Arkansas State press., 1943-11-12
TX

Gasa souoenly wal Vipf AL WIN
excitement. She directed my At
tention to the platform. Look. Bar.
~; listen!" she exclaimed.
Two youthful figures were mount
Ing the stage. followed by a third. q
larger more mature figure. The
Arst two were our pair of wandering
musicians, Pancho and Felipe. with
Battered guitar and ukulele. The
third man carried a small harplike
instrument.
They began to play before they
had turned to face the audience; and
Felipe, the older, lifted his soft tenor
voice In the Spanish words of q
song: Let us unite our hearts,
Charro and China dancing!"
There was q China Poblana Turk.
ing In the shadows ready to step
snto the platform; a short nervous
Charro stood behind her. OF a sud-
den Elsa left me. At the edge Of
the crowd ! saw Reed Barton move
swiftly toward the platform, and be-
fore realized what was happen
Ing. the two were standing before US
under the bright light, and the mu-
sicians were backing of to the side
stu playing, enticingly. seductively.
I'm sure 1t was one Of those spon.
%taneeus. impulsive acts to which
Elsa was so prone. I was reminded
OF that February evening now weeks
IN the past and far away In Cali
fornia at the beach club, when Reed
Barton had appeared and claimed
Elsa for their first dance together.
And now they stood before us-Elsa
IN the costume said to have been
named for a Chinese m who
brought 1t to the town Of puebla
many years ago. and which is to be
e on festive occasions through
cut Mexico; Reed Barton in the
costume Of the cowboy.
Nearly ten minutes passed before
they showed signs Of bringing the
dance to an end. Finally Reed Bar
ton drew of his huge straw SOM
brero and placed 1t on the platform,
and Elsa's red shoes instantly were
dancing In the wide brim. A mo-
ment later she stopped to pick It up.
and Reed Barton in the customary
close Of the dance. swung his long
ieg over her stopping figure, and the
dance had ended.
An excited burst Of applause
greeted them. and the dancers
bowed again and again Cries Of
Mas Mast" rose az the audience
shouted for more Of this spirited
dancing. but Elsa and Reed left the
platform. During the height Of the
uproar I noted that Rogers had
ceased to clap: his head wal lifted
a. II he had been startled, and he
wal looking not at the pair still on
the platform. but to the side, where
Z small futtery figure In the shad.
cws was moving crafty. Above the
din heard an anguished voice say.
ing:
"Senor! Valgame Dios! Senorl"
"Aqui, Maria" commanded Sam
Chatfeld from his place a few seats
beyond us. "Que deseas tu?"
"Oh, senorl' cried the woman
breathlessly. her words smothered
somewhat by the applause. wal
game Diosl Ell caballero esta muer-
tot"
Rogers strong hand fell upon my
leg and his fingers gripped it pow
erfully. did you hear what she
said?' he asked, getting to his feet.
Eyes. ! heard. Chesebro's dead"
A little group of frightened wom-
en- servants vas outside the entrance
10 C%hesebro's room. Sam Chatleld
drove them away. admonishing them
TO 20 back to the kitchen, then threw
open the door. and stood back for
Rogers and me to enter.
Dim candles burned feebly near
the bed, threatened by the vast
shadows Of the room which seemed
about to engulf them in darkness.
Our host closed the door behind US.
and with determined step led the
way 70 the bedside.
James Chesebro lay a. great
and welcome peace had descended
upon him. His fat body made
huge mound under the light cover.
hs.
The heart failed to rally, sup
Dese. The attack must have been
more severe than Doctor Cruz
thought"
DO you think so, Mr.. Madison"
II don't knew. Of course, MI.
0hatield. but"
l was halted In mid-sentence BY
Rogers action. He stopped. grasped
NE edge Of the bed covers and
stripped them back.
His heart failed for quite a dit.
ferent reason, Barry" he said grim.
~, pointing to a widening stain OF
blood over the front Of the pajamas.
There was a small hole through
the cloth ove the heart, and when
the cloth itself was pulled aside
there vas disclosed a small hole In
the skin which still oozed blood.
with your permission, Mr.. Chat.
field" Hunt said slowly. II should
IKE to have Dwight and Margaret
stay, and George Rumble, and Reed
Barton too. The police, Of course"