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

Wa ioohSo up etIlu gave III opdllloli
his opinion that James Chesebro had
died of knife thrust not so long
time before.
Lombardo and his satellite looked
intently for some moments at the
wound, then turned away without
word and sat down.
II am very sorry, Senior Chat
field" Lombardo said, looking up
at our host and speaking in Span
ish, that this has happened in your
house. I know that your hospitality
is above reproach. You cannot help
this sad thing, of course; it is very
sad. Who is the gentleman"
"Senor James Chesebro."
Lombardo's eyebrows shot up
ward. HE of the mine back in the
mountains?" he inquired.
eyes"
THAT is bad. Can you tell me
who killed him?"
81 cannot, Senior Lombardo."
"Senor Rogers here" said Sam
Chatfield, laying his hand upon Rog-
ers' arm, "is quite famous for solv-
ing the mystery of murder north Of
the border"
"Ah, sol" exclaimed Lombardo.
"Welcome, my friend. Perhaps we
have a mystery here. If so I shall
lean upon you. But, I think it is
easily explained, no?"
81 hope so, Senior Lombardo,"
Rogers replied in Spanish. $50 far
Senior Madison and I have found
nothing of importance. 1t was not
suicide, because there is no weapon.
1t was not murder for the purpose
of robbery"
"And the weapon, Senior Rogers;
you say you have not found it?"
"I've been unable to discover it
anywhere in the room; it is, of
course, a knife of some sort"
Eyes. Thank you, senior, you have
saved me much work."
did the gentleman have any enc
mics, Senior Rogers, either here in
Mazatlan or at homer" inquired Al
varez, the gendarme. The man had
not spoken until now.
Rogers shook his head. II know
of none, senor."
II think" Lombardo said, STIR
ring to his feet, ''it is time we talk
with someone about this crime. Who
made the discovery, Senior Chat
field?"
Sam Chatfield got to his feet, TAX
ing step toward the door, as if to
lead the way. Il think it was Ma
ria. 1t was she who came to tell
me of it,"
eve shall talk to Maria, them"
said Lombardo.
The kitchen was large; gloomy
shadows filled all the vast region
above two unfrosted electric light
bulbs which hung down from the
high rafters on long cords.
"Stop!" shouted Lombardo. "Do
not run away, anyone"
Two or three dimly flying figures
made good their escape, while some
four or five less fortunate obeyed
the command and remained behind,
standing with fidgeting hands and
shutting feet in the presence of the
law.
MARIA" called Lombardo, sitting
down in small chair whose creak-
ing, polished seat long years before
| had been cut from the hide of COW.
Eyes. sir" the woman who had
brought word of Chesebro's death,
as we sat looking on at the dances
in the courtyard, came to a futtery
attention near the middle oven.
Come here, senorita," directed
the chief. Alvarez drew up a chair
before us for the woman, who sat
down timidly, her dark eyes fas-
tened apprehensively upon her ques-
toner.
"You made the discovery of the
dead man, did you not. Maria?" in
quired Lombardo.
YES, SIR
"Tcll me about it."
a." she began timidly, 81 60 to
the gentleman's room to inquire,
Senior Jefe del Policia, if he desires
food. 1 push open the door gently
| and speak to him. He does not an
swer. open the door and go in,
and still he does not reply to my
question. l go all the way to the
bed, and-senor-God help me!-he
| is dead"
"Did you see the man who killed
him, Maria?" inquired Lombardo.
ooh, no, sir; do not. l do not
know who killed him. l swear, Sc
nor, l do not know. Outside is the
fiesta. l cannot hear. l cannot see.
| So | do not know"
Come here, you," commanded
| Lombardo.
A man, dressed in white cotton
trousers, a ragged shirt and carry
ing in his hand a battered straw
sombrero, shufIled forward on qua
rachcs which we're little more than
leather soles for his bare feet.
"Who are your" demanded Lom-
| bardo.
81 am Pedro, SIR" the man re-
piled nervously.
"Who are you? What do you do?"
81 am Pedro. the pulque man,