
was there. Some time ago Reed
Barton informed me that, in the ma
ture of his work for Mr.. Chesebro,
he ran many personal errands for
him, and that on this particular eve
ming he had been instructed to de-
liver book to her.
And l have just discovered in
talking with George Rumble that he
had been engaged to do some pub
licity work for Miss Chatfield, and
that on the evening of her death he
was present in the house for short
time, that the two argued, and
that he left threatening to sue her
for his money.
Dwight" Rogers said, with a
smile, $50 far as I know, you and
Margaret are the only ones here,
excepting Barry Madison and my
self, who have not been shown to
have been present that night. How
about it? Are you keeping some
thing to yourself?"
Dwight Nichols shifted his crossed
legs and tapped the ash from the tip
of his cigarette