Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-11-05
CHAPTER TX

ny, nSten! she exclaimed.
Two youthful figures were mount
ing the stage, followed by a third,
larger more mature figure. The
first 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
song: LET us unite our hearts,
Charro and China dancing!"
There was China Poblana Turk
ing in the shadows ready to step
onto 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 l realized what was happen
ing, the two were standing before us
under the bright light, and the mu-
sicians were backing off to the side
still playing, enticingly, seductively.
I'm sure it was one of those spon-
taneous, impulsive acts to which
Elsa was SO prone. 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 Chinese woman who
brought it to the town of Puebla
many years ago, and which is to be
seen on festive occasions through
out Mexico; Reed Barton in the
costume of the cowboy.
"Senor! Valgame Dios! Senor!"
"Aqui, Maria" commanded Sam
Chatfield from his place a few seats
beyond us. "Que deseas tu?"
"Oh, senor!" cried the woman
breathlessly, her words smothered
somewhat by the applause. "Val-
game Dios! 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. I heard. Chesebro's dead"
A little group of frightened wom-
en- servants was outside the entrance
to Chesebro's room. Sam Chatfield
drove them away, admonishing them
to 60 back to the kitchen, then threw
open the door, and stood back for
Rogers and me to enter.
James Chesebro lay as if a great
and welcome peace had descended
upon him. His fat body made a
huge mound under the light cover
ing.
1.-The heart failed to rally, 1 sup
pose. The attack must have been
more severe than Doctor Cruz
thought"
do you think so, Mr.. Madison?"
Il don't know, of course, Mr..
Chatfield, but
l was halted in mid-sentence by
Rogers action. He stopped, grasped
the edge of the bed covers and
stripped them back.
His heart failed for quite diff
ferent reason, Barry" he said grim
ly, pointing to widening stain of
blood over the front of the pajamas.
There was a small hole through
the cloth over the heart, and when
the cloth itself was pulled aside
there was disclosed small hole in
the skin which still oozed blood.
with your permission, Mr.. Chat
field" Hunt said slowly, 81 should
like to have Dwight and Margaret
stay, and George Rumble, and Reed
Barton too. The police, of course"
he looked closely at Sam Chatfield,
Twill investigate"
81 am required to send for the
juez local and the medico legista."
There was suggestion of stiffness
in his words, as if Rogers had an
ticipated his next move and he re-
scented it. 1.-THE body must not be
touched until one or both of them
have examined it. Doctor Cruz hap
pens to be the medico legista at
Mazatlan. The police of course, will
come
The door closed behind Chatfield's
short figure, and instantly Rogers
became active. He glanced at his
watch. 1t was nine-thirty. Il want
your help, Barry" he said. 1.-THE
capacity of the Mexican police is an
unknown quantity to me. 1t may
be excellent. I've had no experience
with it. We should have half an
hour before they arrive. If we're
to solve the murder of Kitty Chat
field, it may be necessary to know
just what's happened here in Ma
zatlan.'
He glanced about the shadowy
room, neglectfuf now of the body
that lay in its huge mound on the
bed. "The cause of death is OBJ
vious," he remarked, as if in an
swer to my thoughts. "A small.