Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-11-12

mo; not mine 1t belongs here
on the rancho. I found it, when I
wanted whip, on the rack outside
where the hats hang"
| 'Ah, So?" Lombardo turned the
qulrt about in his hands, examining
II. 1t interested Lombardo who stud
led 1t for moment. Finally and
without releasing his hold he held it
out toward Pedro. SIS this the
whip you saw, Pedro?"
The pulque man took one quick,
fascinated glance, then looked away.
-! do not know, sir; there was a
whip in the hand"
Come; the gentlemen, please;
the ladies, no. Follow me-" LON.
bardo spoke quickly. He led the way
toward the somber room where thu,
body of Chesebro still lay in its hug.
mound within the dim pool of cali
delight
Where were you when you saw
the man enter the room?" Lora-
bardo demanded
Il am here, sir" he answered,
pointing with trembling finger to
tall piece of furniture against the
wall. Il hear the man coming, and
l feel I have trespassed where I
should not go. So conceal my
self there and wait for him to pass"
| Very well, Pedro; you stand
there now, and one of the gentlemen
will put on the sombrero and carry
the whip and walk past YOU"
Il did not see the face, sir; I see
only the back" the pulque man re-
minded him as he took his station.
Now, which of you will be the
first?" Lombardo asked, ignoring
the mans remark.
| Reed Barton stepped forward, still
dressed in the costume of the Char
no, except for his own sombrero
which he had left among the others
on the rack near the front door.
"Ah, SO? Thank you, sir" Lom-
bardo gave him Rumble's hat, which
Reed set atop his head, greatly in
creasing the height of his tall figure.
Nov the whip" said Lombardo,
and that was given him. "And now,
Pedro, the gentleman comes from
this direction and walks to the door,
opens it and enters, is it not so?"
Eyes, sir"
Reed withdrew and began a slow
but steady walk down the dim pas
sageway to the door behind which
lay the body of the murdered man.
l drew back against the wall beside
Rogers, whose body was crowded
close against mine. l felt a tense
ness in his muscles and realized
with what extraordinary alertness
his eyes followed the tall figure of
Reed Barton as he re-enacted the
dread prologue to the death of
Chesebro. Slowly, inevitably, he ap-
preached the door to the room. Rog-
erS had become so intent upon this
re-enactment that he was drawn a
few steps after him, studying the
figure, his every action and move
ment. AS Reed touched the door
knob, when we all were intent upon
this last act before we should turn
to demand of the pulque man his
verdict, there was sudden rustling
sound behind us. 1t was followed
by a rapid shuttle of feet in loose
| guaraches, and before our aston
lshed gaze as we turned, Pedro, the
pulque man, was running away as
fast as his thin legs could carry him.
Nor did we find him later that
night after the police had taken their
departure, their questions exhaust
cd, their plan of re-cnactment of the
murder scene abruptly ended by the
departure of Pedro, although, direct
ed by Sam Chatfield, we searched
| diligently. There was an old moon.
The others at last had scattered
Only Huntoon Rogers and fingered
in the patio.
What do you make of it, Hunt?"
l inquired, meaning the nights trag-
ic happening and the comic opera
! exit of the star witness. He was
Slow TO reply. At last he said
did you see the whip at any
time during Reeds walk down the
dim passageway? He carried it in
his hand, you know"
Il saw him take the whip"
But did you see it in his hand
as he wallied?"
mo"
DOCS that not strike you as inter-
esting?"
1T means much, think; it ex-
plains what has happened. In the
kitchen when Pedro described the
appearance of Chcsebro's murderer.
he put the whip in his hand. Pedro
took his stand at the spot where he
says he observed the death march.
so to speak. But the whip is not
visible carried quietly at the side.
Therefore. Barry, it is simple to
i reason that Pedro either lied when he
said the man carried a whip, or he
| saw hirl elsewhere in the house at
time and place where the whip was
| plainly visible"
We sat together in the patio turn
ing over the possibilities that Law
close to the fact, the corollaries
| that might flow from if. Did PeIro