Arkansas State press., 1943-10-08
CHAPTER "

'cNeiest oI gray eyes. Sne was
dressed in black and white: her
throat cleaned in the light that fell
caressingly upon her. She seemed
TO stand taller and simmer and
more regal than ! had ever known
her to do before, Il wc1dered how
you made out, George" she said
addressing Mr. Rumble. did you
meet all my friends?"
'You bet | did, sweetheart" an.
swered Mr.. Rumble promptly. BEAM
ing upon Elsa with an air of thor
ough approval Il was just start
ing to get line on Chesebro here
and what he does for a living. when
! heard you coming"
"Didn he tell your" replied Elsa
quickly HE mines gold and pinches
pennies fer living. His GRANDPA
ther started it. pinching pennies.
Jimmy, guess. added the gold
mines"
rs that SCI" said Mr.. Rumble.
He started to say something about
investments,
You're quite right, Mr.. Rumble"
said Chesebro suddenly, his dark
eyes glowing like those Of trapped
animal But Elsa exaggerates,
shall we say" He laughed, with a
tremendous effort at humor. which
was lost, noted, on Mr.. Rumble
For heavens sake. Elsa" de-
manded quietly, later on, whats ID
all about? And who is this Rumble
person."
Didn't he tell your"
mo, He almost had done so,
however, when you came into the
lounge and spoiled the revelation"
Sorry" she said lightly. Hes
my publicity manager"
1t was impossible not to contrast
this new. this mid-April Elsa with
the Elsa Of the preceding autumn.
On that memorable night when
had driven her to town in her work.
ing girl suit and carrying an over
night bag with just pajamas, be-
cause she had to have something,
she had been like a high-strung,
nervous colt at the barrier Tonight
a calm almost philosophic in its as
pect had come upon her. No long
err was the race so hot, the urge to
be off so compelling. realized. Of
course, that she experienced sense
Of arrival. The notoriety Of her car.
features had sobered her.
Now, goodbye. Barry" she said,
holding out her hand. And q de-
lightful trip in the Orizaba with
Dwight and Margaret"
Goodbye. Elsa. I'm sorry you're
not joining us.
II am too: but there Is this work
I can't put off, Please give my
love to Papa and Berta; you'll see
them at Mazatlan, Of course"
Huntoon Rogers and walked back
together to the yacht; Dwight and
Margaret had gone on ahead Thd
last guest had departed and va
sailed in half an hour
"A remarkable girl. isn't she?"
Rogers said, referring to Elsa.
Extraordinary, think"
you've never been able to get
anything out Of her about the baby,
and what she knows about the muir.
der OF her Aunt Kitty"
Moo" | said hesitantly. Look
here, Rogers"
yes, | know" he cut me of.
I'm aware that you've been work.
ing quietly on certain angles Of the
case"
II must be hell of detective"
said in disgust First Elsa &C.
euses me Of shopping, and now you"
cts a very peculiar case" he OBJ
served thoughtfully. Nothing is OBJ.
vous in it. Officially it is tagged
suicide. 1t ends there. There's moth.
ing to 60 on but the nose Of one
fellow in Pasadena, the chap who
smelled chloroform. He has really
a remarkable sense Of smell. I've
tested him. He sticks to it that there
was an odor of chloroform in the
room. There was no evidence Of it
In the autopsy. Why chloroform
when she died Of morphine poison
ing? There was no chloroform in the
house, no empty bottles, nothing"
You're satisfied she was muir
dered?"
"Of course. And | mean to help
you get to the bottom Of it,"
We dropped anchor in the harbor
at Mazatlan and the crew lowered
the launch to the sparkling water OF
the bay where it floated lightly from
the end Of It's boom awaiting our
pleasure, However, now that we had
arrived, there was no hurry to 90
ashore, we were in that land OF
manana where time does not press
and nothing demands doing immedi.
ately. Dwight had come to fish, but,
as we reminded him, there was to-
morrow.
OF Mexico's many charms the one
that most endears itself to me Is
that Indifference to time; nothing
needs doing now At home, time
rides me like the Old Man of tho
Sea; In Mexico | can relax.
Anybody going ashore now?" in
CURED Margaret briskly, coming up
from her stateroom.